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Passenger Trip Boats on the Inland Waterways

Get afloat and explore new waterways.  Many waterway restoration groups and other organisations operate trip boats to enable you to get aboard a boat and explore new waterways, without having to charter the whole vessel.  You might even be able to get to some of IWA’s Silver Propeller Challenge destinations.  Here, we have listed passenger boat operations that we are aware of.  There are probably many others – please drop us a line at [email protected] if you come across any not listed here, or if you have any corrections to the information listed.

Please check with the operators before travelling to any trip boat.  Weather conditions and availability of volunteer skippers and crew may affect planned trips.  [Page created and information believed to be up to date at November 2024].

Basingstoke Canal

John Pinkerton II – based at Odiham

Runs on selected days Easter to October
Operator: John Pinkerton Canal Cruises Ltd (subsidiary of Basingstoke Canal Society)
Details: www.basingstokecanal.co.uk – Book via website
Maximum Passengers: 50

Kitty – based at Woking

Runs on selected days Easter to October
Operator: John Pinkerton Canal Cruises Ltd (subsidiary of Basingstoke Canal Society)
Details: www.basingstokecanal.co.uk – Book via website
Maximum Passengers: 12

Skipper Charter Trips available on both vessels.

Chelmer and Blackwater Navigation

Albert – based at Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS)

Runs from Easter to October, daily, most days except Mondays 11.00 am to 4.00 pm
Operator: Essex Waterways Ltd
Details: www.essexwaterways.com – Book Online via Bookeo
Maximum Passengers: 12

Blackwater Dawn – based at Heybridge Basin (CM9 4RY)

Runs from Easter to October, daily, most days except Mondays, 11.00 am to 4.00 pm
Operator: Essex Waterways Ltd
Details: www.essexwaterways.com – Book Online via Bookeo
Maximum Passengers: 12

Victoria – based at Paper Mill Lock (CM3 4BS)

Passenger Trips on selected weekend and bank holiday dates
Operator: Essex Waterways Ltd
Details: www.essexwaterways.com – Book Online via Bookeo
Maximum Passengers: 43

Skipper Charter Trips available on all three vessels.

Chesterfield Canal

John Varley II – based at Tapton Mill Lock

Runs from Selected dates, mostly Easter to September
Operator: Chesterfield Canal Trust
Details: www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk – Book Online via website
Maximum Passengers: 12

Madeline – based at Hollingwood Hub

Runs on Saturdays and selected school holiday dates April to October
Operator: Chesterfield Canal Trust
Details: www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk – Book Online via website
Maximum Passengers: 12

Hugh Henshall – based at Shireoaks Marina / Worksop

Runs on selected dates April to October
Operator: Chesterfield Canal Trust
Details: www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk – Book Online via website
Maximum Passengers: 12

Seth Ellis – based at Ranby (between Worksop and Retford)

Runs on selected dates April to October
Operator: Chesterfield Canal Trust
Details: www.chesterfield-canal-trust.org.uk – Book Online via website
Maximum Passengers: 12

Skipper Charter Trips available on all four vessels

Chichester Canal

Richmond – based at Chichester Canal Basin

Runs from Selected dates, mostly Easter to December
Operator: Chichester Ship Canal Trust
Details: www.chichestercanal.org.uk
Maximum Passengers: 32

Kingfisher – based at Chichester Canal Basin

Runs daily during the summer months
Operator: Chichester Ship Canal Trust
Details: www.chichestercanal.org.uk
Maximum Passengers: 22 including wheelchair

Both boats are available for skipper charter

Cromford Canal

Birdswood – based at Cromford (DE4 3RQ)

Passenger Trips on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, Easter to October
Operator: Friends of the Cromford Canal
Details: www.cromfordcanal.org – Book Online at dedicated website www.birdswood.org
Maximum Passengers: 45

River Derwent, Derby

Outram – based at Causey Bridge, Derby City Centre

Passenger Trips on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays, Easter to October
Operator: Derby and Sandiacre Canal Trust
Details: www.derbycanal.org.uk– Book Online via LiveTickets
Maximum Passengers: 12

The boat is available for skipper charter on Thursdays and Fridays.

Droitwich Canals

Pamela May 2 – based at Droitwich

Passenger Trips on selected days – the vessel is mostly used for skipper charter
Operator: Droitwich Canal (Pamela May) Trust
Details: www.pamelamay.co.uk – bookings via website
Maximum Passengers: 12

The boat is available for skipper charter throughout the year

Gloucester and Sharpness Canal

Adventure – based at Saul Junction

Runs from Selected dates, mostly Easter to September
Operator: Cotswold Canals Trust
Details: www.cotswoldcanals.org – Booking details on webpage
Maximum Passengers: 12

The boat is also available for skipper charter bookings

Grand Union Canal

Electra – based at Campbell Park, Milton Keynes (MK9 4BG)

Runs on most dates throughout the year
Operator: Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust
Details: www.bmkwaterways.org – Booking details on separate webpage
Maximum Passengers: 12
The boat is also available for skipper charter bookings

Pride of Batchworth – based at Batchworth Locks, Rickmansworth (WD3 1JJ)

Runs on most dates throughout the year from 10.15 am
Operator: Rickmansworth Waterways Trust
Details: www.rwt.org.uk – Booking details on web page
Maximum Passengers: 12
The Trust has a sister boat, Spirit of Batchworth, for charter bookings.

Grantham Canal

Three Shires – based at Woolsthorpe (NG32 1NY)

Runs from Selected dates, March to October
Operator: Grantham Canal Society
Details: www.granthamcanal.org – Booking details on webpage
Maximum Passengers: 12

The boat is also available for skipper charter bookings

River Great Ouse

John Bunyan – based at Bedford (MK40 1NY and other locations)

Runs on most dates April to October
Operator: Bedford and Milton Keynes Waterway Trust
Details: www.bmkwaterways.org – Book online on the webpage
Maximum Passengers: 50

The boat is also available for skipper charter bookings

Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal

Mr Maysey – based at Over Basin, Gloucester (GL2 8DB)

Runs on selected dates, mostly in the summer
Operator: Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust
Details: www.h-g-canal.org.uk – book online or on site
Maximum Passengers: 8

Sir Charles Morrison – based at Over Basin, Gloucester (GL2 8DB)

Runs on selected dates, mostly in the summer
Operator: Herefordshire and Gloucestershire Canal Trust
Details: www.h-g-canal.org.uk – book online or on site
Maximum Passengers: 7 (including wheelchairs)

Huddersfield Canal

Marsden E-shuttle – based at Marsden

Runs from Weekends, March to October, and daily in summer holidays
Operator: Huddersfield Canal Society
Details: www.hudderfieldcanal.com – No booking – turn up and go
Maximum Passengers: 12 including a wheelchair

Marsden Shuttle – based at Uppermill (Saddleworth Museum & Gallery)

Runs from Weekends, March to October, and daily in summer holidays
Operator: Huddersfield Canal Society
Details: www.hudderfieldcanal.com – No booking – turn up and go
Maximum Passengers: 12

Discovery Boat – based at Standedge Tunnel

Runs Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, March to October, and extra days in summer
Operator: Canal & River Trust
Details: www.canalruvertrust.org.uk – Book online at Digitickets
Maximum Passengers: 12

Lancaster Canal

Waterwitch – based at Crooklands 

Runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays May to September
Operator: Lancaster Canal Trust
Details: www.lctrust.co.uk – booking details on webpage
Maximum Passengers: 12

The boat is also available for skipper charter trips

Monmouthshire Canal

Lord Raglan – based at Goytre Wharf, Llanover (NP7 9EW) 

Runs on weekend days, spring to autumn  11.00 am to 3.00 pm
Operator: Monmouthshire Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust
Details: www.mbact.org.uk – no advance booking – turn up and go
Maximum Passengers: 25 (runs maximum 12 for some trips) including two wheelchairs

Edith-Elizabeth – based at Goytre Wharf, Llanover (NP7 9EW) 

Runs on weekend days, spring to autumn  11.00 am to 3.00 pm
Operator: Monmouthshire Brecon & Abergavenny Canals Trust
Details: www.mbact.org.uk – no advance booking – turn up and go
Maximum Passengers: 10

Lord Raglan is also available for skipper charter trips (max 20 passengers)

North Walsham and Dilham Canal

Ella II – based at Ebridge Lock, North Walsham (NR28 9QJ)

Selected days spring to autumn
Operator: North Walsham and Dilham Canal Trust
Details: www.nwdct.org – booking info on web page
Maximum Passengers: 10

Pocklington Canal

New Horizons – based at Melbourne Basin (YO42 4QJ)

Runs on Sundays and Bank Holidays from Easter to end of October
Operator: Pocklington Canal Amenity Society
Details: www.pocklingtoncanalsociety.org – no advance booking – turn up and go
Maximum Passengers: 12

Charter bookings are available Mondays to Saturdays.

Regent’s Canal

Long Tom – based at London Canal Museum (N1 9RT)

Runs on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays (and some Wednesdays) from Easter to end of October
Operator: London Canal Museum in association with Angel Community Narrowboat Trust
Details: www.canalmuseum.org.uk – there is a separate page for booking online.
Maximum Passengers: 12

Charter bookings are available via Angel Community Narrowboat Trust.

This London Canal Museum webpage also details several commercial trip boats operating from Little Venice and the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

River Stour (Suffolk)

Rosette, Francis J Batten, Edwardian Lady and John Constable – all 4 boats based at Sudbury (CO10 2AN)

Run on weekends April to October, and selected days in August
Operator: The River Stour Trust
Details: www.riverstourtrust.org – Booking details on the web page
Maximum Passengers: 12 or 8 (Rosette and Francis J Batten)

Trusty, Kathleen and Maria Constable – all 3 boats based at Dedham Lock (CO7 6UL)

Run on most days April to October, and selected days in August
Operator: The River Stour Trust
Details: www.riverstourtrust.org – Booking details on the web page
Maximum Passengers: 8 or 9

The boats are also available for skipper charter bookings

Stourbridge Canal

The Black Country Man – based at Stourbridge (DY8 4LU)

Runs April to October
Operator: Fellows, Morton & Clayton Ltd (subsidiary of Stourbridge Navigation Trust)
Details: www.thebondedwarehousestourbridge.co.uk – booking details on website
Maximum Passengers: 50

The boat is also available for skipper charter

Stroudwater Navigation

Endeavour – based at Ebley Wharf, Stroud

Runs on selected dates, mostly in the summer
Operator: Cotswold Canals Trust
Details: www.cotswoldcanals.org – booking details on web page
Maximum Passengers: 10

Perseverance – based at Wallbridge Lock Visitor Centre, Stroud

Runs on selected dates, mostly in the summer
Operator: Cotswold Canals Trust
Details: www.cotswoldcanals.org – booking details on web page
Maximum Passengers: 12

Both boats are available for skipper charter trips throughout the year

River Thames

Inglesham – based at Lechlade

Runs on selected dates, mostly in the summer
Operator: Cotswold Canals Trust
Details: www.cotswoldcanals.org – booking details on web page
Maximum Passengers: 12

The boat is available for skipper charter trips spring to autumn.

There are also a wide variety of commercial operators on the Thames from Oxford downstream to the Thames Estuary.

River Weaver

Edwin Clark – based at Anderton Boat Lift (CW9 6FW)

Runs most days, spring to autumn
Operator: Canal & River Trust
Details: www.canalrivertrust.org.uk – booking online via web page
Maximum Passengers: 56 including 2 wheelchairs

The boat is also available for skipper charter

Wey and Arun Canal

Wiggonholt – based at Loxwood

Runs on selected dates, Easter to December
Operator: The Wey and Arun Canal Trust
Details: www.weyarun.org.uk – booking details on web page
Maximum Passengers: 50

Zachariah Keppel – based at Loxwood

Runs on selected dates, Easter to October
Operator: The Wey and Arun Canal Trust
Details: www.weyarun.org.uk – booking details on web page
Maximum Passengers: 27

Walter Grove – based at Loxwood

Runs on selected dates, Easter to October
Operator: The Wey and Arun Canal Trust
Details: www.weyarun.org.uk – booking details on web page
Maximum Passengers: 12

All three boats are available for skipper charter trips throughout the year, subject to water levels

Wilts & Berks Canal

Dragonfly – based at Wichelstowe, Swindon (SN1 7BX)

Runs on weekends in spring and summer, and Wednesdays in school holidays
Operator: Wilts and Berks Canal Trust
Details: www.wbct.org.uk – booking details on website
Maximum Passengers: 12

The Mary Archard – based at Pewsham

Runs on 2nd Saturday April to September
Operator: Wilts and Berks Canal Trust
Details: www.wbct.org.uk – booking details on website
Maximum Passengers: 8 including wheelchair

Nonsuch – based at Royal Wootton Bassett (SN4 7SE)

Runs on selected weekend days in spring and summer
Operator: Wilts and Berks Canal Trust
Details: www.wbct.org.uk – booking details on website
Maximum Passengers: 8

Worcester and Birmingham Canal

Patricia – based at Dunhampstead, Droitwich (WR9 7JX)

Runs most of the year; trips at 1 pm and 3 pm
Operator: Forge Studio (a canalside shop with café boat)
Details: www.forgestudio.co.uk – booking details on website
Maximum Passengers: 12

The boat is also available for skipper charter