July 2026 issue
On the cover of the July issue... Plastic boat Karenza, on the Leicester Line of the Grand Union, near Crick, by Mark Langley.
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Fantastic Plastic
Boat Review
Can an HDPE narrowboat really rival conventional steel construction? To find out, Mark Langley visits a bespoke 45-footer built for a liveaboard couple
Boating Escapes for Long Weekends
Hire-Boat Holidays
From British canals to continental waterways, we look at destinations where a few days afloat can still feel like a proper getaway
Testing the Water
Hire-Boat Holiday
A week-long Easter hire-boat break on the Oxford Canal offered Kerry Moralee and his family more than a holiday – it was a test of whether they could, and would, live afloat
WW Guide to the Lower Thames
Cruising Guide
Hampton Court Palace and Windsor Castle make the Thames a truly Royal River. Steve Elliott follows it from Marlow to London…
Etruria Evolution
Looking Back
It is 40 years since the National Garden Festival brought new life to Etruria. Roger Butler looks back at the changing fortunes of this canalside corner of Stoke-on-Trent, from pottery and steel activity to complete regeneration
Diglis Basins
Waterways Hotspot
At the meeting point of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal and River Severn, this part of central Worcester is rich in industrial heritage, boating activity and waterside character.
The Green Dream
Boat-Ownership
In a rethink of his ideal liveaboard, Hugh Moran swaps indulgence for efficiency, imagining a dream narrowboat designed to tread more lightly on the waterways
Exploring The BCN Old Main Line - part 2
Explore Birmingham
With the help of a 1980s guide, Alison Cannon continues along the BCN Old Main Line – from Smethwick to the Wednesbury Oak Loop – uncovering lost industry, unexpected sights and a canal much changed over the past 40 years
24 Hours in Kinver
Explore Kinver
Adam Porter ties up on the Staffs & Worcs to discover one of south Staffordshire’s most rewarding canal stops
Goole at 200
Looking Back
Celebrating its bicentenary this year, the Yorkshire port of Goole was created by the waterways and shaped by industry. David Cheetham tells the story of this remarkable town
Budget Air Con
Boat-Ownership
Having sweltered through last summer’s heat, Tim Holden set out to cool his floating home. But what realistic options are available to a continuous-cruiser?
Westward on the K and A
Cruising the Kennet & Avon
From Caen Hill to Bath, Andrew Denny rediscovers a canal that can be crowded and slow-going – but is rarely less than fascinating
Buying Used - Short and Wide
Second-Hand Boats
Looking to maximise onboard space without committing to a full-length wide-beam? Shorter, broader craft offer a compelling middle ground. We pick out three contrasting examples from the used market
More than a Boatman's Mate
Last Word
Sara Collins reflects on the overlooked role of working boatwomen – and why their stories still resonate on today’s waterways
