Want recommendations for a canal Barge cruise in England

Are you looking for self drive or for a hotel boat?

If the latter this is the central clearing house for hotel boat holidays in the UK- https://hotelboating.co.uk/

It is far too soon for these family hotel boat businesses to have planned 2025 yet.

The next question is whether you are interested in the major rivers- the principal examples being the Thames and the Severn (when you would be on a barge) or on the canal system (where you would more than likely be on a narrowboat depending if on the narrow or the broad canals).
An example of a narrow canal is the Stratford [on Avon], of a broad the Grand Union (London to Birmingham].
On rivers, if you are a novice, a hotel boat would be best or essential- especially on the tidal Thames.

Another good idea would be a self drive rental in London and explore London by canal- a fascinating experience. You can still go down to the junctions with the Thames at Brentford and Limehouse.

The above website will give you basic maps of the connected inland waterways system.

A good place to start might be a boat out of Warwick, Stratford on Avon, Oxford or Banbury and start exploring the canal systems in that part of the country.

Another wonderful area to explore by boat is the Pennine Canals around Manchester.

Thank you for your reply.
We are looking for boat hotel on canals. Definitely not a self drive.
So in my research, I have come across the Lady Teal operating in the Leeds-Dales area. Something like this I suppose?
So just looking for recommendations or experience of others who have been on a hotel barge trips in England, and what area they recommend.
Obviously, I have a lot of research to do.

Yes, that's the sort of thing you want.

I can't give you my preferred narrow boat hotel pair, as they are no longer in business but the Lady Teal is pretty typical of what you can expect- I've never heard of chauffeur driven transfers between start and end points on a hotel boat.

From that brochure, the Lady Teal has some wonderful routes on the Leeds and Liverpool, and the broad beam waterways of Yorkshire. Looking in next May the Skipton to Wakefield cruise is a truly magnificent one I know all those routes she does- I've done every inch of them on foot on the towpaths.

If money was no object, I could willingly do the whole season on her.

If I was you I would contact them tomorrow to ask about availability, then book one ASAP. Then worry about the flights.

Thank you for your recommendation of a trip from Skipton to Wakefield. If we choose the Lady teal, that's the route we will do.

Stuart has as usual given you some excellent information but for once has missed an important detail. Lady Teal’s programme for 2025 is already out and on their website. There are cruises planned for May 3rd, 11th, 18th and 27th 2025. The first two are Skipton to Leeds and return for 5 nights and the second row Skipton to Wakefield and return for 6 nights.

Personally I would have recommended cruises further to the west that have the more spectacular scenery but they won’t happen until later in the season.

I have a fair amount of experience of boating these waters as I have been canal narrow boating since 1974 and we have had our own boat since 2003. We’ve cruised all the waterways in Lady Teal’s schedule, some many times, so I can offer further advice if needed. I’ve seen Lady Teal a number of times on the move. She’s a lovely looking boat although I must admit to a preference to narrowboats rather than a wide beam as she is.

But you can book your cruise now if you wish to.