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!
LOOKING FOR CANAL BOAT DAY HIRE?

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 Lark - Ashes Lark from Worcester Marina

The boat was well equipped and provided everything you needed. The safety and handover briefings were comprehensive and reassuring. The staff had local knowledge and tips that were very useful.

21 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Gull - Common Gull from Gailey Wharf

Great service from both Katie & Nigel

21 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Gull - Common Gull from Gailey Wharf

Both Katie & Nigel were incredible nice, patient, thorough and helpful, at both check in and check out.

21 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Lark - Meadow Lark from Aldermaston Wharf

ABC were an excellent company to hire a narrowboat from - they provided instructional videos to watch before you arrived and went through anything you were unsure of before handing the boat over. The whole team was very friendly and welcoming. The boat was spotlessly clean, very comfortable and well equipped.

21 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Lark - Ashes Lark from Worcester Marina

We chose a route from Worcester to Stratford that was quite challenging. Whilst the trip itself was good, the lack of mooring on the river led to long days of cruising.

21 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Lark - Meadow Lark from Aldermaston Wharf

ABC were very friendly and knowledgeable about the Kennet & Avon canal and responded promptly to queries and gave us advice when we needed it The boat was spotlessly clean and very well equipped. We would definitely recommend them and hire from them again.

21 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Bunting - Rustic Bunting from Aldermaston Wharf

Not the boat we ordered. Boat had defects as described above.

19 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Bunting - Rustic Bunting from Aldermaston Wharf

Disappointed not to get the boat originally booked. The substitute boat had tired domestic batteries. the dials on the engine panel were falling apart.There was no cap on the diesel tank breather.

19 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Wren - Blue Wren from Hilperton Marina

Our boat (Blue Wren from Hilperton) was clean and fully equipped with plenty of cutlery, pots, and pans to cook meals. The bedding and towels were fresh and clean, and the bed was very comfy. The staff in the office were very helpful on arrival. We were asked to watch a safety video on how to operate the locks, shown to the boat, and given time to unload our bags. After that, an engineer gave us a thorough handover, they also offer driving instructions and will travel a little on the boat with you if needed. We would definitely use them again for our next narrowboat holiday!…..

19 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Lark - Sand Lark from Wrenbury Mill Marina

We started at Nantwich and travelled to Ellesmere Port. The weed at times was a challenge but not anybody’s fault.

19 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Lark - Sand Lark from Wrenbury Mill Marina

Communication is always good and lovely people to speak to when I rang. The boat was ready and clean and handover was clear and prompt. We would hire from them again. We had to start at Nantwich as there was a breach on the Llangollen Canal, but this didn’t massively impact our journey.

19 Sep 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Wren - Blue Wren from Hilperton Marina

Our boat (Blue Wren from Hilperton) was clean and fully equipped with plenty of cutlery, pots, and pans to cook meals. The bedding and towels were fresh and clean, and the bed was very comfy. The staff in the office were very helpful on arrival. We were asked to watch a safety video on how to operate the locks, shown to the boat, and given time to unload our bags. After that, an engineer gave us a thorough handover, they also offer driving instructions and will travel a little on the boat with you if needed. We would definitely use them again for our next narrowboat holiday!

19 Sep 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.