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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AWARD WINNING
BOAT HIRE

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Your recent holiday on Sandpiper - Solitary Sandpiper from Gailey Wharf

Fantastic they gave us clear instructions of how to use the boat in and out , took time to show us how to use the locks and gave us a little boat training before we went on our way. Had a fantastic time. Many thanks.

27 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Sandpiper - Solitary Sandpiper from Gailey Wharf

First time we have ever used a Canal boat a little scary at First but soon got the hang of it. I had a great time hopefully we’ll be doing it again shortly.

27 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Wren - Grenada Wren from Goytre Wharf

Welcoming, efficient, clean and tidy boat, easy and secure parking.

27 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Grenada Wren from Goytre Wharf

Everything needed aboard a lovely boat, clean and well presented. We have travelled with ABC many times now and will certainly do so again when we can afford to.

27 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Spirit - Lochan Ora from Falkirk Marina

The boat and trip were great.

25 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Spirit - Lochan Ora from Falkirk Marina

Other than being a bit confused about all the emails and who to contact in the run up to the holiday the whole experience was great. The staff were helpful in the office, Edinburgh was helpful showing us the boat and the holiday itself and the boat exceeded expectations. The Lochan Ora was cozy and easy to handle, the Canals were beautiful with amazing birds and autumn scenery and we really enjoyed lunch in Linlithgow and Ratho especially.

25 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Wren - Pacific Wren from Anderton Marina

Great return trip to Nantwich. Peaceful countryside. Not many locks which is good for those of us with health challenges. Some nice pubs en route.

25 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Wren - Pacific Wren from Anderton Marina

Arrived at Anderton Wharf with a friendly reception and tour by one of the boatmen. Pacific Wren is a sweet little boat ideal for the two of us and our dog. It was clean, had everything we needed and was easy to manoeuvre. It was easy to load and unload as we could bring our car right down to the boat. Car was left in a secure carpark for the week.

25 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Plover - Oriental Plover from Whitchurch Marina

Superb service from start to finish.When we booked they were so helpful advising the best route to take as first timers.On arrival the handover by Richard was professional and very enjoyable giving us full confidence on handling the boat the locks and everything needed for a week full of adventure..On returning the boat the service was equally professional. The best thing about ABC is the people that work for them

24 Oct 2026

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Your recent holiday on Plover - Oriental Plover from Whitchurch Marina

Superb throughout, no negatives. Anyone considering this type of holiday should definitely try it out it's a brilliant adventure

24 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Kestrel - Common Kestrel from Gailey Wharf

Small marina lovely cheerful staff. The boat was quite old but clean and comfortable, with everything you could possibly need. The Shropshire Union Canal is a peaceful, pretty and surrounded by open countryside. We spotted quite a few Kingfishers.

23 Oct 2026

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Your recent holiday on Swift - American Black Swift from Blackwater Meadow Marina

We had a relaxing week cruising the Llangollen canal

23 Oct 2026

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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

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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.