Boat Hire
Grand Union Narrowboats
The Boatyard, High St, Weedon Bec, Weedon NN7 4QD.
Boat Hire
#1 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire Companies on the Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal is the longest canal in England, stretching for 137 miles from London to Birmingham. Completed in the early 19th century, it was designed as a vital artery for industrial transport, linking the capital with the Midlands and facilitating the movement of coal, building materials, and manufactured goods. The canal is renowned for its impressive engineering, including aqueducts, tunnels, and flights of locks such as those at Hatton and Stoke Bruerne. Today, the Grand Union Canal is a popular route for pleasure boating, walking, and cycling, and forms an important part of the nation’s canal heritage.
Boat hire in the UK is a unique, relaxing way to explore over 3,000 miles of historic canals, rivers and waterways. Boats—ranging from narrowboats to wide-beam barges—are available across England, Scotland, and Wales, with no experience needed and full training provided. Modern amenities, flexible rental periods, and a range of prices make it accessible for families, couples, and groups. Popular bases include Bath, Trevor, Great Haywood, and Wootton Wawen. Cruising at 3-4 mph, boaters enjoy scenic routes, waterside pubs, and hidden countryside, making canal holidays a memorable alternative to traditional travel.
Grand Union Canal's Best Boat Hire Companies in 2026
Hire Company
#2 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#3 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#4 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#5 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#6 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#7 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#8 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#9 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Hire Company
#10 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#11 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#12 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
Narrowboat Escapes Holidays And Training @ Braunston Marina
Braunston Marina, The Wharf, Braunston, Daventry, NN11 7JH
Boat Hire
#13 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
Elegance Boat Hire @ Nelson’s Wharf
Rugby Rd, Stockton, Southam CV47 8AA.
Hire Company and Skippered Boat Trips
#14 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Hire Company and Skippered Boat Trips
Peter Le Marchant Trust
Canalside Moorings, 50 Beeches Rd, Loughborough LE11 2NS.
Boat Hire
#15 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#16 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
Pilling’s Lock Boat Hire
Loughborough River Soar
Boat Hire
#17 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
Kate Boats
Stockton Top Marina, Blue Lias Industrial Estate, Rugby Rd, Stockton, Southam CV47 8HN.
Boat Hire
#18 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#19 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
Boat Hire
#20 Rated Boat Hire on the Grand Union Canal
