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!
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 Swift - Tepui Swift from Aldermaston Wharf

Boat complete, clean and all systems worming well.

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Swift - Tepui Swift from Aldermaston Wharf

Great experience, many interesting towns and pubs . Requires very little boating knowledge, so open to all. Multi locks can be physically challenging, but I did it at 87 years old.

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Plover - Oriental Plover from Whitchurch Marina

Thoroughly enjoyed the experience

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Plover - Oriental Plover from Whitchurch Marina

Highly recommend. Service, boat our holiday brllliant.

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Warbler - River Warbler from Anderton Marina

Have had many holidays with ABC Boat Hire. Always a first class service. Staff welcoming, friendly and helpful.

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Partridge - Sand Partridge from Hilperton Marina

We had a great week in a very well equipped boat.

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Partridge - Sand Partridge from Hilperton Marina

They were highly professional and extremely helpful both when we first arrived and when we returned.

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Warbler - River Warbler from Anderton Marina

Boats are always clean and well equipped.

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Gull - Ross's Gull from Whitchurch Marina

All the staff were friendly, helpful and polite which made the experience very enjoyable. We had a minor technical issue during our stay which was dealt with promptly and efficiently, George the chap who came out to fix the issue was good at his job and a pleasure to deal with. The boat was clean tidy and ready for us when we arrived ,even down to the small welcome box with some essentials in it , which was a nice touch. Thank you to everyone at Whitchurch Marina making a nice holiday.

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Swift - Alpine Swift from Blackwater Meadow Marina

Ellesmere to Llangollen and back. What fabulous scenery

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Swift - Alpine Swift from Blackwater Meadow Marina

I have been before so knew what to expect but extremely welcoming and helpful. Boat was super clean and ready to go. Handover process is very professional.

03 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Gull - Ross's Gull from Whitchurch Marina

First time with ABC boats and would come here with them again. Nice boat well kept despite being a hire boat with some people possibly not as careful when handling them . We have been with other boat hire companies on the canals before and would certainly rate ABC very highly.

03 Oct 2026

Feefo

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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.