George's:

Canal Boating in the U.K. and Europe

(with some North American information)

Being an introduction for those unfamiliar with the pleasures of canal and waterway cruising, as well as a resource for experienced boaters.

Over 2000 links to canal and waterways related web sites.

Please... they are "narrowboats", not "barges".

Since 1995...
25th anniversary took place on 5 September 2020!
Still comprehensive.
Still non-commercial.

Website Last Modified: Tuesday, 18 May 2021

"Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing-- absolutely nothing--
half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."
-- Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

• What's New?
• Canal Boating - What It's Like
• Canal and Waterway Webcams - see what's happening right now at webcam locations
• Timelapse Canal Videos - also called "hyperlapse" - cruise miles of canal in minutes
• Canals - Features of Interest - locks, tunnels, aqueducts, etc.
• Canal Maps & Route Planning - Online & Offline
• Canal & Waterway Trip reports and Blogs
• Favourite Sections of Canals - by participants in the canals mailing list
• Hiring Canal Boats
  • Canal Boat Hire Firms - UK and Ireland
  • Canal Boat Hire Firms - Europe
  • Canal Boat Hire Agencies - UK & Europe
• Canal Hotel Boats and Barges
• Multilingual French Waterways Links
• Near the Water - Canalside Pubs, Inns, Shopping, Villages, Cottages, etc.
• Living Aboard
• River Cruise Ships (Scotland, and on the Continent)
• Canal Boat Ownership, Building, Maintenance, and Services
• Canal Boating - Books, Paper Maps, and Videos
• Canal & Waterway Magazines
• Waterways FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions - answered by participants in the canals mailing list/uk.rec.waterways newsgroup)
• Canals Internet Resources- General
    * Facebook Groups / Web Forums / Email Mailing Lists * Usenet newsgroups * General info * Shops * Roving Shops * Music *
    * Education/Toys * Model Boats * Carrying/Cargo/Haulage * Specialized Topics * Angling * Historic *
    * Genealogy * Museums * Specific Types of Boats * Situations Vacant * Boat Handling Courses *
    * Boat Maintenance Courses * Safety Equipment * Towpath Walks * Towpath Cycling *
    * Waterway Photographers * Waterway Photographs * Waterway Art and Craft *
    * Canalside New Home Developments *
• Specific Canals & Waterways - listed by country
• Canal/Waterway Size Restrictions
• Mailing List/Forum - over 650 participants, but few messages any more
• Canal- and Waterway-Related Organisations - government; commercial; canal societies; boat-specific societies
• Canal-Related Events, and Music
• Canal Trips - Excursion, Charter, and Restaurant Boats - UK & Ireland
• Canal Humour:   from Larry    from Hellman    from Roger Murray
• Jim Shead's Waterways Glossary:   A-D   E-L   M-R   S-Z   (Jim has shut his website but fortunately we can still see his glossary via archive.org.)
• North American Canals
• About these pages - icons/abbreviations/philosophy