About this trip.
Oxford Canal restrictions: Napton Locks open on Mondays and Thursdays only, 9am to 2pm, with last entry at noon. Cropredy Lock 25 and Little Bourton Lock 27 are closed for works from 2 November to 18 December 2026, which cuts the canal between Cropredy and Banbury. Bridge 128 is being replaced for HS2 from 4 January to 12 March 2027. The summer drought closure between Claydon and Aynho has been lifted. From Canal & River Trust notices, as listed on canalplan. Source
Planning the route? Read our Oxford Canal guide. Weighing up hire firms? UK narrowboat hire, compared lists 32 firms by canal, dog fees and fuel.
Before you book: Canal du Midi vs UK narrowboating — same week, different country, very different holiday · How we vet operators — and the questions you should ask any small-group operator yourself
Stretton under Fosse, on the Fosse Way near Rugby in Warwickshire, is home to a boatyard that has been hiring out narrowboats since 1972. It's a family-run business with a fleet of self-drive boats sleeping from two to eight people, and it hires almost all year round. Stays run from two nights to six months.
Short breaks and week-long cruises
Hires usually start on a Monday or a Friday. If you need different dates or times, get in touch, as most circumstances can be accommodated. A weekend or midweek break gives you a relaxing short holiday on the Oxford, Coventry or Ashby Canals. A week or more gives you time to see more of the Midlands' extensive canal network, and the yard's position at the heart of the network opens up a wide range of routes.
Working the locks is part of the fun, and even younger children can take part, with care. On a longer flight there is usually a pub waiting at the end. Some routes from the base are virtually lock-free, though. Along the way you'll find pretty villages, often with their own shop and pub, as well as larger towns and cities, and some routes have top restaurants.
Learning the ropes
You don't need any boating experience. Full tuition is given on every aspect of handling your boat. About 30 per cent of hirers come from overseas, and extra information is available for them. Single-handed boating is allowed, depending on your previous experience or boating qualifications, but you may be limited in which routes you can take.
Long-term and winter cruising
Hires of four weeks or more let you try life afloat across much of the UK's network of over 2500 miles of navigable rivers and canals, without packing and unpacking at every stop. Two boats, Cameo and Joey, are kept only for long-term hire. In winter the canals are wonderfully peaceful, and with no leaves on the trees the views open right up. The boats are centrally heated, and there are plenty of snug canalside pubs along the way.
The shape of the trip.
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1Do I need a licence?
No. The hire base gives you a short handover covering steering, locks, and safety before you set off. Speed limit is 4 mph on UK narrowboats — slower than a walking pace. If you can drive a car, you can drive a canal boat.
Q2How many locks will I do?
Depends on the route. The Llangollen has about 20 over a week — leisurely. The Caen Hill flight on the Kennet & Avon has 29 in one stretch — a full day's work. Some European routes (Canal du Midi, Camargue) have almost none. The operator's map shows lock counts per day so you can pace yourself.
Q3Can I travel solo?
Most hire companies require two adults on board, mainly so one person can work locks while the other steers. A few allow solo hire on quieter routes — ask the operator before booking.
Q4What's included?
Typically the boat, fuel for the engine, a handover briefing, mooring ropes, fenders and a starter pack (tea, coffee, washing-up kit). Bedding is sometimes included, sometimes £10-20 extra. Food is your own, shopped from towpath-side villages.
Q5What if something breaks?
The hire base has a 24/7 support line. A fitter will usually come out within a few hours. Engines are robust and well-maintained — the most common failures are blocked weed hatches (clearable yourself) and flat domestic batteries.
Q6Is it good for kids?
Yes — lifejackets are provided and kids love working locks. Older children (6+) can help steer under supervision. Toddlers need constant watching near open decks. A reinforced guard rail helps.
Q7Can I bring my dog?
Most hire companies allow one or two dogs for a small supplement (£20-30 per dog per week). They love the towpath walks. The boat will lose its deposit if the dog damages upholstery — bring a blanket.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a 25% deposit at booking, balance 8-12 weeks before departure. Each operator has its own cancellation ladder (steeper close to departure). Travel insurance with cruise cover is recommended.
Three canal holidays, side-by-side.
The two closest canal holidays on Mooch, both in England. Prices are the operators' own, per boat.
