If you’d like to enjoy peaceful countryside cruising by day, and lively riverside pubs by night, then you may be considering a canal boat holiday with a group of friends. Boating offers a slower pace of life, but with the added bonus of unexpected adventures. Your accommodation is also part of the experience. What’s more, if you’re new to boating, no previous knowledge is necessary. Whether you’re organising a hen do, a stag weekend, or a dog-friendly staycation, the Fenland Waterways are East Anglia’s hidden treasure.
Narrowboat Holidays Near London
Our narrowboat hire base is less than 100 miles from London, and is easy to get to by train from King’s Cross in about 90 minutes. For a mates’ holiday in south east England, choose from our four most popular, stunning canal routes, and a range of comfortable canal boats to hire.
little venice in paddington london
Narrowboat holidays in Cambridgeshire are ideal for beginners, because your trip begins with our in-house training, included in the price. Our boats can accommodate up to six people and have multiple berths and fully equipped galleys. Your route can include picturesque scenery, wide open Fenland skies, canal-side pubs, and charming, ancient market towns. Far less crowded than the Norfolk Broads, our local waterways have very few locks, which makes them faster and easier to navigate than most UK canals, although fast travel is not what narrowboaters are aiming for.
You may be surprised how easy it is to steer a narrowboat, so that handling the boat quickly becomes part of the pleasure. Imagine relaxed mornings on deck with a coffee, or stargazing and chatting together with a glass of wine in the evenings.
Tips for Friendship Groups
Each day, it’s a good idea to agree together on where you might want to stop, based on how many hours you want to travel that day. It’s best to enjoy a slow cruise rather than aim to get too far too soon. Plan ahead using the guidebook provided on board, CanalPlanAC, or our own interactive waterways map. It really is more about the journey than the destination. Make sure to plan your return journey back to the hire base too.
fenland waterways interactive map – fox
Everybody can take turns steering the boat and operating the locks, as this is all part of the fun, so make sure to pay attention during the boat handling training. Before you begin, you may like to plan a few meals and snacks that are easy to make on board in a small space.
narrow boat steering on holiday – fox
As you travel, make use of public toilets and toilets in pubs wherever you can, because the toilet tank on board may fill quickly with a larger group on the boat.
A typical day together as a group may include sharing the steering duties, operating locks, and mooring up. Stopping places may be a scenic rural picnic, a village fish and chip shop, or a day exploring a historic town like Ely or Peterborough. There should be something for everyone, if your group has various interests.
What to Bring
Bring soft bags rather than hard suitcases, as they will be easier to store on board, and don’t bring too many things. Space is limited. You can’t store anything on the roof of a boat because low bridges and branches may knock it off into the water.
Pack layers of clothing to prepare for varying temperatures, and be ready for rain or shine. You may like to bring some gloves for rainy days, because if you’re the one out on deck steering, that hand on the tiller can get cold. Hopefully a shipmate will bring you a warm cuppa.
Before you set off, get some basic grocery shopping on board. You won’t always be moored near a shop, and you may decide to moor somewhere scenic and remote for an unscheduled tea break. So make sure you have milk and biscuits on board, plus coffee, tea and bread. Keep some snacks on board too, and something easy to cook on the hob.
Fox Narrowboats can arrange a supermarket delivery to your boat at the marina in March before you set off. If you’re celebrating an occasion and fancy a treat, order an afternoon tea or a graze box from Glam Grazing. Although there is only a small freezer compartment on board, our boats come with fully equipped galleys, including crockery, cutlery, oven, hob, microwave and fridge.
Locks
There are no famous lock flights on the Fenland waterways. The Fens are reclaimed, drained marshland, which makes it a mostly flat landscape. For example, there are only two locks between March Marina and Peterborough.
Get some crew on the lock landing as you approach a lock gate, and ask them to open it before the steerer guides the boat into the lock. Don’t nudge the gate open with the bow of the boat. Get the skipper to watch the stern and keep it clear of the cill when travelling downhill. If a boat gets caught on the cill, it can sink.
When passing through a lock, or mooring up, dogs should be kept inside the boat or on a lead. Let us know at the time of booking if you want to bring a dog.
Fox Boats
Our flexible cabin layouts with six berths are ideal for group getaways, university reunions and celebrating milestones and special occasions. With a spacious saloon and a practical layout for eating and socialising, our larger boats, Platinum Fox and Cape Fox allow everyone to travel together in comfort.
group on board boat making tea – fox dayboat
Splitting a large group onto two boats can increase the price of your holiday hire, so instead we recommend hiring a six berth boat for a group of friends together. A short break of three nights starts from around £180 per person.
A canal holiday offers quirky accommodation combined with a fun activity, making good memories together. It’s a chance to slow down and enjoy nature while cruising, yet also offers the option for a night out on the town, depending on where you decide to moor.
And Finally: Enjoy Life in the Slow Lane
Going slow is what boating is all about, so if you can walk faster than your boat, you’re doing it right. Unplug from 21st-century living and look out for daffodils and primroses along the riverbanks. At this time of year you may see blossom on the trees, windmills in the fields, and ducklings and cygnets bobbing along on the water.
If you’re on board at Eastertime, stock up on chocolate eggs and hot cross buns. Visit local markets and Easter events by narrowboat, and enjoy St George’s Fayre in March Town Centre, or check out the world eel throwing competition at Ely Eel Festival in May. Getting together with a group of your closest friends to slow down and enjoy nature is one of the best ways to make lasting memories.
Ready to start cruising? Get in touch with Fox Narrowboats today and start planning your trip! See 2026 special offers
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Peggy Melmoth is a writer who shares her memoir-style writing and poetry at Life, Locks and Literature.
Photo credits: Little Venice London Deposit Photos, Fox Narrowboats
