Journal

canal boat holidays in national geographic

Canal boat holidays in National Geographic

How lovely that our canal boat holidays have been featured in a prestigious National Geographic magazine! The Traveller – The Luxury Collection 2022-23 features Boutique Narrowboats amongst their beautiful pages. The magazine groups together a number of luxury UK based holiday providers. Our small fleet of canal boats is recommended as a best example of “Slow Travel.” Read the article Canal boat holidays Journalist, Tamsin Wressell, describes our waterways on the Grand Union canal as Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago
Couples getaway on a Boutique Narrowboat

Canal boat weekends – answering your questions

Canal boat weekends can be super relaxing, but if you are an inexperienced boater, it pays to be well prepared. It might seem a bit nerdy to watch videos or read up on winding holes, but I promise it will make your holiday so much better for all the effort. We offer all our hirers access to a free online course, the boat manuals and personalised training during the handovers. There are many beginner guides Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago
Boutique narrowboat luxury canal boat holiday hire and build

How we beat winter canal restrictions – Static canal boat stays press release

Press release Leicestershire canal business beats restrictions A Leicestershire waterways business is offering a new way to experience a narrowboat mini-break, following the announcement of winter canal restrictions. Boutique Narrowboats runs its unique holiday hire business from Union Wharf in Market Harborough, but has been forced to rethink its business model for a few weeks, because of canal closures in the new year. For a reduced cost, it will now be possible to book a Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago
Grand union canal leicester section in winter

5 reasons you should take to the water on a winter narrowboat cruise

There are so many wonderful reasons to enjoy the canals in winter, that we are totally amazed to have the waterways to ourselves at this time of year. I love the peace and tranquillity so much, that it really is one of England’s best kept secrets. Here are a few more reasons to climb aboard during the English winter… 1. #hygge The Danish word for “cosy” has been been hashtagged left, right and centre all Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago
latest boat build ready for top coat

Painting the latest narrowboat build

The latest narrowboat build is now in the painting sheds of John Barnard, a leading expert in narrowboat exterior paint. We have been planning with our clients the colour scheme of the boat exterior and they have chosen complementary Epifane colours, made up especially in a hard wearing formula. The primer has gone on well, and the boat is nearly ready for those glossy top coats. Now that the boat is off its hard standing, Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago

How our boutique narrowboats are built for couples

Luxury narrowboat holidays in the UK are perfect for couples looking for romance and seclusion. A luxury canal boat should offer all the pleasures of a five star retreat, with the added bonus of a different view each morning. This sort of getaway involves time spent “off grid” so you can enjoy your adventure together, uninterrupted by others. Luxury narrowboat holidays in the uk Narrowboats for couples have some unique traits in the UK. Generally, Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago
Marbled White narrowboat for hire

Why you should consider an autumn canal boat holiday

Canal boat holidays in the autumn can be quite different from a summer break. I’m not just talking about the change in the weather which can be welcome after the heat of August. I’m more thinking of your fellow boaters, and the change from families to couples. The summer holidays see the full range of narrowboat hires, from people with young children, older enthusiasts, and everyone in between. During the summer you will see parties Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago
Union Wharf Marina Market Harborough home of Boutique Narrowboats

How Boutique Narrowboats began

Some of you will know Aaran and myself as the naïve narrowboat enthusiasts who embarked on a boat restoration back in 2016, only to fall utterly in love with the waterways and decide to launch a one-boat holiday hire company. The Boutique Narrowboats concept was borne out of a love of five star hotels as well as the canals and it seems that many of you felt the same way. Our first year saw an Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago
Narrowboat build from Boutique Narrowboats

Our latest luxury narrowboat build – Marbled White

Narrowboat build Our latest luxury narrowboat build, Marbled White, began life last year as a beautiful steel shell from reknowned manufacturer, Elton Moss. The Cheshire based company worked with us to build a bespoke hull; we specified a 12mm base plate to help with stability and longevity, and cut outs for large picture windows to make the most of the natural light. We turned to the engineering next, and opted for a diesel Beta 38, Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago
A posh posh posh narrowboat or canal boat hire

Why canal boat hire has become so popular

Canal boat hire is increasingly popular with a younger age group. In the last few years, we’ve noticed more and more couples under 40 who are interested in learning how to drive a narrowboat and take an adventure together. And this is great for the waterways. Not so long ago the canals were associated with an older demographic and of course this is completely understandable. Generally, canal boat hire can be a slow-paced holiday which Read more

By Sharon Peach, ago