Your first narrowboat holiday.
What the handover covers, how locks work, where you can moor, what it costs and where the hire firms differ. Taken from the Canal & River Trust and the firms' own pages, with sources.
The short answer
No licence, and every firm teaches you at handover. Two adults on board is the usual minimum.
The Trust suggests avoiding lock-heavy routes; ABC and Anglo Welsh suggest an out-and-back trip rather than a ring.
At 3 to 4 mph that's 80 to 100 miles in a week, less once you add locks at 15 minutes or more each.
Do you need a licence?
- No. You don't need a licence or permit to drive a holiday narrowboat; the hire firm licenses the boat. Source
- Some rivers need an extra visitor licence on top: Anglo Welsh names the Avon and the Thames, ABC adds the Wey and Scottish Canals. Source
- Most firms want the lead hirer to be 18 or over and at least two adults on board. Children can steer under supervision. Source
What the handover covers
- Every firm gives you instruction when you pick the boat up: steering, daily checks, working locks and safety. Anglo Welsh says it takes around an hour. Source
- Several send a video to watch first. Black Prince recommends the Canal & River Trust's Boater's Handbook video and its own introduction to the boat. Source
- If you want more, the RYA Inland Waterways Helmsman course is two days and open from age 12. Source
Working locks
- A lock is a chamber with gates at each end. You open paddles with a windlass to let water in at the top or out at the bottom, and the boat rises or falls with it. Source
- Allow at least 15 minutes per lock, more if there's a queue. ABC's rule of thumb for planning: miles plus locks, divided by three, gives cruising hours. Source
- Keep the back of the boat well forward of the cill, the ledge under the top gates that sticks out up to 5ft. If the boat starts to tilt, close all the paddles at once. Source
- The steerer stays at the tiller with the engine running. Keep a firm grip on the windlass and never leave it on the spindle. Source
- Volunteer lock keepers help at many busy locks in summer, but they aren't guaranteed. Source
Steering, speed and tunnels
- The limit on narrow canals is 4 mph, a brisk walking pace. If there's a breaking wave behind you, you're going too fast. Source
- Narrowboats have no brakes: ease off, go into neutral, then reverse. Push the tiller right to go left, and expect a few seconds' delay. Source
- Slow to tick-over well before you pass moored boats; your wash can pull out their mooring pins. Source
- In tunnels: headlight on, one long blast on the horn, everyone inside the boat's outline, and keep two minutes behind the boat in front. Source
- ABC, Anglo Welsh and Black Prince don't allow cruising after dark. Source
- The Trust suggests 4 to 7 hours of cruising a day in summer, which at 3 to 4 mph is 80 to 100 miles in a week. Source
Where you can moor
- Almost anywhere along the towpath, and it's free on most canals and rivers. Source
- Without a sign you can generally stay up to 14 days; visitor moorings are usually limited to 48 hours. Source
- Don't moor in or near locks, under or within 50 metres of bridges, on bends, at junctions or at winding holes. Only stop at water points and lock landings while you're using them. Source
- If you use mooring pins, don't put them across the towpath, and mark them so walkers can see them. Source
Staying safe
- Most accidents happen getting on and off the boat. Step, don't jump. Source
- Firms lend life jackets free. The Trust strongly recommends them for under-18s at all times; ABC makes them compulsory for under-18s and non-swimmers, Andersen for under-16s and non-swimmers. Source
- Don't swim in canals. If someone falls in, stop the propeller, don't jump in after them, throw a line and tell them to try to stand: many canals aren't deep. Source
- Carbon monoxide symptoms are headaches, tiredness, sickness and dizziness. Never use the cooker for heating, keep vents clear, and no barbecues on board. Source
- Stay off the roof while you're moving: bridges and branches can knock you off. Source
What to pack
- Boats come with a hob, oven, fridge, cooking kit, crockery and bedding. Source
- Bring a torch, non-slip shoes, gloves for the locks and waterproofs. Soft bags pack away more easily than suitcases. Source
- The Trust advises leaving high-power appliances at home, such as kettles, toasters, heaters and hairdryers, and charging devices while the engine's running. Source
Where the big firms differ
From each firm's own FAQ. Check when you book: some firms' pages disagree with themselves. For 32 firms side by side, see narrowboat hire, compared.
| Black Prince | ABC | Anglo Welsh | Andersen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel | Charged on return | Deposit, refunded less fuel used | Deposit, refunded less fuel used | Full tank included |
| Towels | Included | Included | Included | Bring your own |
| Dogs | First free, second £30, max two | FAQ says free and also £30 for extra pets | Up to three free | Up to two free |
| Life jackets | Free, fitted on arrival | Under-18s and non-swimmers | Request when booking | Under-16s and non-swimmers |
Sources: black-prince.com, abcboathire.com, anglowelsh.co.uk, anglowelsh.co.uk, andersenboats.com
What it costs
- ABC quotes £600 to £2,000 for 2 to 12 people, with gas, linen, towels, life jackets, tuition and damage waiver included. Source
- Drifters lists 2027 prices from £650 for a 3 or 4-night short break and £900 for a week, for a boat for four. Source
- Prices are higher in summer, at Christmas and on bank holidays; ABC suggests March or October for cheaper trips. Source
- Fuel, extra pets and river licences are the usual extras. Ask whether the price includes a damage waiver or needs a refundable deposit. Source
Good first routes
The Canal & River Trust's list for first-timers, drawn from Drifters' bases. Source
Ashby Canal
22 miles with no locks
Alvechurch to Birmingham's Gas Street Basin
No locks, about five hours, four tunnels
Chirk to Llangollen and back
Route guide →Over the Pontcysyllte and Chirk aqueducts
Great Haywood to Fradley Junction and back
About 12 hours, five locks each way
Bradford on Avon to Bath
Route guide →About six hours, one lockBlocked at the Bath tunnel since October 2026.
Brewood to Shebdon
Route guide →About six hours, one lock
Stretton to Braunston
Route guide →15 miles, three locks
Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
35 miles with very few locks
Dogs and seasons
- Most firms take dogs; Black Prince asks you to say so when you book, because some boats are pet-free. Source Keep dogs on a lead around locks, and think about a dog life jacket. Source
- Black Prince doesn't hire in winter, and Le Boat's English season runs April to October. Anglo Welsh and Drifters offer winter breaks. Source Source Source
- Winter is when the Canal & River Trust repairs locks: 108 projects from November 2026 to March 2027. Check closures on your route before booking. Source
Questions
Do you need a licence to drive a narrowboat?
No. You don't need a licence or permit to drive a holiday narrowboat in the UK; the hire firm licenses the boat. Some rivers, such as the Thames and the Avon, need an extra visitor licence.
Is a narrowboat holiday hard for beginners?
No experience is needed: every hire firm gives you instruction at the start. The Trust suggests first-timers pick a route with few locks, and ABC and Anglo Welsh suggest an out-and-back route rather than a ring.
How long does a lock take?
At least 15 minutes, according to the Canal & River Trust; Anglo Welsh says 15 to 20 minutes. Allow more if there's a queue.
How far can you go in a week?
The Canal & River Trust suggests 4 to 7 hours of cruising a day in summer, which at 3 to 4 mph is about 80 to 100 miles in a week. Locks slow you down: ABC's rule of thumb is miles plus locks, divided by three, for cruising hours.
How much does a narrowboat holiday cost?
ABC quotes £600 to £2,000 depending on boat size and season, and Drifters lists 2027 prices from £650 for a short break and £900 for a week. Prices rise in summer and at bank holidays; fuel and extra pets are often charged on top.
Can you hire a narrowboat in winter?
Some firms, yes: Anglo Welsh and Drifters offer winter breaks. Black Prince doesn't hire in winter, and Le Boat's English season runs April to October. Winter is also when the Canal & River Trust closes locks for repairs.
How this was put together
From the Canal & River Trust's guidance and Boater's Handbook, the RYA, the Boat Safety Scheme and the hire firms' own FAQs, read on 4 November 2026. Each point links to its source. Spotted something wrong? Email hello@moochtravel.com.