Skippered Boat Trips
Electric Barge
Grand Union Canal adj, Sheldon Square, London W2 6NA.
Skippered Boat Trips
#1 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Southern England has a rich network of historic waterways that have shaped its landscape, economy, and culture for centuries. This includes the iconic River Thames, a vital commercial artery since Roman times, and the Kennet and Avon Canal, completed in 1810, connecting the Thames at Reading to the Bristol Channel through picturesque countryside and historic towns like Bath. Other significant waterways include the River Medway in Kent, the Hampshire Avon in Salisbury, and the Wey Navigation in Surrey, one of Britain's oldest artificial waterways from 1653.
Canal trips have become a popular leisure activity in the UK, offering a relaxing way to explore historic waterways. Day boat hire is available across England, Wales, and Scotland, with no license or experience needed—operators provide basic training. These self-drive adventures are ideal for families, friends, or couples, as narrowboats cruise slowly past countryside, villages, and industrial sites. For a more luxurious option, restaurant and hotel boats serve gourmet meals while gliding along the canals. Major routes include the Kennet and Avon, Oxford, Llangollen, and Caledonian canals, each with unique scenery. Longer holidays are also available, letting guests create their own itineraries and stop at waterside pubs and villages, making canal boating a distinctive and tranquil British holiday.
Southern England Waterways's Best Canal Trips in 2026
Day Boat Hire
#2 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#3 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Day Boat Hire
#4 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#5 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Cafe, Day Boat Hire, Restaurant Boats and Skippered Boat Trips
#6 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Cafe, Day Boat Hire, Restaurant Boats and Skippered Boat Trips
Chichester Canal Centre
Canal Wharf, Basin Rd, Chichester PO19 8DT.
Restaurant Boats and Skippered Boat Trips
#7 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Restaurant Boats and Skippered Boat Trips
BMK Waterway Trust Electra
Campbell Wharf, Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 4BG
Skippered Boat Trips
#8 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
Kennet & Avon Trust – Bradford on Avon
Beside The Canal Trust Café, Bradford Wharf, Bradford-on-Avon BA15 1LE.
Day Boat Hire
#9 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Day Boat Hire
CanalAbility
Lock View, Burntmill Ln, Harlow CM20 2QS.
Day Boat Hire and Skippered Boat Trips
#10 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#11 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#12 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#13 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
Waterways Experiences
Nash Mills Recreation Centre, Red Lion Ln, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9TE
Skippered Boat Trips
#14 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#15 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#16 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
JGF Passsenger Boats
Cowey Sale, Walton Bridge, Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, KT12 1AR
Skippered Boat Trips
#17 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
London Eye River Cruise
Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Skippered Boat Trips
#18 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
The Baldwin Trust – Halseyon Days
Leicester Marina, Pinfold Road, Thurmaston, Leicester, LE4 8AS
Skippered Boat Trips
#19 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
#20 Rated Canal Trips on the Southern England Waterways
Skippered Boat Trips
Basingstoke Canal Society – Woking
Saturn Trail, United Kingdom