Canal Boat Holidays

a slower pace of life

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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

Feefo - Platinum trusted service award 2026 Feefo - Platinum trusted service award 2025 Feefo - Gold trusted service award 2024

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Sedge Wren from Hilperton Marina

Small but comfortable. Enjoyable experience

22 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Grey Wren from Anderton Marina

We were welcomed by ABA boat hire and straight away introduced to the craft of boating and our boat. The hand over and boat operation instruction was very friendly, well explained and thorough. When we set off, the final boat handling instruction was equally good and reassuring. On return after our trip, the hand back was smooth, efficient and friendly.

22 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Grey Wren from Anderton Marina

Cruising the canal was very peaceful, even when navigating through tunnels and past other boats. The scenery was great and the wildlife along the banks lovely. Most of all, the boat was very comfortable and had everything we could have needed for a great break.

22 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Wren - Blue Wren from Hilperton Marina

We chose a challenging route for our first ever canal boat holiday - the Caen Lock Flight - but the comfort of the boat, coupled with the support from ABC and the CBT volunteers (and friends) meant we had a rewarding and enjoyable trip.

22 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Blue Wren from Hilperton Marina

The service from ABC for our first ever canal boat holiday was great. Our boat was very well equipped, clean, with excellent facilities such as bathroom/shower, wi-fi, microwave etc. We would definitely recommend ABC to anyone considering a canal boat holiday!

22 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Lark - Sky Lark from Falkirk Marina

Very kind, helpful staff.

22 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Sedge Wren from Hilperton Marina

Having Wi-Fi on a canal boat is a must, and it's something I didn't have on a previous boat hired from another company. The boat was thoughtfully stocked with useful sundries, making our stay more comfortable and convenient. The combination of good connectivity and well-provided facilities made for a much more enjoyable experience.

22 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Lark - Sky Lark from Falkirk Marina

It was our first time on a narrowboat. Very challenging at first, but such a grand experience.

22 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Dove - Turtle Dove from Aldermaston Wharf

ABC have excellent boats and everything you need is on board. We were novice sailors and could have used a bit more detailed handover. Such as places to moor, canal exequite and expectations as to how far we would travel in our timescale. Given that, we had a fabulous weekend.

21 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Dove - Turtle Dove from Aldermaston Wharf

Aldermaston Wharf is a great location and easy to get too

21 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Swift - Chimney Swift from Gailey Wharf

Lovely relaxing trip. Not many locks on this one which was good for novices like us

20 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Dove - Rock Dove from Worcester Marina

Very friendly staff, the boat was amazing- exceptionally clean with everything you could need. The on board wi-fi was absolutely brilliant, it never let us down. This must have been the first holiday that I have never turned the TV on.

20 Oct 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 book a canal boat holiday for 2027?

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Yes, 2027 canal boat holidays are available to book now from all 16 of our starting locations. Booking early gives you the widest choice of boats and dates, and you can spread the cost with our easy payment plan. Contact our friendly team or use the search above to check availability.

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.