Boating holidays: a staycation with a difference

If you're planning to stay in the UK for your holiday, there are plenty of things you can see and do - and to enjoy a trip you'll remember forever, opt for a boating holiday. You can take in some of the best sights while having a relaxing break on the water.

There are plenty of benefits of a boating holiday, as opposed to a getaway in a cottage or camping - other popular options for staycations. Here are just a few.

Variety of locations

The great thing about the UK is that it has several beautiful destinations that are well worth visiting. Whether you want to spend your holiday near the seaside or you are keen on visiting the Scottish Highlands during your trip, you'll be able to find a boating holiday that is ideal for you.

Britain is home to rolling, green countryside, golden beaches, pine-clad forests and steep mountains, so you can see a variety of sceneries on your break.

You don't have to restrict your break to the countryside, either. Although the UK has breathtaking rural locations - from the Cotswolds and the Pennines to the Lake District - there are also plenty of cities you can visit on your boating break.

Many people think that a visit to London, for instance, will involve staying in an expensive hotel in the heart of the city. However, this doesn't need to be the case and you can see a different side of the capital if you take your vessel on a scenic journey along the River Thames.

With these trips, you can cruise past well-known areas just outside the capital that are beautiful and spectacular to visit in their own right. Windsor Castle and Eton College are just a couple of attractions you can stop at during your trip, or you could moor up near Hampton Court Palace or Oxford and explore these picturesque destinations too.

Breathtaking sights

Wherever you choose to go on your boating holiday, you will certainly enjoy beautiful sights. The great thing about going on a cruise in the UK is that you can take in a variety of sceneries in one trip - even in just a single day!

If you choose to go on a boating holiday in the Norfolk Broads, for example, you'll be blown away with the picturesque settings you pass. This area in south-east England is particularly popular for cruises as it offers the chance for holidaymakers to go cruising on shallow lakes and rivers. This is ideal if you've never been on a boating trip before and want to start off somewhere that isn't too challenging.

The real selling point of this area, though, is its abundance of nature. In the Norfolk Broads you'll find wildlife reserves and conservation centres, so if you have family members that are animal fans, they'll love a trip here. Kingfishers, birds of prey, otters and moorhens can be seen in the wild, while kids who want to spot larger creatures will be able to do so in Banham Zoo. There are more than 2,000 animals in the 35-acre zoo, so children will have plenty to look at on a daytrip here!

Day-long activities

The beauty of going on a boating holiday is that you can stop off at different places every day and visit a variety of new attractions. This means you won't exhaust the sights one destination offers.

However, even if you don't plan to see a new place every day of your trip, you can remain busy as you can spend time travelling from one location to another in a leisurely manner. Indeed, journeying slowly down the waterway on your boat can be a great way to relax on your holiday, taking in the scenery and the atmosphere.

This is a great excuse to keeping busy something that you wouldn't be able to do if you simply rented out a cottage and had nothing to distract you during the daytime. Kids are sure to love playing on the boat too, greeting people as you travel pass. The summertime is the ideal season for a trip such as this, as it enables you and the rest of your family to enjoy being in the outdoors all day long!

Travelling by boat also allows you the freedom to visit a number of destinations in the area. Therefore, if you want to take in as much as possible while still having a fun and relaxing time with your family, boating holidays could be the ideal staycation for you.