Canal Boating Guide
Narrowboat Holiday Guide & Canal Information Hub
Your complete guide to planning and enjoying a canal boat holiday. Explore practical waterways tutorials, discover a little about our fleet history, and delve into our local history.
Welcome to the Boating Hub
More than 50 years experience making canal holidays!
- Ideal Location: We are ideally located for a choice of picturesque, relaxing and exciting canal adventures (including the Llangollen Canal, the Marple aqueduct and the Anderton Boat Lift).
- Great for First-Timers: Located in Middlewich right next to a set of 3 locks, our hirers get full hands-on tuition to the operation of their narrowboat, plus real experience in boat handling, lock operation and waterways safety.
- Ongoing Support: Once you have set off on your holiday, each boat has a detailed narrowboat manual on board and there is 24 hour telephone support available.
If this is your first time on a narrowboat holiday, it's ok if the prospect of a holiday on the water is exciting though also a little daunting :-) especially when it comes to being in charge of your own boat and operating the locks!
Please don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you would like to, at any point before and after booking your holiday. We want to ensure you feel confident throughout your whole holiday journey from looking, booking and going.
How should I start planning my holiday?
Whether you already have a route in mind or you are starting completely from scratch, planning your canal boat holiday is part of the fun! To make things easy, we have put together a step-by-step guide to help you choose the right boat, pick the perfect route, and prepare your crew.
Prefer to chat it through? For personal help planning your holiday, please call us on (+44) (0)1606 833668 or send us an email at info@andersenboats.com.
Already booked your holiday?
Log in to your secure portal to view your itinerary, check your booking details, or make a secure payment towards your balance.
Full Training Included
Never steered a narrowboat before? Don't worry. All holiday makers get full narrowboat and lock operation tuition before they set off.
Our handover process is conducted by a trained and experienced narrowboat handling instructor. We stay with you through the first locks on your adventure, ensuring you feel comfortable handling the narrowboat and operating the locks yourself, ensuring your holiday starts with total peace of mind.
The Boater's Guide
Practical Tutorials & Advice
Your Holiday Experience
What to Expect with Andersen Boats
Download Your Digital Map
Featured AppWhether you are navigating locks, looking for visitor moorings, or trying to find the nearest towpath pub, we suggest downloading the free Open Canal Map.
Boatyard Bonus: It's incredibly helpful for pinpointing your exact location. If you ever need to call our team for advice or assistance, you can tell us exactly where you are!
* Disclaimer: Open Canal Map is a third-party application. It is not affiliated with Andersen Boats and is downloaded and used entirely at your own discretion.
History & Company
Our Story & Our Town
Tales from the Towpath
Don't just take our word for it. See what our captains have to say.
"Absolutely Fantastic Time"
"Everything was top-notch — incredibly professional and friendly. They gave us a thorough introduction which made us feel confident even though we were new to canal boating. The boat was in excellent condition."
- Torgeir
Verified TripAdvisor Review"Prepared for Adventure"
"The boat was in excellent condition, clean and had everything you needed onboard. Safety talk and boat introduction was thorough and we felt prepared to leave on a two week holiday."
- Cheryl
Verified TripAdvisor Review"Fantastic Mid-Week Break"
"The boat was immaculate and the check-in and handover were very professional. We were given a thorough briefing and a demonstration of how to operate the boat and the locks."
- Mark
Verified Google ReviewYears Experience
Boutique Boats
TripAdvisor Ratings
Generations
