Drifters offers the choice of over 550 canal boats for hire from 45 bases across England, Wales and Scotland. 

Each year dozens of new boats are added to the fleet. 

There are over 35,000 canal boats on Britain's 3,000-mile inland waterways network, and around 1,000 of these are holiday hire narrowboats. 

Narrowboats have two main types of stern (back of the boat):

• the cruiser stern has an open back deck with room for a number of people to stand; and
• the semi-traditional has a smaller deck/steering area with a seating area that can be enclosed with doors.

Here's a run-down of Drifters' Top 10 new boats for hire in 2024:

1. A new 'Duchess 6' Signature will be available from Stoke Prior

The 70ft 'Duchess 6' Signature Class cruiser stern canal boat for up to six people, will be available to hire from Drifters' base on the Worcester & Birmingham Canal at Stoke Prior.  She will have two double cabins that can either be double or twin beds, and the option to convert the dining area into a double bed.  The kitchen areas are larger in the new Signature Class fleet, with more worktop space, a microwave, multiple USB charging points.  The boat will also have a shower and toilet room, black-out blinds, bespoke mattresses, wireless charging pads and a flat screen TV. ROUTES: On a short break from Stoke Prior, boaters can cruise to Worcester or complete the Droitwich Ring.  On a week's break, boaters can cruise to Tewsbury or complete the Stourport Ring. 

***2024 prices for the 'Duchess 6' Signature start at £1,099 for a short break, £1,675 for a week.  Price includes boat hire, damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Diesel is extra, charged based on use on return, circa £15 per day.

2. A new 'Duchess 8' Signature will be available from Stoke on Trent

The new 70ft 'Duchess 8' Signature Class cruiser stern canal boat for up to eight people, will be available to hire from Drifters' base on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Stoke on Trent.  She will have three double cabins that can either be double or twin beds, and the option to convert the dining area into a double bed.  The kitchen areas are larger in the new Signature Class fleet, with more worktop space, a microwave, multiple USB charging points.  The boat will also have two shower and toilet rooms, black-out blinds, bespoke mattresses, wireless charging pads and a flat screen TV. ROUTES: On a short break from Stoke on Trent, boaters can cruise to Congleton, Froghall, Macclesfield or Middlewich.  On a week's break, boaters can reach Penkridge, Whaley Bridge or Huddlesford, or complete the Four Counties Ring. 

***2024 prices for the 'Duchess 8' Signature start at £1,199 for a short break, £1,799 for a week.  Price includes boat hire, damage waiver, gas, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Diesel is extra, charged based on use on return, circa £15 per day.

3. The 'Blue Wren' arrives at Hilperton

The new 49ft 'Blue Wren' semi-traditional narrowboat will offer flexible accommodation for up to four people, from Drifters' base at Hilperton on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire.  The boat will have one cabin, which can be configured either as a double or twin (with optional wider beds), and a seating/dining area in the saloon which can be converted into a double bed.  The boat will have a shower/toilet room, a front deck table, LED lighting, two televisions and WiFi.  ROUTES: on a short break from Hilperton, boaters can travel to Bath and back, and on a week's break they can reach Hungerford. 

***2024 prices for 'Blue Wren' currently start at £1,099 for a short break, £1,199 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman's waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

4. The 'Chiff Chaff Warbler' will depart from Wrenbury

The new 69ft 'Chiff Chaff Warbler' semi-traditional narrowboat for up to eight people will arrive at from Drifters' base at Wrenbury on the Llangollen Canal in Shropshire.  The boat will have three cabins: one fixed as double; and two which can be configured as doubles or singles.  'Chiff Chaff Warbler' will have LED lighting, a front deck table, optional wider beds, two shower/toilet rooms, WiFi and two TV's.  ROUTES: on a short break from Wrenbury, narrowboat holiday-makers can travel gently through the countryside to Ellesmere and back.  On a week's break, they can travel on to Llangollen, passing over the World Heritage Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

***2024 prices aboard 'Chiff Chaff Warbler' currently start at £1,199 for a short break, £1,799 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, collision damage waiver, first pet, car parking and tuition.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £10-15 per day.

5. 'Rock Partridge' will be available from Nantwich

The 66ft 'Rock Partridge' semi-traditional narrowboat for up to six people will arrive at Nantwich on the Shropshire Union Canal in Cheshire.  'Rock Partridge' will have two two double cabins that can be made up as singles or doubles (with optional wider beds), and the seating/dining area can be converted into a double bed. She will have two shower/toilet rooms, a front deck table, LED lighting, two televisions and WiFi. ROUTES: on a short break from Nantwich, boaters can head to Middlewich, Chester or Market Drayton.  On a week away, they can reach Lymm, Brewood, Ellesmere Port or Llangollen.

***2024 prices for 'Rock Partridge' currently start at £1,599 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman's waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

6. 'Masked Lark' will be boating from Kings Orchard

The 66ft 'Masked Lark' semi-traditional narrowboat for up to six people will launch at Kings Orchard Marina on the Coventry Canal in Staffordshire.  'Masked Lark' has two double cabins that can be made up as singles or doubles (with optional wider beds), and the seating/dining area can be converted into a double bed. She will have two shower/toilet rooms, a front deck table, LED lighting, two televisions and WiFi. ROUTES: on a short break from Kings Orchard, boaters can travel to Drayton Manor, Polesworth or Great Haywood.  Destinations for a week away include Nuneaton, Snarestone and the Black Country Ring.

***2024 prices for 'Masked Lark' currently start at £1,199 for short break, £1,599 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman's waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

7. The 'Tepui Swift' will navigate from Aldermaston

The 49ft 'Tepui Swift' cruiser stern narrowboat for up to four people will be available to hire from Drifters' narrowboat hire base at Aldermaston on the Kennet & Avon Canal in West Berkshire.  The 'Tepui Swift' will have one cabins, which can be configured either as a double or twins (with optional wider beds), and a seating/dining area which can be converted into a double bed.  She will have a shower/toilet room, a front deck table, LED lighting, two televisions and WiFi. ROUTES: on a short break from Aldermaston, boaters can travel to Newbury or Hungerford.  On a week's holiday they can reach Oxford, Pewsey or Windsor.

***2024 prices for 'Tepui Swift' currently start at £899 for short break, £1,199 for a week.  Price includes bedding, towels, non-refundable accidental damage waiver, two pets, car parking, tuition, buoyancy aids, helmsman's waterproofs and a welcome pack with cleaning materials.  Fuel is extra: a £60 deposit is taken for a short break, £110 for a week's holiday.  Actual cost based on use, circa £15 per day.

8. A new 'Ocean' Class boat arrives at Great Haywood

A new 60ft 'Ocean' Class cruiser stern narrowboat for up to 10 people will be available to hire from Drifters' base on the Trent & Mersey Canal at Great Haywood in Staffordshire.  The boat will feature: two double cabins and three sleeping areas that can either be configured as a doubles or singles; a toilet/shower room; and an extra toilet.  On a short break from Great Haywood, boaters can travel to Fradley or Stone.  On a week's holiday, they can reach Market Drayton or Froghall, or complete the Black Country Ring. 

***2024 prices 'Ocean' Class prices start at £1,060 for short break, £1,460 for a week.  Price includes bed linen, towels, first pet, parking and tuition on arrival.  A £50 non-refundable damage waiver and fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) are extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day.

9. A new 'Ocean' Class narrowboat arrives at Oxford

A new 60ft 'Ocean' Class cruiser stern narrowboat for up to 10 people will be available to hire from Drifters' canal boat rental base on the River Thames at Oxford.  The boat will feature: two double cabins and three sleeping areas that can either be configured as a doubles or singles; a toilet/shower room; and an extra toilet.  On a short break from Oxford, boaters can travel to Lechlade or Wallingford. On a week's holiday, they can reach Henley-on-Thames or transfer onto the Oxford Canal to Banbury. 

***2024 'Ocean' Class prices start at £1,060 for short break, £1,460 for a week.  Price includes bed linen, towels, first pet, parking and tuition on arrival.  A £50 non-refundable damage waiver and fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) are extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day.

10. A new 'Ocean' Class boat arrives at Bunbury

A new 60ft 'Ocean' Class cruiser stern narrowboat for up to 10 people will be available to hire from Drifters' base on the Shropshire Union Canal at Bunbury in Cheshire.  The boat will feature: two double cabins and three sleeping areas that can either be configured as a doubles or singles; a toilet/shower room; and an extra toilet.  On a short break from Bunbury, boaters can travel to Chester, Whitchurch or to the Anderton Boat Lift.  On a week's holiday, they can reach Llangollen, Macclesfield or Froghall Basin. 

***2024 'Ocean' Class prices start at £1,060 for short break, £1,460 for a week.  Price includes bed linen, towels, first pet, parking and tuition on arrival.  A £50 non-refundable damage waiver and fuel deposit (£70 for a short break, £110 for a week) are extra. Fuel charges are based on use, circa £15 per day.

For more information about Drifters boating holidays call 0344 984 0322 or visit www.drifters.co.uk

For more information about visiting the canals go to www.canalrivertrust.org.uk

Ends

For Drifters press enquiries contact Debbie Walker on 01628 618069 mb 077486 40577 walker.debbie@sky.com

Notes to editors

Drifters Waterway Holidays is made up of nine hire boat companies: ABC Boat Hire, Anglo Welsh, Black Prince, Countrywide Cruisers, Foxhangers, Kate Boats, Napton Narrowboats, Shire Cruisers and Union Canal Carriers.  Between them they offer over 550 boats for hire, operating from 45 bases across England, Scotland and Wales.  2024 hire prices start at £590 for a short break, £815 for a week on a boat for up to four people.  Narrowboats range from 32ft to 70ft and can accommodate up to 12 people.  All Drifters operators provide hirers with life jackets and boat steering tuition.  Drifters holidays are pet-friendly.