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

Are you new here? For our best tips about canal boating holidays enter your email address in the box in the right side bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in-box. (We never share or sell email addresses, this is just to send you our latest blog posts.)

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

The post The Best Narrowboat Holiday for a Group of Friends appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

spring narrowboat on the waterways

Having now lived on narrowboats for many years I can concur that carrying coal and bags of laundry down a muddy towpath can certainly lose some of its ‘being joyfully connected to the elements’ charm after several months. Certainly there have been many winters where I have pondered if there is space to fit a washing machine on my boat. However, being present to the first precious gifts of spring does indeed more than make up for any of those hardships and failed daydreams.

first spring lock – alice elgie

Just yesterday morning I woke to dry windows inside, blue sky outside and felt the first  faint but euphoric realisation that somewhere in the not too far distance, spring is brewing. It made me reminisce about early spring 2011—one of my first on a narrowboat—when I lounged on the roof writing whilst chatting to passing boaters, my daughter peddling up and down the towpath on her bike talking to the ducks and geese. In that moment I simply couldn’t imagine a better way to live in England because for me, it was everything at its best: nature, friendliness and freedom.

If you would like to be one of the first to experience spring on the waterways, book your holiday with Fox Narrowboats

In the first throws of spring, winter quickly becomes a distant memory. My dreams of an on-board washing machine fade into the background as hand-washed clothes blow in the breeze and there is abundant space on the doorstep where we can roam and find adventures along secret paths, in wide open fields and amongst the trees. I think that’s it for me, that on a narrowboat we can live right in the heart of an unfurling spring. Each morning the air tastes fresher and I feel more at peace as I lay still listening to a visiting chaffinch or watch moorhens as they scurry in and out of their nest. The world comes alive all around me and somehow, the quiet cocoon that winter can be, makes me even more aware of each minuscule change.

Want to know why an April narrowboat holiday is the perfect spring getaway on our Fox blog?

And when I do have to do a laundrette run, I know it will no longer be plagued by a cold, muddy walk to sit looking sorrowfully out through steamed-up windows onto a dreary street. Instead us ‘washers’ will chat to each other with bright smiles as we watch our clothes go round and I will be reminded of the valuable people connection that would be lost if I were to relent to having a washing machine on my boat.

2026 Spring Canal Boat Holiday Offers

Alice Elgie is a nature-loving writer who shares words about her wandering lifestyle through hold-in-the-hand letters and recorded reflections. aliceelgie.com

The post Looking Toward Spring appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

We are assuming that your Christmas decorations have now been taken down and the festive food has all been eaten. So before the January blues set in, try making some fun plans for the year ahead. The third Monday in January is known as Blue Monday; the most depressing day of the year. While there is no science to back up the claim that this day is the worst, it has become a day for promoting mental health awareness and self-care.

Read: Three Foxy Mood-Boosting Tips for This Winter

In February it can be difficult to avoid romance, as the shops offer Valentines cards, gifts, flowers and chocolates for your loved one. But those who enjoy canal boating will know that there is no better way to spend quality time with your partner than a peaceful cruise on the waterways. Find out why a narrowboat holiday is such an original and quirky idea to celebrate important relationship milestones.

Read: 5 Reasons Why Canal Boats are the Most Romantic Holiday

Credit: Fox Narrowboats

Spring

It’s difficult to estimate exactly how many UK canal boats are liveaboards. The diverse inland boating community includes middle-aged divorcees, retired couples, young professionals, people on low incomes, and canal heritage enthusiasts. Some people like the alternative lifestyle, others hope it may be a cheaper lifestyle. Weigh up the extra chores, boat maintenance and finances, against freedom, adventure, independence and living close to nature.

Read: The Pro’s and Cons of Living on a Canal Boat

Summer

If you have ever wondered…Where’s the nearest pub? Is there a shop near here? And where can I moor? Our new interactive waterways map was launched last summer, and it has all the answers. It shows where you are on the navigation and what useful things you might find nearby. It also includes images, icons and highlights so that you can always find what you want, when you want it.

Read: Fascinating New Interactive Waterways Map for Narrowboaters

Autumn

If you’re a parent you may be wondering how to prepare for a narrowboat journey, what to bring and whether the kids can steer the boat. A Fox Narrowboat trip is much more than a holiday; it’s an opportunity to create lifelong memories with your family.

Read: Four Things Every Parent Should Know About Narrowboat Holidays

Winter

At Christmas time special services are broadcast on TV from English cathedrals. So in December we took the opportunity to feature two impressive cathedrals which can be visited by narrowboat on a Foxboats holiday. More than just spectacular places of worship they offer a rich history, architecture, markets, talks, concerts, exhibitions, tours, dining and shopping.

Read: Two Stunning Cathedrals to Visit on a Canal Boat Holiday

If you enjoyed reading ‘The Six Best Things We Learned About Narrowboating Last Year’, look for ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right and enter your email address. We’ll send you occasional stories, tips and advice about narrowboating around the Fens. (We never share or sell email addresses – your details are safe with us.)

If you want to beat the winter blues and book a canal holiday in 2024 check availability now.

You may also like: Why January is the Best Time to Book Your Hire Boat Holiday

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narrowboat holiday boats fox 2023

Sounds unlikely, right? After all, the British weather is unpredictable, and maybe you’re not that confident when it comes to boat handling. So surely a week on a UK canal boat is not going to tick all of your boxes?

Or is it?

After living on a narrowboat for 13 years I can suggest what to wear, what to bring and how fast to travel to make sure that you have an absolutely amazing time. You don’t even need to know anything about canals or boats to make this your best holiday ever.

Dress Code

Take some comfortable clothes and shoes for your day-to-day boating. You may be working the locks, banging in mooring pegs, pulling ropes, holding the tiller or preparing snacks. Space is limited on board so don’t bring too much luggage, but you can of course bring some nicer clothes for those trips “ashore” to go shopping or visit a restaurant. Take clothing for all weathers, and a torch for finding your way down the towpath in the dark.  (Tunnels and bridges can sometimes drip water on to you when you’re steering!)

The Galley

You can bring some basic food supplies with you, but you can also go to the supermarket when you arrive in March, or have a full grocery shop delivered to your boat. There will also be opportunities for shopping along the way as you travel. There is no freezer on board, but our boats come with fully equipped galleys; crockery, cutlery, oven, hob, microwave and fridge.

galley fox narrowboat

Keeping Cosy

When I lived aboard, people would sometimes ask me if it was cold in winter, and whether living aboard was a bit like camping? But nothing could be further from the truth: Modern narrowboats are extremely comfortable. Fox Narrowboats are supplied with gas or diesel central heating, fresh bed linen and cosy duvets.

Slow Down

If you’re new to narrowboating you may be surprised at how long the journey takes. While the speed limit is officially four miles per hour, you are likely to travel much slower than that. Locks will slow you down, and you are expected to reduce your speed to “tickover” when you pass moored boats. You can plan your route using the guidebook provided with the hire boat, or our online interactive map.. This will help you choose your planned destination of the end of the day; it can be convenient to moor close to a pub. A spell of rain, or a particularly interesting tourist attraction can also slow down your schedule. So embrace the slower pace of life and begin to enjoy the moment: When planning the distance you can travel, less is more. Don’t spend all day at the tiller; instead make time for exploring the villages and towns that you come across.

fox narrowboats flower donation riverside

Choose Your Crew Wisely

Are you OK about sharing a small space with your nearest and dearest? You may like to assign roles to one another; for example, steerer, lock operator, cook and maker-of-hot-drinks! Be prepared to moor up and take a break if some of the crew need it. Make sure everyone is listening when you get the handover talk from our Fox Narrowboats staff. Perhaps someone will be in charge of working out distances and mooring locations, factoring in water points and shopping stops. Older children can also get involved with being part of the crew.

Even Celebrities Are Doing It!

Boaters on the CanalWorld discussion forums have spotted Matthew Corbett, Toyah Wilcox, Timothy Spall, Nicholas Cage, David Suchet, Heston Blumenthal, Brian Blessed, Camilla Parker Bowles and Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees messing about in boats.

Read:  How to Holiday Like a Celebrity Without it Costing a Fortune

It may be hard to believe, but if you get these few things right, you really can have the best holiday ever. Pack the right clothes and bring some basic food supplies, choose a crew that you love, and take the journey nice and slow. We’ll show you how to handle the boat, and provide all mod cons and creature comforts to make you feel at home. Choose your hire boat now and start getting excited about your next narrowboat adventure on the uncrowded Fenland waterways in 2024.

Are you new here? For more good tips about canal boating holidays enter your email address in the box in the right side bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in-box. (We never share or sell email addresses, this is just to send you our latest blog posts.)

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With 70 years’ experience of running a hire boat business and marina, our family-run company, founded by renowned boat builder Charlie Fox, has a level of expertise that you can trust. But if you’ve never been on a narrowboat holiday before, you may have a few questions about getting afloat.

Where Can We Go?

We can offer you quieter holiday routes in the Cambridgeshire Fens and a choice of narrowboats, so you can select the perfect boat for you.  Our hire boat base is conveniently located in March, between Cambridge and Peterborough, and is a short travelling distance outside of London. Our marina is less than 100 miles from London, and is accessible by train from Kings Cross in about 90 minutes.

Read: The Narrowboat Holiday That Londoners Will Love

With so many waterways to choose from across the Fenlands the variety of routes is amazing. You will cruise through rivers, canals and open sections during your hire boat holiday.

Find the perfect route and plan your holiday here.

We can also offer you the choice of taking three or four night breaks as well as one week, ten day, two-week or even longer holidays.

Is it Difficult to Drive?

If you’re new to boating our RYA trained instructors will show you how to handle the boat and operate a lock. The boats are easy to control and surprisingly responsive; in fact it’s easier than learning to ride a bicycle! Are you wondering if it’s difficult to learn the ropes? Will you be nervous about turning the boat, or mooring? Remember, you’ll never be travelling faster than 4 mph and learning to steer a boat is fun for all the family. Even supervised children can steer, and they did so during the canal age, when whole families lived and worked on boats.

Read: What’s it Like to Actually Steer a Narrowboat?

What’s it Like on Board?

A narrowboat is the perfect way to enjoy being close to nature with all the modern conveniences of staying in a holiday cottage. Fox narrowboats all come equipped with radiator central heating, a microwave, hairdryer, WiFi, flatscreen TV with Freeview, full size oven, fridge, electric power points, and comfortable duvets and bed linen. It’s a cosy home from home, where you and your crew can comfortably relax after a day of boating, exploring, eating out, and sightseeing. Our competitive prices are fully inclusive of fuel, gas and VAT.

Find your perfect boat here.

Our boats are built right here at our marina and are unlike any others on “the cut”. But what exactly is so distinctive about a Charlie Fox Boat, and how many were built?

Read: Charlie Fox Narrowboats: Where are They Now?

A Fox Narrowboats holiday will introduce you to one of England’s best kept secrets, a network of waterways that meanders through some of the stunning Fenlands. You also cruise past pubs, cottages, windmills and wildlife. On these waterways you are the skipper; this is a holiday where you dictate the pace.

Freedom from Routine

Shopping and cooking are more like an adventure than a chore when you’re on a boating holiday, and every night you will be moored in a different place. Eat inside at a dinette table, or outside on the deck, enjoying the view. There are no “parking” charges – moorings are free!

Want to learn more about narrowboating? For surprising and unusual tips and ideas for days out on the Fenland Waterways, enter your email address in the box in the right side-bar (‘Follow blog’) and we’ll send you articles direct to your in box. (You will not receive any marketing emails, just two articles a month about boating info!)

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Should you book your 2023 holiday now to avoid increasing prices?

As the cost of living crisis continues, some families are planning ahead for this year’s holiday, in order to grab the best deals while they’re still available. With the price of fuel continuing to rise, it seems inevitable that plane tickets and hotel rooms will continue to go up in price in 2023. That makes a narrowboat holiday a much more cost effective option this year. We have already taken plenty of bookings for this spring and summer, but we do have some availability left.

Ely: The UK Holiday Destination That Won’t Break the Bank

Ely is a charming cathedral city in Cambridgeshire. March to Ely is an 18 hour return trip by narrowboat, but you will want to take it slow to get the most out of the cruise. If you’ve been on a narrowboat holiday before, you will know that the journey is just as important and enjoyable as the destination, and you will want to moor up and explore other places on the way there.

This trip involves the passage of a short length of tidal river between Salter’s Lode and Denver Sluice, which only adds to the adventure. You will need to contact the Lock keeper at Denver to find out the tide times for the outward and return trips. We will give you any information you need to know at the start of your holiday.

There are some free visitor moorings near our hire base in March town, where you can explore the High Street shops and St Wendreda’s church, before setting off through the Middle Level waterways. Six miles cruise from March are the twin villages of Upwell and Outwell. The village streets line both sides of the river here. Further along Well Creek your boat will cross the Middle Level Main Drain, then pass through open countryside and the village of Nordelph, before arriving at Salter’s Lode Lock.

After Denver you will be on the Ely section of the River Great Ouse.  After stopping here you may like to take a little detour into the Relief Channel to visit Downham Market. There are a few other navigable tributaries of the Great Ouse to explore on the way to Ely if you have time.

Ely is really worth stopping for a night or two as there is lots to see and do. The city centre is a short walk up a steep hill from the attractive waterfront. The cathedral is stunning, and Oliver Cromwell’s House has been made into a museum. There is a stained glass museum at the cathedral, and antique centres to browse around close to the river. Go fishing, visit restaurants or wander around the ancient narrow streets, discovering timbered houses and medieval gateways. Read more about Ely. You can then carry on from Ely to visit Cambridge if your holiday plans allow it.

New Year Goals: Plan a Narrowboat Holiday

Late winter is a time for new beginnings and planning ahead, so why not give yourself something to look forward to this year? Booking in advance can mean better availability, and with Fox Narrowboats you’re more likely to get the boat of your choice. It’s also easier to get time off work on your intended dates if you plan well ahead.

Without knowing how inflation is going to affect this summer’s holiday prices it may be wise to look for tomorrow’s canal boat holidays at today’s prices!

What’s on your narrowboating New Year’s Bucket List this year? Read more to get some ideas.

You may also like: How to Cruise Your Way into Fitness this New Year

No time to plan your holiday right now? We get that. Instead, subscribe to our blog in the right sidebar; look for ‘Follow Blog’. We’ll send you two articles a month full of narrowboat holiday ideas in the Fens. (We don’t send spam or salesy type stuff – just interesting articles about boats and waterways!)

The post Your Perfect 2023 Narrowboat Holiday Destination appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Credit: Fox Narrowboats

Now that the weather is getting colder it has inspired me to start browsing the internet for some holiday ideas for next year! If you’re new to exploring the Fenland waterways you may like to use the internet to plan your next canal boat cruise, and daydream about the places you are going to visit.

If you’re new to boating don’t overestimate the distance that you can travel. While four miles per hour is the agreed maximum speed, in reality you will travel slower than this, and will stop for locks, pubs, shopping, wandering and exploring. It can take twenty minutes to work through a lock, and this could be longer if you find the lock in use when you arrive and have to wait.

Some boaters like to plan ahead, thinking about where to stop for lunch, or where you will moor the boat overnight. Alternatively, other people prefer to be more flexible about where they will end up. On some of the UK canal network you can moor almost anywhere on the towpath, but on our local rivers you may need to work out where you are headed. It is not always possible to moor wherever you like on a tidal navigation. Some rural moorings have steep banks which make it difficult to access the boat. It is also impossible to moor in some inner city areas where the towpath is sometimes solid paving or concrete, with no mooring bollards or rings provided. The ‘off side’ of the canal, opposite the towpath side, is usually private land and therefore not available for visitor mooring.

Environment Agency and other mooring sites are listed in the waterway guides and maps provided with your hire boat. Our company is also a member of GOBA so on the river Great Ouse their moorings are also available for holiday use.

If you are new to boating you may find it easier with two or more adults on board. It is not safe for young children to help with the locks and they will need watching while the boat is passing through a lock, so bear that in mind when you plan how many adults are to be in your crew. However, older children can and do enjoy boat handling if they are supervised.

Your holiday could be completely rural and quiet, or include a particular town or city that you have wanted to visit. We provide Imray guide books and Lockmaster maps with each holiday narrowboat. The Imray canal guide books cover our local area and describe local restaurants, pubs and attractions as well as detailing the locations of locks and boater’s facilities.

When you’ve decided on your direction of travel and your ‘must see’ attractions, and towns, you will need to calculate how long the trip will take you and whether it is possible in the time you have available. You can use the guide book supplied with the boat  to help with this.

Alternatively, get the internet to do the planning for you! There are a number of canal route planners online. CanalPlanAC is an interactive online guide covering the inland waterways. It can be used to find local information such as pubs and shops. You can choose to assume a seven hour travelling day, or select your own preferred travelling times. The results page displays a lovely aerial map (by Google) and an optional slideshow of photographs so that you can imagine your cruise.

To plan you holiday select March marina as your starting point, then choose an out and back trip. Select a destination, for example Ely visitor moorings. The default time spent travelling is seven hours per day, but you may want to choose less than this, (say four hours) for a leisurely holiday cruise with lots of exploring on land! When the system displays your results you can click on any location on your journey to see a map and photos. It will also show you the nearest water point, rubbish disposal point and place to turn the boat around. You can also use this website on board. Wi-Fi is available on all our boats, which also have in-car chargers and 240v power supplies. There is a 1.25GB allowance for short breaks and 2.5GB per week.

You can also choose from our holiday route suggestions on this website. Our route guides will talk you through the boating journey, show highlights on the waterways and places to visit. You will cruise through rivers, canals and open sections during your boat hire holiday.

Now all you need is a boat! Choose which Fox Narrowboat would suit your family or group for a holiday and get day dreaming about the warmer weather!

Get more free tips for planning your holiday by signing up for our blog updates. Subscribe on the right, by email. (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

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swift fox stopped for lunch on a narrowboat holiday

If you’ve never tried a boating holiday on the Fenland Waterways you may discover a number of unexpected benefits that make it a little different from your average canal boat holiday.

Among Cambridgeshire’s attractive villages and cities is an impressive network of tranquil rivers, offering strikingly flat landscapes, underneath expansive skies. Here are our top 5 reasons why we love boating in Cambridgeshire.

1) More Water Than the Broads

The Fenland waterways offer more than twice the navigational distance than the Norfolk Broads, although your boating holiday may be a similar experience, enjoying working the locks and cruising through natural surroundings. However, there is so much more choice of place to explore and routes to take!

2) Divine Inspiration

This area has earned itself the name ‘The Holy Land of the English’ because of the churches and cathedrals of Ely, Ramsey, Crowland, Thorney and Peterborough. Ely Cathedral is particularly popular with visitors and is known locally as the ‘Ship of the Fens’ because of its waterway surroundings. If you are fond of discovering our heritage and exploring places of worship then these waterways will provide a fascinating adventure for you. Places to visit

3) Nature Reserves

The Fens nature reserves are a beautiful place to discover a variety of wildlife such as birds, wild flowers and dragonflies, as well as endangered species like the water vole. Travelling far from the rush of traffic and modern life you can get really lost in the natural beauty.

4) Places to Eat

Exploring the rivers and waterways of Cambridgeshire you won’t be short of a tempting choice of places to stop. From traditional country pubs, to fine dining in city restaurants there are many small villages and large towns that will cater for the travelling boater.

5) March

Fox Boats is based in March Town where you will find plenty of places to eat, as well as a museum and a church dedicated to the town’s saint, St Wendreda. March is a Fenland market town and like many Fenland towns, it was once an island surrounded by marshes. March lies on the banks of the old course of the navigable Nene, and today is very popular for leisure boating.

To find out more about boating in Cambridgeshire you may like to follow us on Facebook or sign up to receive blog articles by email. (See ‘Follow Blog’ in the sidebar on the right.)

The post 5 Surprising Rewards of Choosing a Cambridge Boating Holiday appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

Licenced stock – family narrowboat holiday

Narrowboat holidays and barge holidays offer beautiful scenery, freedom and quality time together. You also get to avoid the airport queues and discover our English traditions, heritage, folk art, and feats of engineering. If you want to avoid the usual tourist traps and queues then a narrowboat holiday could be just the short break you are looking for.

When to Book

The canal ‘cruising season’ is from March to October because weather and maintenance works can make travel more difficult out of season. The waterways are most busy from late July to early September because of the school holidays. At the busiest times on some canals you may have to wait in a queue of boats to use a lock, and the most popular mooring spaces (such as outside a pub) may be taken when you arrive. That’s the advantage of choosing the Fenland waterways which are generally less crowded.

Whatever the Weather

British weather is renowned for its feisty wind and rain, but a canal boat is far more luxurious than a camping holiday, offering all the facilities of modern living. Make the most of your holiday whatever the weather by mooring at a pub, making some tea, playing card games, going shopping or watching TV if it’s raining. With a hot mug of coffee on the roof and a sturdy umbrella it can even be fun to carry on cruising.

What if I’m Not so Agile?

A canal boat holiday can suit groups of any age, young or old. The towpaths can be a little uneven for those with reduced mobility, but if you choose to stay on board and let others in your party handle the locks, we suspect you will still enjoy watching the scenery pass by, meeting new people and discovering new places.

Will my Phone Work?

Mobile phones will work in most areas although there are places where reception is limited. If you find that the signal is weak inside a steel cabined boat, try going outside to improve your signal. You will also find that some networks are better than others. All of our boats have in-car chargers and 240v power supplies.

Help! I’ve Never Driven a Boat Before!

It’s not difficult for a novice to learn to steer a narrowboat, with a little bit of practice. The speed limit on the waterways is 4mph and accidents are very rare. You will simply require a little common sense and a willingness to take care. The weight of a narrowboat gives it quite a bit of momentum so you have to plan ahead when you’re intending to stop. The engine is controlled by a single lever, which you place in reverse to stop or slow down. Anyone over 21 can hire a canal boat with no training or licence required.

What Does it Cost?

The cost will vary, depending on the size of your party, the boat you choose and the time of year that you travel. Prices increase during the more popular summer months. However you may find that self-hire for a family holiday will compare favourably with the price of a hotel boat, or an ordinary hotel, and you will also save money on having to eat out, by having access to self-catering facilities on board. Of course the wonderful experience of romantically exploring the English countryside, creating treasured memories together is priceless!

Check availability for 2016

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We look forward to meeting you soon.

The post How to Plan a Narrowboat Holiday That Your Family Will Love appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.