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Routes

things to do on a canal boat holiday include mooring outside a pub
Canal boat hire

Best Canalside Pubs on the Grand Union Canal

Our handpicked pub stops for romantic canal adventures. There’s something magical about mooring up outside a cosy pub after a day cruising the Grand Union Canal. Whether you’re sipping a pint by the fire or enjoying a meal with waterside views, canalside pubs are a highlight of any narrowboat holiday. Read more

By Simon Youthed, 7 days1 October, 2025 ago
Holiday on a luxury narrowboat
Canal boat hire

10 Things you never knew you’d love about a canal boat holiday

The slow magic of life afloat…   A canal boat holiday offers more than a change of scenery – it offers a complete shift in perspective. At just 4 miles an hour, everything slows: your breath, your thoughts, your sense of time. Even if you’ve never stepped aboard a narrowboat Read more

By Simon Youthed, 3 months23 July, 2025 ago
What's it like to holiday on a canal boat
Canal boat hire

Embrace winter’s charm on the canal

Winter on the canals is a true hidden gem, where the beauty of nature and the serenity of the waterways come together to create a magical experience. While most are huddled indoors, you can enjoy the calm of the canals during this season. Here’s why you should consider a narrowboat Read more

By Simon Youthed, 12 months ago
Inside a Boutique Narrowboat on a holiday close to home UK
Canal boat hire

Holiday close to home

If airport delays, rail strikes and the general state of world stability is putting you off trips abroad, perhaps you are considering a holiday close to home. A narrowboat holiday is certainly one way to see England from a new angle. Whether you are meandering through our rural landscapes or Read more

By Sharon Peach, 2 years27 November, 2023 ago
Couples getaway on a Boutique Narrowboat
Canal boat hire

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. Read more

By Sharon Peach, 3 years22 November, 2022 ago
Grand union canal leicester section in winter
Routes

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 Read more

By Sharon Peach, 3 years6 October, 2022 ago
Foxton Locks canal boat holidays uk narrowboat breaks
Canal boat hire

Everything you need to know about canal boating and more at Foxton Locks

Foxton Locks in the heart of Leicestershire attracts over 4000 boaters each year and is considered one of the most extraordinary heritage sites in the country. A flight of ten locks comprises the longest staircase of the English canals and whilst the feat of engineering is not in doubt, to Read more

By Sharon Peach, 4 years2 November, 2021 ago
Foxton Locks canal boat holidays uk narrowboat breaks
Canal boat hire

Will the Leicester lockdown affect my canal boat break?

Leicester lockdown For at least two weeks from 29th June 2020, the city of Leicester is in lockdown due to the pandemic. This means that if you have a booking with us during that period, you won’t be able to cruise northwards through Leicester city (this will only affect hires Read more

By Sharon Peach, 5 years2 July, 2020 ago
General

Why you tell us life is “better by water”

BBC Radio Leicester approached us this week, to talk about the benefits of narrowboating. The countryside around Market Harborough, they rightly say, is threaded with canals. They want to discuss whether the Leicestershire waterways really can enrich our lives. Their coverage was, of course, a response to the Canal and Read more

By Sharon Peach, 6 years7 November, 2019 ago
Canal boat hire from Boutique Narrowboats
Canal boat hire

Why an autumn narrowboat holiday is the perfect getaway

Which season is your favourite on the canals? As the nights begin to draw in and the weather cools, do your thoughts turn to outdoor adventure? After a summer of picnicking on the towpaths and sipping wine on the deck, perhaps it does sound a bit topsy turvy to relish Read more

By Sharon Peach, 6 years3 October, 2019 ago

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  • TripAdvisor

BOUTIQUE NARROWBOATS
UNION WHARF MARINA
1A CANALSIDE
MARKET HARBOROUGH
LEICESTERSHIRE
LE16 7UW


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