Boating in and near Great Yarmouth

City Boats Day Boat Hire

We offer a range of daily scheduled river cruises from 30 minutes to 3¾ hours, leaving from 4 quays in and around Norwich. Why not be your own skipper for the day and hire one of our many picnic boats or day cruisers. ... more

Boating has been described as 'the fastest way of slowing down'. If you're looking for a holiday of pure relaxation, and can see yourself floating down a tranquil canal, surrounded by unmatched scenery, then climb on board and go boating in England. Steering a motorboat, narrowboat or barge through England's picturesque waterways is an unbelievable experience, and a unique way to explore diverse landscapes and historic cities.

Boating in England requires little more than a basic understanding of river navigation and a sense of adventure. You'll experience the excitement of using working locks on old canals, and the joy of taking a boating expedition at your own pace in England's most beautiful regions. Boating operators hire out a variety of rivercraft for either a day trip or an overnight or multi-day tour.

Each region of England offers a distinctive network of navigable rivers and canals, just waiting to be traversed by keen boaters.

The canals of the East Midlands, linked by the River trent and River Soar, meander past delightful villages and through peaceful water-meadows. You can steer your vessel through historic towns such as Cambridge and King's Lynn, or just enjoy the rural scenery that abounds.

The Fens (a fertile, low-lying area in Eastern England) is one of the best boating destinations in England. Fox Narrowboat Holidays offers boat rental and route suggestions for a fantastic boating holiday in the area. The Fens are full of captivating sightseeing attractions to appreciate along the way: admire the ornate buildings of Cambridge University, or marvel at the splendour of Ely Cathedral.

Another area renowned for its scenic waterways and boating opportunities is the Broads, the network of rivers and lakes in the East of England. There's no better way to spend a summer holiday than to cruise along an unspoilt river, mooring occasionally beside a riverside pub to enjoy a few pints or a hearty English meal. Norfolk Broad Direct Cruisers hires out motor cruisers from Norwich and Great Yarmouth so you can explore the beautiful Broads region at your own leisure. The banks of the Broads teem with wildlife and bird life, and the pretty villages with their traditional thatched cottages add to the idyllic picture.

If you'd like to cruise a canal, travel to the Heart of England. Birmingham is known as England’s ‘canal city’, with the Grand Union Canal passing through the city centre. Anglo Welsh Waterway Holidays offers routes for boaters through the lively city of Birmingham and its surrounding canals. Rose Narrowboats departs from Coventry, not far from Birmingham, and offers both day trips and overnight holidays on their top-notch narrowboats. The canals in this area have retained many of their original features, such as bridges and locks, dating back 200 years.

Canals were the main transport network during the Industrial Revolution, and the building of these engineering feats fuelled England's economic growth during the 18th and 19th centuries. Yorkshire is another region that is criss-crossed by historic canals. These canals have largely shed their industrial past and are now tranquil countryside waterways, abundant in bird life and ideal for a boating holiday. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is the longest canal in Britain, and climbs through the beautiful Pennines. The Huddersfield Narrow Canal features Britain's longest, deepest and highest canal tunnel and lovely canalside villages. You can take a boating trip on either of these Yorkshire canals from Leeds or Manchester, with Silsden Boats and Shire Cruisers.

England's most famous river has to be the Thames, and there are several boating options available if you'd like to traverse the mighty waterway in and around London. Kris Cruisers provides Thames Boating Holidays along the navigable stretch of the river from Teddington Lock in West London to Lechlade in Gloucestershire. An ideal way to explore London and its surrounds is to drive yourself in one of their comfortable boats, enjoying the sights as you float along, including historic towns such as Oxford and Windsor.

If stunning scenery and historical buildings float your boat, then head to South West England to take a trip on mighty rivers and lovely canals. The most scenic trips around this region are centred on the World Heritage City of Bath. Alvechurch Waterway Holidays offers a boating tour leaving from Bath. Explore the ancient city and its Roman baths, before travelling on the River Avon, visiting medieval towns and ancient aqueducts.

Whichever region of England you decide to visit, taking a motor boat or narrowboat on England's beautiful waterways will make for a truly memorable holiday.