We've been to England and the UK a number of times and really love it, but after watching just a few of the episodes, we caught ourselves asking each other "did we see this one already?" We may even still do a canal boat charter or rental someday, looks kind of fun and an interesting experience FOR A FEW DAYS. Charming. And the next time we're pounding through crappy weather or I'm trying to dock in a gale without taking out somebody else's million dollar boat I'll wish we were trapped instead on a placid, serene, swan-scattered English canal, but I'd need lots of strong coffee to stay awake. To each his own by all means, I'm sure they're very charming. Beautiful paintwork on some of the boats. I do think we have cornfield drainage ditches in South Dakota bigger than some of those canals though.
Putt putt putt putt putt putt putt putt putt putt putt putt putt...
Now I feel like a big boat/big water snob, but I suspect Lord Nelson would burst out laughing too. Britannia didn't come to "rule the waves" that way -- there are no waves on the canals! (I'm such a snob, my apologies Your Majesty.)