I live on a canal boat and it’s the best way to holiday in the UK – here are my two favourite towns to visit
FOR anyone bored of the usual all-inclusive resorts and seeking a non-conventional staycation should think about boating, according to an expert.
Robbie Cumming has been living on a narrowboat for a decade and has revealed everything about his life on the new series of Canal Boat Diaries.
Robbie’s series, Canal Boat Diaries, is returning to U&YESTERDAY on May 19, 2025, while on his boat the Naughty Lass.
Robbie told Sun Travel: “Boating is a similar feeling to renting out an Airbnb. It’s like being part of the neighbourhood,if you that, then a narrowboat is for you.
“You get to sneak around in towns and cities, and then move onto the next one.”
Robbie has chosen to live on the Naughty Lass permanently, as a way of travelling around the country – which has over 2,000 miles of canals and rivers.
Robbie advised: ” For anyone doing a trip, try and pick the waterways closest to you, you don’t have to go all the way to the other end of the country.
“Head to the nearest river and canal, see what’s available and go from there, that would be an interesting way to do it. Go to your nearest little port and get involved.”
There are lots of ways to look into narrowboating – mostly through websites like Black Prince Holidays, Drifters Canal Boat Holidays, Waterways Holidays or Anglo Welsh.
If you go through a company, they’ll provide you with all the information you need from a boater’s manual to how to use the locks.
The cost of a narrowboat rental varies on size of the boat and season – but can be between £95 and £110 per night.
Having lived and cruised along canals for 10 years, Robbie has seen it all and described boating as “low stakes drama”.
The average narrowboat is usually around 50 to 60 feet in length, and 6 foot 10 inches in width, so it’s close quarters.
Robbie warned: “I think people can underestimate it, they book a trip thinking it’ll be super relaxing and that you’ll be in the back drinking gin and tonic.
“It can be a great way to bring the family together, but you have to be a close family because it can be quite chaotic.
“Practice by holing up in your bathroom for two hours and see how you get on. I’ve seen a lot of couples shouting at each other and bored looking kids onboard.”
There are also sometimes obstacles too as Robbie confesses he got stuck under a bridge in Basingstoke.
He also had to tow another boat when it broke down suddenly in the middle of a waterway.
Another challenge narrowboating presents as opposed to the usual hotel stay is getting around.
While most essentials come with the boat, Robbie warns that you will be “in the middle of nowhere” so bring plenty of supplies including sunglasses and suncream which are a must.
Throughout the series, Robbie travels to new canals from the Oxford Canal, to the Thames, Regent’s Canal and Grand Union as well as the River Wey and Godalming Navigations and Basingstoke Canal.
One standout for Robbie was the town of Abingdon which is six miles south of Oxford.
He said: “There’s lots of space in Abingdon, so it’s great for boaters. It’s one of those quirky old market towns and I found out they have an ancient tradition of hot cross bun throwing.
“Thousands of currant buns are thrown from the roof and people catch them – it’s to mark special occasions.”
As for where to spot boats, Robbie says you can’t go wrong with Camden – and there’s an affordable pub where you can see them on the move.
“There’s a Wetherspoons in Camden called The Ice Wharf, where you can watch all the boats coming and going in the locks – it’s never that busy.”
While Robbie encourages anyone to try narrowboating for a holiday, he warns that living on one is a whole other ball game.
For anyone wanting to ditch mortgages for life on the river – be warned, there are hidden costs.
Each narrowboat owner must pay an annual fee to navigate through the waterways.
These are calculated by boat length, width and whether or not you have a home mooring – this starts at £795.90.
There are plenty of mooring destinations across the UK, some of them are free, but some also require a fee.
Robbie warns that the Thames can prove challenging because lots of the moorings are private and can then cost up to £20.
He added: “That’s for one night, and then there will be someone knowing on the window to check you’ve paid.”
Of course to keep the boat going requires fuel and its also recommended that the boats be insured.
Each boat also needs to be maintained too, Robbie said replacing the Naughty Lass’ windows set him back £10,000.
But as a whole, the lifestyle is worth it. Robbie told us: “The best thing is getting to choose your own scenery, choose your own view – and if you don’t like your neighbours, you can just move.
“You’ll be forced to go to places that you’d never have picked to go to see, and you’ll be all the better for it.”
Canal Boat Diaries Series 6 starts Monday 19th May at 8pm on U&YESTERDAY or stream all episodes on U from launch.