Canal Boat Holidays

a slower pace of life

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0330 333 0590

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

Canal boat hire like you've never experienced before. With 16 starting locations across the waterway network and canal boat sizes to accommodate 2 to 12 people. You, 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 just how relaxing and enjoyable a canal boat holiday can be - watch our boating videos if you don't believe us!

SPECIAL OFFERS & DISCOUNTS!
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AWARD WINNING
BOAT HIRE

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Your recent holiday on Thrush - Swainsons Thrush from Hilperton Marina

The organisation was good. The administration was good. The boat was well prepared for us and the pre-trip briefing by the technician was comprehensive. We are experienced boaters but still good to hear all this information again, particularly as some things change slightly as boats develop. A couple of small things. The kettle leaked from the bottom of the spout, and the water pipe leaked in a couple of places.

22 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Thrush - Veery Thrush from Aldermaston Wharf

As good as it could be. Very thoughtful and professional.

22 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Thrush - Veery Thrush from Aldermaston Wharf

Kind lovely people. Excellent experience from start to finish. The boat was well prepared, and the staff were all cheery and professional. Everything worked well, from start to finish. Will definitely do it again!

22 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Thrush - Swainsons Thrush from Hilperton Marina

See above comments. All excellent.

22 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Bewicks Wren from Alvechurch Marina

Stourport Ring was varied, interesting and fun. There were several closures and adjustments on the route but ABC kept us informed on our trip.

21 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Bewicks Wren from Alvechurch Marina

Very friendly and helpful staff. Our boat was in great condition and had everything we needed to make our trip comfortable and easy.

21 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Plover - Wilson's Plover from Whitchurch Marina

Great size boat for four adults. Well equipped but it would have been great to have pepper & salt on board. The boat was clean & tidy.

21 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Plover - Wilson's Plover from Whitchurch Marina

Great communication from ABCLeisure Group. We booked over a year in advance and they were in contact with us the whole time. The boat was well equipped as well as clean & tidy. The only thing missing was pepper & salt. The manual on board was very comprehensive. Handing the boat back was very easy & quick. You do need to buy a map from reception as it shows where you can fill up with water. Thank you for an amazing trip!

21 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - House Wren from Gailey Wharf

We have only ever used ABC for our narrowboat hires and don't see reason to look elsewhere in future

20 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - House Wren from Gailey Wharf

This was our fifth hire from ABC in the last 5 years and, as ever, the service was excellent

20 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Partridge - Rock Partridge from Nantwich Marina

Everyone at ABC boat hire was very friendly and helpful. The boat was immaculate and very well equipped. We had a great few days on the canal.

20 Jun 2026

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Your recent holiday on Partridge - Rock Partridge from Nantwich Marina

It was our first canal boat experience but we were well briefed and had someone with us from ABC boat hire for the first half hour which was really helpful as there was a lot to take in.

20 Jun 2026

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OUR VIDEO

Find your next canal boat adventure!

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Our Canal Boat 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 Canal

Monmouthshire

Goytre Wharf
View all locations

Download
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 DOWNLOAD
ABC Boat Hire Brochure 2026

Choose your canal boat

Whatever your group size, we have 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

Dog-Friendly
Trips

Your furry friends can join your UK canal cruise for free. Simply add them to your booking - up to three pets per boat at no extra cost.

Pet-Friendly Holidays

What's
on Board?

All of the key essentials have been included. There's central heating, an oven, fridge, charging points, TV and even free-wifi. Bedding and towels are provided, and the boat is fully serviced before handover.

See What's on Board

International Visitor Information

View our locations and within our location pages, you’ll be able to see routes to the airport.

Our Locations

Over
140 Routes
available

View all Routes

Special Offers

View offers

Maps & Guides

View guides

Canal Boat FAQs

Can I hire a boat just for the day?

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Yes - we have day hire boats at several of our locations - For more information, head to our day boat hire website: www.abcdayboathire.com

How much does it cost to rent a canal boat?

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The price of renting a canal boat varies depending on the location and length of your holiday, as well as the canal boat you choose. We provide a range of special offers, including a 2-week discount, 2nd holiday discount, multi-boat discount, loyalty discount and early bird discount. We also allow you to spread the cost of your holiday with our easy payment plan. Contact a member of our friendly team to find out more about the costs of our canal boat holidays.

Where is the best place for a canal boat holiday?

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It all depends on the type of canal boat holiday you’re looking for! We have locations across England, Scotland and Wales such as Anderton Marina, Falkirk Canal and Goytre Wharf. Not sure where to spend your next canal boat holiday? Check our locations, routes and boats for inspiration. Alternatively, contact a member of our knowledgeable team who will offer invaluable canal boat holiday advice.

Can I still book if I haven't 'driven' a boat before?

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No previous experience is necessary, as our boats are extremely easy to handle and full tuition is given at the start of every holiday. Comprehensive cruising information is in a manual on the boat and details are sent out with the holiday documents to introduce you to the theory of locks and the 'rules of the road'. We provide our own 24hr emergency helpline. 

Do you need a license to drive a boat?

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You do not need a driving licence for a canal boat or narrowboat and the boat itself is licenced by us for CRT waterways. There are a few waterways outside their jurisdiction for which you will need to purchase an additional licence as you enter them, such as the Scottish Canals, Rivers Avon, Thames and Wey. Our start bases can provide details when you arrive to pick up your boat. Aldermaston boats have a Thames license.

The maximum number of people allowed on board is restricted to the number of berths.

Can we bring pets aboard?

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This really is a holiday the whole family can enjoy together. We do not charge for any of your pets - however there is normally a maximum of 3 allowed. We obviously request that the boat is returned in a clean and tidy condition and reserve the right to refuse pets or charge for any additional cleaning or repairs required as a result of pets being on board during your holiday.