The Association of Pleasure Craft Operators

The APCO Guide to Inland Waterway Boating Holidays

APCO – Hire Boat Companies in the South of England
Companies whose boats are inspected and graded under the Visit Britain independent assessment scheme display the following logo. Companies who take part in the British Marine Federation, Boat Handover Scheme, display the following logo.
Southern England has many varied navigations to explore, including the recently restored Kennet & Avon, the magnificent River Thames, the Grand Union, the network of waterways hidden in the Capital, and the tranquil fens.

The links bottom right to waterway maps and route planning may assist you in choosing the most appropriate route, waterway and company.

APCO members offer a large number of bases, routes and boats to choose from.

South East England Hire Bases
Anglo Welsh Waterway Holidays www.anglowelsh.co.uk
Blackwater Boats www.blackwaterboats.freeserve.co.uk    
Fox Narrowboats Ltd www.foxboats.co.uk
Galleon Marine www.galleonmarine.co.uk    
Guildford Boat House www.guildfordboats.co.uk  
Reading Marine Company www.readingmarine.co.uk    
The Wyvern Shipping Co Ltd www.canalholidays.co.uk
South West England Hire Bases    
Alvechurch Waterway Holidays www.alvechurch.com
Anglo Welsh Waterway Holidays www.anglowelsh.co.uk
Foxhangers (Marine) www.foxhangers.co.uk    
Bath Narrowboats www.bath-narrowboats.co.uk
Sally Boats Ltd www.sallyboats.ltd.uk
White Horse Boats www.whitehorseboats.co.uk    

Boating Holidays
What to expect on a UK boating holiday, different types of holiday and much more.
About APCO
Explaining the purpose and background of the Association of Pleasure Craft Operators.
APCO Members
Listing all APCO member, with their full contact details.
Handover Scheme
When hiring a boat you need to be sure you will be given suitable tuition.
Boat Grading Scheme
Explaining the Boat Grading Scheme from VisitBritain for Hire Boats and Hotelboats.
Boaters Code
British Waterways guide to how all canal users should behave. PDF download.
Boaters Handbook
The BW handbook, available here as a PDF to download, covers everything from Boat Handling, Safety and Rules of the Road.
Kid's pages
Things for the children to do, including a waterways game courtesy of British Waterways.
Useful Links
Links to other useful waterways websites.
Members Section
Information for APCO members, password needed to enter.

Waterways Map
Multimap
Boating Guides to Individual Waterways
Principal Navigations Information
Hire bases in the North West
Hire bases in the North
Hire bases in the Scotland
Hire bases in the Midlands
Association of Pleasure Craft Operators (APCO), Marine House, Thorpe Lea Road, Egham, Surrey, TW20 8BF
Tel:  0844 8009575 Email info@apco.org.uk