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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Your recent holiday on Wagtail - Mountain Wagtail from Hilperton Marina

A short break and a fun thing to do for a friend's big birthday.

15 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wagtail - Mountain Wagtail from Hilperton Marina

Well equipped and clean on arrival which are the important requirements.

15 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Swan - Trumpeter Swan from Aldermaston Wharf

The boat was clean and well presented. Everything we needed for our three night trip towels washing up liquid dish clothes etc all provided. This was our 10th trip on a Swan class boat with ABC boat hire so handover was very quick.

14 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Swan - Trumpeter Swan from Aldermaston Wharf

This was our tenth trip on an ABC Swan class boat. The first from Aldermaston Wharf. Our previous adventures had been from Gayton Marina on the Grand Union Canal, the Kennet was to be a whole new experiance. As always the overall trip was great fun. Our first night stop was Woolhampton where we spent the evening in the Rowbarge PH. The meal was very good. Saturday we motored up to Newbury which we found to be a very pleassent town with a great choice of pubs and restuerants. Sunday we returned to Aldermaston Wharf and had an excellent Sunday Roast at the Butt Inn. Stayed onboard over night and handed the boat back 9 am Monday morning. The Kennet has a flow which slows progress towards Newbury from Aldermaston this needs to be factored in when planning your day. it also assists on the return. The lifting road bridge on the A340 is closed to boat traffic between 7am and 9am so to get the boat back to the wharf by 9am you need to clear the bridge before 7am. For this reason we decided to return Sunday evening. Hope to be back next year.

14 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Song Wren from Whitchurch Marina

The boat was great and let us have an awesome adventure!

13 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Song Wren from Whitchurch Marina

The boat was in good shape, and clean. I believe Richard checked us out, and he was helpful and reassuring.

13 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Warbler - Pine Warbler from Kings Orchard Marina

Hired from Kings Orchard, good handover from Andrew. After 2 days one of the toilets stopped working (no lights). Sorted with Keeley at Kings Orchard and asked us stop at Springwood Haven on our way to Coventry, where the problem was quickly fixed. We have been hiring from ABC since 2012.

12 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Eagle - Spotted Eagle from Whitchurch Marina

Helpful friendly staff,,clean and well equipped boat

12 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Warbler - Pine Warbler from Kings Orchard Marina

Very nice trip to Coventry, a lot more rural countryside than we expected. Not as many water points as other canals but enough for us.

12 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Eagle - Spotted Eagle from Whitchurch Marina

Helpful staff boat was clean and well stocked

12 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Swift - African Swift from Hilperton Marina

Friendly and helpful. Especially good at calming my wife's first-time nerves. Really patient and informative, with a great sense of humour. John Drinkwater @ Hilperton Marina is a legend!

12 May 2026

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Your recent holiday on Swift - African Swift from Hilperton Marina

Clean and efficient boat with plenty of space and charm. Easy to navigate, even for a first timer... highly recommend trip to Bath. The marina team even called the day before to ask if we'd like to start the holiday early!!

12 May 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.