What to Pack for a Canal Holiday

A canal boat is small. Pack soft bags rather than hard cases, leave the dressy clothes at home, and bring layers. This guide is a practical packing list, organised by category.

Clothing

Layers are everything. The weather changes hour to hour and the temperature swing between standing on a sunlit aqueduct and steering through a damp tunnel is real.

• Waterproof jacket (good one, not a £10 cagoule)
• Waterproof trousers (genuinely useful)
• Fleece or warm mid-layer (one per day is overkill; two for a week is fine)
• Long-sleeved tops and t-shirts
• One warm hat, even in summer
• Sunhat and sunglasses
• Sturdy non-slip shoes or boots (no flip-flops on deck)
• A second pair of shoes that can get wet
• Indoor shoes or slippers
• One pair of jeans or warm trousers per few days
• Shorts (optional; boat decks are not white-trouser country)
• Swimwear if you're heading near a lido or coast

A pair of gardening gloves is the single most useful clothing item for lock work.

Personal kit

• Toiletries (showers are short; nothing fancy needed)
• Prescription medication, plus 2 days' contingency
• Sun cream (you burn faster on water)
• Insect repellent for evenings
• Small first-aid kit
• Eye drops and antihistamines if hay fever is an issue

Crew kit

• Head torch per person (more useful than a hand torch)
• Reusable water bottle each
• Small daypack for off-boat walks
• Binoculars (kingfishers, herons, distant pubs)
• A pack of cards and a couple of board games
• Books, e-readers
• Camera or phone with offline maps
• Folding bike if you have one (optional but brilliant)

Galley extras

UK hire boats supply a basic kitchen kit. Things often missing or worth bringing:

• Sharp kitchen knife (the supplied one is usually blunt)
• Decent tea and coffee (the supplied tea bags are not great)
• Cool bag for off-boat picnics
• Reusable shopping bags
• A roll of bin liners (some boats supply, many don't)
• Tea-towels for genuine cleaning (the supplied ones are decorative)

Boat-specific kit

• A length of paracord (always useful)
• A small bottle of washing-up liquid that doubles as boat-wash
• Latex gloves for the toilet cassette
• A torch with red filter for use at night without ruining night vision
• A small bottle of WD-40 if you're handy with locks

Documents

• Booking confirmation
• Hire firm phone number, including out-of-hours
• Travel insurance documents
• Driving licences (often asked for at handover)
• Cash (£40-£60 for tips, lock-keeper huts, cash-only farm shops)
• Credit card

For children

• Buoyancy aid that genuinely fits (don't rely on sizes "matching" the boat's spares)
• Wellies
• Spare clothes (assume one full change a day at minimum)
• Books, drawing kit, small toys
• A favourite cuddly toy

For dogs

• Lead and harness
• Doggy life jacket
• Towels for towpath mud
• Water bowl
• Food, plus extra
• Poo bags
• Vet records for the trip

See canal holidays with dogs and pets.

Things you don't need

• Hair-dryer (will trip the inverter)
• Kettle (will trip the inverter; use the gas one supplied)
• Smart shoes
• More than one "going-out" outfit
• A full suitcase (use a soft duffel bag)

A simple packing checklist

• Layered clothing for hot, cold and wet
• Sturdy non-slip shoes
• Gardening gloves and hat
• Head torch each
• First-aid kit and medication
• Charger and offline maps
• Documents and cash
• Soft bags, not hard cases

Conclusion

If you've packed for a wet weekend in the Lake District plus one nice meal out, you've nearly packed for a canal holiday. Add a head torch, gardening gloves and a pack of cards and you are done.

Related

• Planning your canal holiday
• Choosing your hireboat
• Safe canal holiday boating
• Canal holidays for families