Me and my other half are thinking of going on a narrow-boat holiday next year with a few friends and family. I just wanted to know whats it like, before we start booking?

We've done it 4 times now and we love it. The boats don't have a great deal of space but we've never found it a problem. We find it very relaxing and recharging after city living. We spend most of the time on quiet rural stretches and only go near civilistation when we want to shop. Just watching the world go by on sunny days is wonderful and reading below decks on the rainy ones is so comforting and cosy.

Tips - invest in a hiker's poncho to keep dry when it rains. You can get shoulder bags and shopping inside them. There's not much in the way of drying space on board.

Travel light. I take enough underwear, a couple of short skirts and t-shirts, basic cosmetics and that's about it.

Expect heavy rain!

Thanks for that Swan, we have been thinking about it and i think we will book, not just yet we seen a few sights on line, could you tell me what canel/route you went on thanks, and i did you find the toilet arrangements?

We live in Birmingham so we've just about got a free choice of canals to choose from without having to travel to get there! We like the Avon ring because it's mainly very pretty and rural.

We booked ours locally through a shop in the canal basin in town but if you google 'canal holidays' there's lots of info availble about different companies. If you live in a 'canal town' there should be info available locally in the tourist office or down by the canals.

I went with friends years ago and it was brilliant! We went on the Avon from stratford-on-avon.

i went on one a few years back in the summer. there was 8 of us had a good time apart from a few problems:
1. my brothers tall i mean really tall couldnt fit on the bed. so watch dat one.
2. waterproof clothing we got soaked
3. take hayfether tablets with you i never new i had it till that holiday.
4. may be an ovious one but close the window at night i lost me slipper out there.
not trying to put you of im sure your have a great time we did in the end couse we couldnt stop laughing

LMAO i will take these notes down i know they are important, i don't think we have any one whos really tall thankgod. I will thought have my first experinence on a narrowboat this xmas. One of my firms is doing as do for us in Regents Oark whihc i am really looking forward to. I like the sound of stradford-upon-avon though for the holiday.

I did this years ago with friends...started out at Tewskebury and went round Birmingham, and all sorts..it was great...only thing is it was a cheap holiday 120 years ago but now I can't believe how pricey it is.

Hubby and I have looked at it for taking the kids butits now out of our price range.

I would like to go on a boat or failing that maybe a train.

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My hubby and I and another couple did the Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal in South Wales in June 2006.

It was our first time. We loved it and will do it again as soon as possible.

I say 'go for it' and have a great time!

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Recommend The Oxford Canal, lots of good spots and stuff to see and plenty of good pubs including the Bridge Inn at Bridge 111, great food, welcoming atmosphere.

We used to have a narrowboat and have travelled on most of the canals.

Going to Stratford is great but if there has been a lot of rain the river swells and you can't get under the bridges. Before we owned our own boat we hired one from Evesham and were stuck in the boatyard all week as the river was too high.

All the canals are great and one year we travelled from the North of England down to Oxford and moored in a lovely place where you would think is miles from civilisation but, actually, up a few steps and you are in the centre of the lovely town.

Wherever you choose you can't go far wrong.

The toilet facilities on the hire boats are fine, normal flush toilet and usually full size shower. The galley will have full size cooker and fridge, sometimes with a freezer.

Be prepared for hard work, the locks are fun but hard. We had to sell our boat when we got older but for younger people it is great.

You will have a lovely time.

havent been on a narrow boat but have been on the norfolk broads on a boat which was excellent fun. Did it twice, first time there were 4 of us and we were all in our 20s then many years later 6 of us returned this time with our kids in tow and they enjoyed the experience immensely too. Its a bit like a floating caravan and each lunchtime and evening we moored at a diff place (usually with a pub) and a good time was had by all