spring 2025 narrowboat holiday

Why Go Boating in April?

April is when nature bursts back into life. Picture the blossom on the trees, and the plants and towpath-grass lining the waterways, making your journey as scenic as it is peaceful. It’s also the perfect time for spotting wildlife. Who doesn’t love to see a mother duck bobbing past their boat with a row of her ducklings in tow? The swans will be nesting, and if you’re lucky you could also glimpse a flash of a kingfisher, or a heron.

fox narrowboats heron

For families, an Easter holiday on the water is a unique and fun experience. You may like to bring some chocolate eggs for a boat-based Easter hunt. When my kids were young we lived on a narrowboat, and hid Easter eggs in a field near the towpath for our children to discover. Many of our local towns host Easter events and markets, perfect for a family outing. If you enjoy exploring history, you can moor up and visit iconic sites like Ely Cathedral, Ramsey Abbey, or even our charming home town of March, before the summer crowds arrive. Other local events in spring include St Georges Fayre in March, and Ely Eel Festival, home to the world eel throwing competition!

st georges fayre march april 2025 poster credit fenland gov

Spring’s mild temperatures and longer daylight hours make it a great time for walking and cycling along the towpaths. If you want to bring your dog on a boat trip, just let us know at the time of booking. And of course, no boating holiday is complete without stopping at a cosy waterside pub or café. Enjoy a drink or a classic cream tea as you take in the view. You might also want to browse local markets in Ely or St Ives, picking up fresh veg to cook up a delicious meal in the galley on-board.

Why Book Your Holiday Early?

Booking your holiday in advance means you get the best pick of boats and travel dates, so you won’t miss out on your ideal trip. Spring cruises are sometimes better value than peak summer breaks, making them a budget-friendly option.

spring 2025 holiday booking fox narrowboat st ives river

The weather in April and May is pretty mild, with crisp mornings and sunny afternoons—ideal for comfortable cruising. You’ll also find the waterways much quieter than in summer, meaning less waiting at locks and more choice when it comes to available moorings. If you’re new to narrowboating, this is the perfect time to give it a go. With fewer boats on the cut, you can take your time and enjoy a relaxed introduction to life on the water. (Our staff will show you what to do, if you’re new to this.)

Plan Your Spring Boating Break

A narrowboat holiday in April is the perfect way to slow down, enjoy the beauty of nature, and make lasting memories. Whether you’re planning a romantic getaway, a family adventure, or a get-together with a group of your closest friends, Fox Narrowboats has a boat to suit your needs. Book early to make sure you don’t miss out—your springtime adventure in Cambridgeshire awaits!

collage spring 2025 lily flower credit fox

Ready to start cruising? Get in touch with Fox Narrowboats today and start planning your trip!

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Image Credits: St Georges Fayre Fenland.Gov Easter Eggs Jasmine Waheed on Unsplash. Fox Narrowboats Facebook photos

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Don’t you just love watching the narrowboats go by in the summer?

Did you know that watching boats pass by is known as “gongoozling”?

Do you want to stop gongoozling and have a go at boating this year?

You may like to join us for a short canal boat trip this April, at St George’s Fayre; tickets are just £5.

Thousands of people visit March every year to enjoy live music and dragons, great food, Morris dancing, a craft market and an art exhibition at St Georges Fayre. On Sunday 28^th April 2019 our local town centre will be pedestrianised, to make way for a bustling street market, a fun fair, and dance performances.

We will be running boat trips throughout the day and this year we are raising money for The Ladybird Boat Trust. The trust offers boat trips to the disadvantaged or disabled, young or elderly (and their carers) from their base on the Great Ouse near Huntingdon. Many groups return year after year and the annual boat trip is a highlight in their year.

St Georges Fayre begins with a parade through the town to the Market Place, where the Mayor will officially open the day at 10.30am. There is free entertainment on offer all day including Punch and Judy shows, circus skill workshops, and falconry displays. There will also be over 100 stalls, a craft fayre, street food and plenty of live music. (Check out the live music and dragons in this two minute video at the St Georges Fayre Facebook page.)

We will be running 12 boat trips during the day along the Old Nene between the town bridge and West End park. Each trip lasts around 30 minutes and gives boat-watchers a chance to experience a journey by water. Trips are available by buying a ticket on the day, or advanced booking from 1^st March by calling 01354 652770.

Offers

We have some special offers on at the moment that mean you could combine your visit to the fayre with a narrowboat holiday. Search for special offers here; prices start at just £699.

You may also like: How to Celebrate St Georges Day on a Narrowboat Holiday

Don’t miss more tips about upcoming events in the Fens: Sign up to follow this blog in the sidebar on the right. (We never share or sell email addresses, we just send links to our latest blog articles.)

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Staff present cheque to Rob Skoulding

Defibrillators in March are located in the following places

This is the 6th year the company has selected a charity of the year and since the inception has raised a total of over £12,225 for good causes.  In 2019 the company will be supporting  The Ladybird Boat Trust.

The Ladybird Boat Trust  (LBT) was set up in 2013 and is based at Hartford Marina near Huntingdon. The vessel Ladybird is wheelchair accessible and accommodates up to 20 passengers in a large heated cabin complete with kitchen and wheelchair accessible toilet facilities. The open foredeck area enables passengers to enjoy to the full the magnificent scenery and wildlife on the river. The service operates from mid April to early October and is crewed by a Boatmaster and trained crew, all of whom are volunteers who give up their time and skills to run over 100 trips each year. A typical trip is between 10am and 3pm, and is either upstream towards Godmanchester and Brampton, or down to the Hemingfords and St Ives.  Trips are open to groups of the disadvantaged or disabled, young or elderly (and their carers) based within reasonable road travel distance from their base on the Great Ouse near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.  Many groups return year after year and the annual boat trip is a highlight in their year.

Events for 2019 will again included boat trips at the March Town St Georges Fayre.

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It’s been a great summer on the East Anglian waterways this year; narrowboaters have enjoyed sunny cruises, music festivals, cream teas, tiny villages, cathedrals and colleges, locks and moorings, pubs and restaurants, holidays and day trips.

Here’s a roundup of what sort of things boaters have to up to during this year’s cruising season in Cambridgeshire.

1) Open Day and St George’s Fayre

We had a busy week in April when 300 people interested in boating visited our marina for the Drifters hire boat open day. Later that week thousands of people enjoyed March’s St Georges Fayre, which is a big festival of live music, market stalls, a parade, and fun fair, with dance performances and dragons! Some boaters were able to book a holiday that coincided with these events. Warning: Time Running Out for Boaters Who Love Live Music  Maybe next year you’ll be one of them?

2) The Unknown Village That Reduced Stress

Boat-lovers looking to manage their stress this summer discovered that a little exercise, spending time in nature, and practising mindfulness are all effective ways of winding down. We found five ways that a canal boat trip to an English village can wash your troubles away. 5 Ways This Unknown Village Can Soothe Your Soul

3) Festivals by Narrowboat

After kicking off the festival season this year with St George’s Fayre we had a summer full of fun in Cambridgeshire. Boaters who love live music were able to combine their narrowboat holiday with one of these free outdoor events. Our Top 3 Free Summer Festivals by Narrowboat.

4) Local Knowledge: Places to Visit

One of our mooring customers, Chris Howes, is Chairman of the Inland Waterways Association Eastern Region and last year won the A P Herbert cup for the greatest distance travelled to the IWA festival of water 2017. This summer he wrote a guide to the local waterways to help any boaters attending the St Neots Festival of water.  Places to Visit: Nene, Great Ouse and Middle Levels

5) Handy for Londoners

Some of our customers are Londoners, wanting to avoid spending hours in traffic before their holiday even begins. Our narrowboat hire base is just over an hour from London, but a world away from the city noise. Imagine travelling from Kings Cross through the English countryside to where your own cosy narrowboat awaits you. Here are five great reasons to take a narrowboat holiday near London.

6) Old Bedford campaign to be Restored

Back when Charlie and Pat Fox first set up Fox Narrowboats in the 1960’s, navigation on the Middle Level was very different from today. Mooring customer John Revell described some of the changes in the area that have been achieved through waterways restoration campaigns, and wrote about the Old Bedford Campaign Cruise that took place in August.

7) Holiday Planning Tips

With so much countryside, wildlife, heritage and things to see and do on the East Anglian waterways some boaters found it was fun to roughly plan a route before coming. Our first planning tip was that you should never over-estimate how far you can go on your holiday! How to Plan a Fenland Narrowboat Hire Holiday

8) Boating: Just for the Day

Our more local customers live in Peterborough, Wisbech, Ely or Huntingdon. When they want to get together with some friends and family they like to hire a narrowboat, just for a day. A relaxing boat trip on the Cambridge river network is the perfect end to a wonderful summer. Find out Why You Should Hire a Narrowboat for the Day, near Ely

Now that the summer is over, the poles and planks have been removed from our hire boats and we’ve started our winter maintenance jobs. If you’re curious to know how we ‘winterise’ a narrowboat check out our 3 basic steps to help you protect your narrowboat or canal boat from the cold.

We’re pleased to say bookings are now coming in for the 2019 and 2020 seasons. Have a look at our boats and see if you’d like to join us for an adventure next summer.

Hey! Are you new here? Subscribe on the right to receive more secrets of the undiscovered Fenland waterways, by email. Our stories of summer cruises could be just what you need to get you through the darker winter months! (We never share or sell email addresses, we’ll only be sending you our local, insider knowledge, every two weeks.)

The post 8 Surprising Adventures Holiday Boaters Had This Year appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

boat trips at the open day

Wow, what a busy week we have had here at Fox Narrowboats.  Firstly, we started with the Drifters hire boat open day on Sunday 15th April.  This was attended by approximately 300 people with around 200 of them taking to the water for the first time under the instruction of our qualified team.

Guests could also take part in games and competitions and had the opportunity to try their hand at canal art as well as visiting the popular refreshment stall. Bookings for both Day hire and holidays were received at the events.

canal art

The open day was also the first time our selfie board and photo frame were used.  Next time you visit us here have a look and take a picture.  The board and frame were designed by local artist Nicola Baxter who is the daughter of Tracey and Gary.

Selfie Board

Mrs Tawn posted on facebook  “My daughter, grandson and myself came to the Open Day and how lovely it was too, thoroughly enjoyed the boat trip, stalls and friendly welcome by all. Well done.”

Sunday 22nd April was the annual St George’s Fayre in the town and Gary once again took the helm of March Explorer running boat trips through the town centre every half hour during the day. Over 100 people took to the water for a boat trip during the day

Managing Director Paula Syred said of these events. “It has been fantastic to introduce so many people to narrowboating.  My staff all know that boating is a wonderful way to slow down, relax and unwind.  Now so many other people have had the opportunity to experience this. My thanks go to all the staff who go the extra mile for these events to ensure that our visitors receive the best possible experience.”

During the week we are delighted to report that we have also raised £973.45 for our charity of the year Heart of the Fens, defibrillators for March.

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Do you love live music?

Do you enjoy a lively festival?

Want to combine a festival with this year’s narrowboat holiday?

Time is running out to book a narrowboat holiday that coincides with St Georges Fayre, our local festival that welcomes thousands of people into March each year. You can expect to enjoy live music and dragons, great food, Morris dancing, a craft market and an art exhibition. This year our town fayre, celebrating England’s patron saint, is on Sunday 22nd April 2018. The town centre will be pedestrianised, creating space for a bustling street market, a fun fair, and dance performances throughout the day.

Parade

The day begins with a parade, in celebration of St George, moving from The Fountain, Broad Street to the Market Place, where the Mayor will do the official opening at 10.30am.  The judging of the Fancy Dress Competition follows at 10.35am. The free entertainment on offer during the day includes Punch and Judy shows, circus skill workshops, and falconry.

Fox Narrowboats will be running 30 minute boat trips throughout the day and this year we are raising money for March Heart of the Fens Defibrillators for March. 12 boat trips run throughout the day along the Old Nene between the town bridge and West End park. The trips last 30 minutes and give people a chance to experience a journey by water.

Who makes it happen?

St George’s Fayre is one of four ‘Four Seasons’ events which take place in Fenland’s market towns throughout the year. The Fayre is organised by Fenland District Council and a committee of volunteers; it is also supported by March Town Council. Town community organisations that have contributed to the event’s success over the years include; Fen Craft Fairs, The Chamber of Commerce, March Library, March Museum, March Society, Churches Together, The Rotary Club, March Lions, Georges, Markets and Events Ltd and many more.

Dragons

Check out the live music and dragons in this two minute video at the St Georges Fayre Facebook page. Remember there will be over 100 stalls, a craft fayre, fun fair, street food and much more.

Offers

We have some special offers on at the moment that mean you could combine your last minute holiday booking with this festival. For example you could book narrowboat Leisurely Fox, (which sleeps 4-6) for seven nights starting from Monday 16th April. The price was previously £1575, but is now on offer at £1350 – and you can finish your week off by attending the festival. Search for more special offers here; prices start at just £699. But hurry, the fayre is on 22nd April!

You may also like: How to Celebrate St Georges Day on a Narrowboat Holiday

Don’t miss more articles about what to see and do when narrowboating in the Fens: Sign up to follow this blog on the right of this webpage.

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Legend has it that George slayed a dragon that was terrorising the countryside, intent on devouring a beautiful princess. The story is loosely based on a real-life George who was a Christian soldier of the Roman Empire, born around 280AD. The idea of George as the nation’s patron saint probably began around William Shakespeare’s time. In his play ‘Henry V’, the king’s famous battle cry is, “God for Harry, England and St George!”

What makes a narrowboat holiday in the Fens so special is the charming illusion of travelling quietly back in time, through the quaint villages of Upwell and Outwell, visiting traditional English pubs and famous historical buildings, such as Oliver Cromwell’s House, Ely Cathedral and the colleges of Cambridge University.

If you time it right you could even include March’s St Georges Fayre in your holiday plans. It will be held for the 10^th year running on 23^rd April this year. The town centre streets will be pedestrianised to make space for markets stalls and a fun fair. The day begins with an opening parade at 10.15am in the market place, followed by a fancy dress competition, live music and dance performances. Free entertainment throughout the day includes Punch and Judy shows and circus skills workshops, and the decorations will be themed red and white for England’s national day. St George’s Fayre is delivered by Fenland District Council and a committee of volunteers; it’s one of four ‘Four Seasons’ events which take place in Fenland’s market towns throughout the year.

Other attractions will include sword dancers, stilt walkers, mini golf, birds of prey, traditional games, storytelling, a vintage fire engine, a duck race and shining knights in armour.

Fox Narrowboats will be offering river trips on board the March Adventurer day boat with a qualified skipper. Visitors can enjoy a half hour trip along the slow waters of the Nene departing from the town bridge every half hour. The cruise travels through a beautiful park continuing down the quiet Nene Parade.

However, if you prefer to skipper your own boat and head off on a real English adventure you can choose from week boating holidays (7 nights), midweek boating breaks (4 nights), or weekend boating breaks (3 nights). We have different narrowboats available depending on the size of your group, and you can view the different boat layouts here: Fox Holiday Hire Fleet.

Don’t miss more articles about what to see and do when narrowboating in the Fens: Sign up to follow this blog in the sidebar on the right.

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The post MAGPAS presented with a cheque following a sucessful fundraising year! appeared first on Fox Narrowboats.

St Georges Fayre

Our fundraising for charity of the year  2016 MAGPAS Air Ambulance is now well underway. Our Easter treasurer hunt was well supported by our mooring customers and netted £34.50 We are looking forward to again running boat trips at the March St George’s Fayre on Sunday 24^th April.  Boat trips leave from March Town Bridge on the hour and half hour from 10am until 4pm  costing £3.  Advanced booking is already open if you contact the office on 01354 652770.

Once again Gary will be your skipper as you view March from the waterway, may be spot the build plate under the town bridge and perhaps you will see an elusive kingfisher swoop in front of the boat in search for a meal.

Come and experience for yourself why Ratty said “There is nothing–absolutely nothing – half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats.” – Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows,

Private evening skippered trips will also be available later this year. The cost is £100 per boat and is for up to 10 guests. It involves a skippered boat trip for 1 ½ hours commencing at 7pm, a steward is on had to serve tea, coffee and biscuits.  The trip journeys through the town of March with its picturesque moorings and return. Trips can be booked by telephoning 01354 652770. These trips are idea for family celebrations and small interest group activities. The dates available are 23^rd, 24^th,25^th,  26^th May, and  20^th, 21^st, 23^rd June. Contact us for details.

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Finance Director Tracey Baxter said “I am delighted that we raised £529 and gave the people of March a taste of boating whether on a Day trip or a holiday the Waterways of Cambridgeshire are a great place to relax and play.  It is great to show a wider audience how much fun time on a narrowboat boat can be.”  The companies next fundraising Adventure for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices takes place on Saturday 30th May 2015 and will be their annual tea party cruise.  An hour and a half’s trip from the Marina including tea, coffee and freshly baked scones.  Tea Party trips can be booked by contacting the office on 01354 652770 and run from 10am.

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