Inland Holidays

Inland holidays are all about relaxing in the tranquility and beauty of the countryside and leaving the hustle and bustle of daily life behind.

On board you will find home-from-home comforts including a fully-equipped kitchen, bathrooms and entertainment equipment.

Don't be worried if you've never been on inland holiday before -Navigating the inland waterways is not complicated. The boat hire company will teach you everything you need to know before you start your holiday so you can cruise with complete confidence.

Step 1 - Choose a Location

Canal Holidays Popular locations for UK inland holidays are the River Thames, the Grand Union Canal, the Norfolk Broads, the Cheshire Ring, the Llangollen Canal and Scottish lochs.

If you fancy a European break, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany have extensive river and canal networks to explore such as the Canal du Midi, which joins the Mediterranean with the Atlantic and inspired ‘Rick Stein's French Odyssey’.

Step 2 - Decide which type of Boat

You can hire your own boat (Self-drive) and explore at your own pace or book a Hotel Boat (skippered) and be completely looked after - The choice is yours.

The boat hire company will teach you everything you need to know before you start your holiday so you can cruise with complete confidence.

The Boat Grading Scheme run by the English Tourist Board (Visit Britain) is designed to help you choose the right boat for your holiday needs. The scheme uses a star rating to reflect the levels of service, quality of facilities and comfort of the boat.

Step 3 - Choose a Reputable Company

Choose your holiday via the On the Water Holiday Search. All the companies featured in the holiday guide and search are members of the British Marine Federation (BMF) and adhere to a code of conduct.

Self Drive Holiday Companies Hotel Boat Holiday Companies

Types of Inland Holidays

Boat Grading Scheme

Help choose the right boat for your holiday needs >

The On The Water Weekend took place on the 27th & 28th April 2013 with events taking place Nationwide.

Boat Shows

Two of the biggest in the UK are the London Boat Show and PSP Southampton Boat Show but there are loads of other regional and specialised shows which are great too.

PSP Southampton Boat Show

On The Water Events!

Over the next 12 months, On The Water will be attending a series of live events across the regions bringing boating and watersports to you.

On The Water will be providing water-based activities such as ‘try-a-boat’ or land-based activity with simulators at events around the UK.

More Events >

Boating Holidays