Wyvern Shipping operate 30 luxury narrow boats for canal holidays along the beautiful Grand Union Canal. Based at Linslade the boats can be hired for short breaks or weekly holidays to explore the Ouzel valley and parks of Milton Keynes with its aquaducts and many waterside pubs. Cruising on to the canal museum and tunnel at Stoke Bruerne.

Trade Bodies / Associations

Members of 'Association of Hire Boat Operators', 'Inland Waterways Association', 'Blue Riband Club', 'British Marine Federation'.
Bedfordshire Heartlands Tourism Association award winner 2004 and 2005 for the best holiday accommodation in Bedfordshire.

Specialist Services

Excellent service and good value for money.

The Wyvern Shipping Company Limited was founded in 1953 as a carrying company with three pairs of narrow boats. These boats mainly carried coal from the Coventry coal fields to London and returned with timber to Birmingham.

Times were changing and by 1956 canal holidays were the future trade with former cargo boats being converted to holiday boats.

The Company has been run by the Griffin family since 1961 and is now operated by James & John Griffin, with their dedicated and skilled labour force.

Leaving Leighton Buzzard lock in Bedfordshire is our narrow boat 'Poppy' with her new crew on a short break boating holiday
All our boats have been built in the Wyvern workshops to the highest standard of luxury and safety. To ensure a clean and reliable boat for your holiday we employ an experienced team of cleaners and service engineers. All sheets, duvets, pillowcases and blankets are washed by our local laundry service.

Over the past 50 years many thousands of customers have found the fastest way of slowing down is to have a relaxing holiday on a Wyvern boat. Indeed last year in excess of 70% of our trade came from previous clients and their recommendations.

Trading Since

1954