The Association of Pleasure Craft Operators

The APCO Guide to River and Canal Holidays

For over 50 years APCO has been setting professional standards, enabling passenger navigation and safe guarding the waterways.

Let our members share with you a unique experience afloat, tranquillity, quality and heritage; a canal holiday that you will always remember.

Welcome to the APCO Guide to Inland Waterway Boating Holidays, your introduction to the holidays, boats and services provided by members of the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators. For the last 50 years APCO companies have been successfully pleasing our customers by providing relaxing and fun-filled holidays and short cruises on our rivers and canals.

Hence we are taking the opportunity to celebrate our Golden Jubilee by describing some of the history of the Association and giving you a taste of the heritage of pleasure boating on our inland waterways.

Boating can be an all-round activity and our Association offers all the types of holiday that people have come to expect – short breaks, shared ownership, time-share, self-catering or hotel standard service.

Included in the huge choice of boats available on Britain’s waterways are a vast range of self-drive narrowboats and river cruisers. For those who prefer a skipper and crew there are hotel boats on which - just as in a hotel - everything is done for you. If visiting a waterway is only part of your holiday, or just a day out, there are self-drive day-boats or passenger trip and restaurant boats.

The APCO members listing pages describe hire boat operators based on the canals and rivers of England, Wales and Scotland, hotel and passenger boat operators and companies offering specialist services relating to pleasure boating. To find out more about boating holidays or spending a day out on Britain’s inland waterways contact any APCO member by phone, e-mail or their website.