• Narrowboat Hire on the Kennet & Avon Canal in Wiltshire

    Book your 2026 holiday at 2025 prices.

Canal Boat Hire on the Kennet & Avon Canal

Located in the ancient Saxon town of Bradford on Avon, half an hour’s drive from the World Heritage City of Bath, Sally Narrowboats provides canal boat hire on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Our fleet of canal narrowboats offers you the opportunity to cruise the Kennet & Avon Canal, head west to Bath or east towards Reading, with many places of interest between. Our fleet ranges from cosy two berth boats to boats for groups of 10.

Based in Bradford on Avon Marina, Sally Narrowboats is easily accessible from both the M4 and M5 motorways, and only a short taxi journey from Bradford on Avon train station.

To ensure you enjoy your canal narrowboat holiday to the full, before you set off, one of our professional staff will instruct you in the safe handling of the boat, and the operation of locks and swing bridges. For your total peace of mind, our training and handover protocols have been accredited by British Marine.

Sally Narrowboats is now part of the Anglo Welsh group.

My new wife Miriam and I hired a Sally Narrowboat as part of our honeymoon over the past couple of weeks. We would like to thank Sally Narrowboats and the team there for a great trip from start to finish.

They gave a lovely surprise on our arrival with a thoughtful wedding gift of flowers, balloons and a small gift which came in handy on our trip. The boat we used, Leah, was well maintained and in perfect condition. Everything we could need on our trip was there and we were well informed on how to use and operate the boat and its facilities, plus a great user guide and map file on board.

Once again thanks to Sally Narrowboats and the friendly team there in the UK!

Mike and MiriamNew Zealand

Great day out with the family on Jacy, even took the dog. Everything so well organised and run through before we started, informative and helpful…

Worried the kids would be bored but a fun day had by all!!

Thank you.

Debbie WrightBirmingham

Our first adventure aboard the day boat Emily Katherine with Grandad & Daddy playing captain for the day and the children being skippers (Grandma & Mummy did the hard work at the locks). What an amazing family day out! The instructions we were given gave us the confidence to navigate the locks and feel safe as we headed off towards Bath. We almost got to Dundas after stopping for a picnic and a stop off at the Cross Guns for a drink. The boat is well equipped with kitchen essentials including a hob, kettle and fridge, etc. Will definitely be back again as everyone had a great time.

Rebecca Hurst RichardsKent

Kennet & Avon Canal Boat Hire – Basic Boat-Handling & Safety

Canal Boat Holidays

Explore beautiful countryside at your own pace

Canal boat holidays provide a unique and exciting way of exploring some of the most beautiful, rural areas of the UK. They offer the perfect balance between relaxation and adventure, and can provide a wonderful experience for the whole family. The Kennet & Avon Canal runs through some of the most delightful countryside in the south west of England.

There’s something for everyone to enjoy on a canal boat holiday. There’s an abundance of wildlife, stunning scenery and a variety of activities to take part in. You can explore the canal at your own pace, and make frequent stops along the way to explore the local area.

Perhaps the best part of a canal boat holiday is that you can truly relax and enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the canals. From the comfort of your own narrowboat, you can watch the world drift by, take in the beautiful surroundings, and enjoy spending time with your family and friends. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, a quintessential British adventure, or a tour of location attractions, a canal boat holiday has something for everyone.

Find out more about our canal boat holidays here.

Here’s a guide to our canal boat holiday destinations from Bradford on Avon Marina.

Day boat hire

Enjoy a lazy day on the beautiful Kennet & Avon Canal aboard one of our Sally Narrowboats day boats. A typical day trip on one of our four day boats is west to the aqueduct at Avoncliff, or you can travel east as far as the locks at Semington.

Our day boats are designed to carry up to ten people (including children and infants), but you don’t have to have that many on board – two adults can easily manage the boat.

Whether you want to celebrate a special occasion, reward your staff or valued customers, or simply enjoy a day out with friends and family, a trip on one of our day boats will be a memorable day out.

Our day boats are also ideal for meetings or team building days with a difference.

Find out more about day boat hire on the Kennet & Avon Canal here.

Canal barge holiday hire on the Kennet & Avon Canal

A canal barge holiday with Sally Narrowboats is a great way to explore the Kennet & Avon Canal. The slow pace of the barge as it moves through the canals allows you to take in the sights and sounds of the local area, while enjoying the tranquility of the water. You can explore the local area by foot or by bike and often stop and explore a nearby town or village, such as Bath or Bradford on Avon. Canal barge holidays certainly offer a unique and relaxing way to experience the countryside in the South West of England. Sally Narrowboats offer packages to suit all budgets, so you can find a holiday to suit your needs.

Sally Narrowboats is now part of the Anglo Welsh group.