All holiday prices from July 15th 2020 – January 12th 2021 are reduced to reflect the new VAT rate – Read the full notice here if you have already booked. 

Welcome to a slower pace of life

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Unsure of what you're looking for? We're here to help! Just call and talk to one of our Friendly team

0330 333 0590

Canal boat hire

Cast off and leave your cares behind with a boating holiday from ABC Boat Hire.

With 16 starting locations across the waterway network and canal boat sizes to accommodate 2 to 12 people, you and your family or friends can afford to kick back and relax as you enjoy watching Britain's most stunning countryside drift by. See for yourself how relaxing and enjoyable a canal boat holiday can be - watch our videos if you don't believe us!

Coronavirus and your holiday - Latest updates
Click here to read all the latest updates

Let's Chat

Unsure of what you're looking for? We're here to help! Just call and talk to one of our Friendly team

0330 333 0590

WATCH
OUR VIDEO

See for yourself how relaxing a canal boating holiday can be!

VIEW ALL VIDEOS

Our Canal Holiday Locations

Explore our beautiful canal boat hire locations across the country – from the stunning Welsh countryside to the bustling lifestyle of Scotland’s lively cities.

Berkshire

Aldermaston Wharf

Cambridgeshire

March Marina

Worcestershire

Alvechurch Marina

Cheshire

Anderton Marina

Shropshire

Blackwater Meadow Marina

Staffordshire

Gailey Marina

Forth and Clyde

Falkirk

South Wales

Goytre Wharf
View all locations

Request
A Brochure

Our latest brochure makes choosing your boating holiday as easy as ABC. Inside it you'll discover advice on how to plan your trip, find comprehensive boat layouts and details, plus maps, guides and handy tips to help you make the most of our beautiful waterways on your canal holiday.

BROCHURE REQUEST

Choose your canal boat

Whatever your group number, we've a range of beautiful hand-built canal boats to hire for your narrowboat holiday.

Two to Five berth

Accommodating up to 5 people, these boats are perfect for couples or small families searching for their next boating holiday

View Two to Five berth boats

Six to eight berth

These boats accommodate between 6 and 8 people, making for a perfect boating holiday for larger families and groups

View Six to eight berth boats

Up to twelve berth

With space for up to 12 people, if you're planning a multi-family boating holiday or big celebration, these are the boats for you.

View Up to twelve berth boats

Over
140 Routes
available

View all Routes

Special Offers

View offers

Maps & Guides

View guides

Don't take our word for it...

Feefo average score: 4.6 out of 5.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Grebe - Slavonian Grebe from Gayton

Great customer service, clean and well equipped boat

19 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Gull - Silver Gull from Rugby Wharf

Had a great weekend break. Staff very accommodating and efficient. Boat was clean and tidy and ready to go when we arrived.

18 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Wren - Happy Wren from Blackwater Meadow Marina

Communication pre holiday was great, as was checking in, familiarisation and any assistance required! This is the second time we have used ABC boat hire and we will definitely use them again next year!

17 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Grebe - Red Necked Grebe from Hilperton

A lovely relaxing break, despite the weather!

17 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Owl - Marsh Owl from Hilperton

Excellent service throughout. Friendly service. Great facilities on the boat.

17 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Finch - Red Tailed Finch from Goytre Wharf

Fantastic trip

17 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Finch - Red Backed Finch from Goytre Wharf

Excellent customer service. Staff were friendly and helpful

16 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Wren - Marbled Wren from Reedley Marina

great service lovely boad staff very helpful

16 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Warbler - Barred Warbler from Alvechurch

Exceptionally well equipped and fitted out boat. Handover and safety training was thorough and the one minor issue we had during our travels was dealt with promptly and professionally

16 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Goose - Red Breasted Goose from Alvechurch

I would like to give your Alvechurch team a BIG Thank You for a wonderful weekend, we certainly appreciated the friendly professional handover and excellent service provided, particularly from Christina, Cathy, Matt and Paul. As an offshore sailing club the whole experience was different but wonderful, we certainly enjoyed it, so I’m sure you have gained some future customers.

16 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Wren - Sedge Wren from Hilperton

All very clean and heating on board was great

16 Mar 2020

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Swan - Mute Swan from Hilperton

Great boat and information.

16 Mar 2020