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!

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Feefo

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 Swift - Biscutate Swift from Wrenbury Mill Marina

Having hired from ABC several times now, I can safely say that everything was perfectly organised once again. From the initial booking right through to dropping the boat off, the whole process was absolutely seamless. We had a fantastic time out on the water. The narrowboat was very well-equipped, clean, and incredibly cosy. The handover was smooth, and the team at the marina were exceptionally friendly and helpful. The route itself was beautiful, and slowing down to the pace of the canals was pure bliss. A special shout-out for how flexible they were: as we had to make a very early start on our final morning, we were able to settle the diesel bill the evening before. This meant we could leave the boat clean and tidy first thing in the morning and head off before the staff had even arrived. We will definitely be booking with ABC again!

09 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Wren - Grenada Wren from Goytre Wharf

Found navigating the canal stressful at times, water level very low.

09 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Grenada Wren from Goytre Wharf

Happy with service given.

09 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Swift - Biscutate Swift from Wrenbury Mill Marina

Having hired from ABC several times now, I can safely say that everything was perfectly organised once again. From the initial booking right through to dropping the boat off, the whole process was absolutely seamless. We had a fantastic time out on the water. The narrowboat was very well-equipped, clean, and incredibly cosy. The handover was smooth, and the team at the marina were exceptionally friendly and helpful. The route itself was beautiful, and slowing down to the pace of the canals was pure bliss. A special shout-out for how flexible they were: as we had to make a very early start on our final morning, we were able to settle the diesel bill the evening before. This meant we could leave the boat clean and tidy first thing in the morning and head off before the staff had even arrived. We will definitely be booking with ABC again!

09 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Dove - Turtle Dove from Aldermaston Wharf

I am a big fan of ABC and have used their boats many times. The staff at Aldermaston are lovely and helpful b ut unforturnateky there were a couple of issues with the boat, most notably the hot water system which could ideally have been checked on turnaround day as it was faulty from the word go. That said the ovr the phone service was friendly and we managed to live with the luke warm water due to the weather. Always left with the confidence that they would have come out if we asked. Some of the detials of the boat are showing their age most notably the dinette bed arrangements and the lack of shelf space in the wardrobes. But overall this is a good quality boat.

09 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Duck - Freckled Duck from Gailey Wharf

Boat has everything you need if you want to cook and enjoy just chilling out we cooked a full roast dinner with plenty of equipment for this.

09 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Duck - Freckled Duck from Gailey Wharf

Professional and great service from start to finish everything explained before you are let on your way and boat are well equipped.

09 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Lark - Arabian Lark from Hilperton Marina

Fräsch och välstädad båt med bra utrustning. Skulle dock ha uppskattat dynor att sitta på ute i fören, det hade gett en ännu mer avkopplande resa.

09 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Dove - Turtle Dove from Aldermaston Wharf

The boat is good (with a few niggles) and the canal is lovely but in desparate need of maintenance. We had a lovely few days if only we could find water taps which are in very short supply.

09 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Warbler - Sedge Warbler from Alvechurch Marina

Great mix of city and countryside, tunnels and locks for our experienced boat crew.

09 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Warbler - Sedge Warbler from Alvechurch Marina

Helpful and friendly staff at booking and at pick up and return of boat from and to the marina.

09 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Lark - Arabian Lark from Hilperton Marina

Trevligt och proffsigt bemötande. Svarade tålmodigt på våra frågor. Skulle gärna hyra båt hos dem igen.

09 Oct 2026

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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.