Holiday ideas for a large family group

If you’re looking for a family holiday which will engage all age groups, then a narrowboat holiday in the UK presents the perfect setting making unforgettable memories! From grandparents to grandchildren, canal boating offers a unique blend of relaxation, exploration, and togetherness through the challenges and fun of this unique holiday.

Multi-Gen Canal Boating Adventures

Accommodation Tailored to Large Groups

Our hand-built canal boats come in various sizes and configurations, making them ideal for accommodating large family groups. Our largest boat, the Duchess 8, has four separate bedrooms which can have various configurations of double beds and single beds, plus you can have an extra double bed in the lounge area if required. Our new Signature Duchess 8 canal boat offers a larger kitchen area and stylish decor, plus the all-important USB ports in every room for phone charging.

Hop on and off trips

Perhaps you’d like a canal boat holiday where you have some time on your own as well as time as a family. With Black Prince, this is possible! As long as you don’t exceed the maximum berth numbers (the number of people on board) and we have a note of who will be on board during your trip, then you can invite who you wish to join you on your trip.

For example, you could book at two-week holiday, and invite the children, grandchildren, or conversely your parents or grandparents to join you for a weekend, or week. Then you have the best of both worlds, being able to enjoy some peaceful time on your own as well as the opportunity to spend quality time with family.

You could also do with with friends. Some of our boats, such as the Princess 6, has two separate bedrooms and two separate shower rooms / WCs. Therefore, you have your own private areas during the trip. Friends could join you for the weekend or midweek break, hopping on board at a convenient point in your trip.

Multi-gen holidays – how do they work?

You may have heard the phrase ‘multi-generational holiday’ – this simply means inviting the grandkids or the grandparents along! Canal boating is the perfect kind of holiday for families coming together – there’s no disagreements about how to spend the day or where to visit – you simply enjoy the cruise!

There is as much or as little to get involved with. Some family members may simply wish to relax at the front of the boat, coffee or glass of wine in hand, whilst other like to actively get involved, navigating the locks, steering the boat, and planning where to stop at night. Then you can all get involved with choosing which pub to stop at!

If you are looking for a child-friendly holiday, especially with teenagers, then older children love the responsibility of helping out with the day-to-day running of the boat. You can choose an active route, with plenty of locks so that the children are active most of the day (and therefore sleep well most of the night!) plus they can get involved with the planning of the route. We have our Towpath Activity Guides as well to keep children entertained on their narrowboat holiday.

Booking your large family group holiday

To book your Black Prince holiday, simple book online or call one of our friendly team members. Please note that not all of our bases have the larger Duchess 8 narrowboats, so please call our team if you cannot find the boat you require online. We can recommend the best hire base and the best date to suit your party.