Canals
Berths available
Engineers Wharf Residential L1
Northolt, Greater London · Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm)
£8,979 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Quay and harbour wall berths that allow liveaboards
Alongside a harbour wall or quay. Moorings where the site says you can live on board, outright or by arrangement. Residential moorings often need planning consent and pay council tax; we show the terms as each site states them.
12 sites · 3 with space now · 2 with a waiting list · typical £2,684 a year for a 10m boat (£807–£8,979 across 6 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 12 sites: 5 on canals, 2 on rivers, 3 on estuaries and tidal rivers and 2 on the open coast.
- 3 of the 12 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Engineers Wharf Residential L1, Gweek Classic Boatyard and Hockley Port.
- Keeping a waiting list: Temple Quay and Wapping Wharf.
- For a 10m boat, published prices run from £807 a year (Girvan Harbour) to £8,979 a year (Engineers Wharf Residential L1); the middle of 6 is £2,684 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 50m (164ft) at Hartlepool Marina.
- Of the 12, 10 have electric hook-up, 4 a pump-out, 3 diesel, 1 a boat hoist and 4 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: Bristol City Council (2), Canal & River Trust (3) and Scottish Canals (2).
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Berths available
Gweek Classic Boatyard
Gweek, Cornwall · Helford River
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Hockley Port
Birmingham, West Midlands · Birmingham Canal, Soho Branch
Prices not published
Rivers
Waiting list
Temple Quay
Bristol, Bristol · Bristol Harbour
£1,817 a year for a 10m cruiser
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Waiting list
Wapping Wharf
Bristol, Bristol · Bristol Harbour
£1,817 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Full
Horbury Basin
Wakefield, West Yorkshire · Calder & Hebble Navigation
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Bristol Marina
Bristol, Bristol · Bristol City Docks Floating Harbour
£3,551 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Girvan Harbour
Girvan, South Ayrshire · Firth of Clyde
£807 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Hartlepool Marina
Hartlepool, County Durham · Tees Bay (North Sea)
£2,850 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Viewforth Quay
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£7,450 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Evesham Marina
Evesham, Worcestershire · River Avon
Prices on request
Canals
Seaport Marina
Inverness, Highland · Caledonian Canal
Prices not published
Compared: prices for a 10m boat
| Site | Where | A year, 10m boat | Berths | Liveaboard | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineers Wharf Residential L1 | Northolt, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm) | £8,979 | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Gweek Classic Boatyard | Gweek, Helford River | – | quay and harbour wall berths | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Hockley Port | Birmingham, Birmingham Canal, Soho Branch | – | linear moorings, quay and harbour wall berths | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Temple Quay | Bristol, Bristol Harbour | £1,817 | quay and harbour wall berths | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Wapping Wharf | Bristol, Bristol Harbour | £1,817 | quay and harbour wall berths | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Horbury Basin | Wakefield, Calder & Hebble Navigation | – | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Bristol Marina | Bristol, Bristol City Docks Floating Harbour | £3,551 | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Girvan Harbour | Girvan, Firth of Clyde | £807 | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Hartlepool Marina | Hartlepool, Tees Bay (North Sea) | – | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Viewforth Quay | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £7,450 | quay and harbour wall berths | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Evesham Marina | Evesham, River Avon | On request | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Seaport Marina | Inverness, Caledonian Canal | – | pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
From each site's published tariff. "–" means the site doesn't say. Prices change; confirm with the site.
Questions
How much does a mooring for a 10m boat cost in the UK?
Across the 6 quay and harbour wall berths that allow liveaboards here that publish a price, a 10m boat costs from £807 a year at Girvan Harbour to £8,979 a year at Engineers Wharf Residential L1. The middle figure is £2,684 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest quay and harbour wall berths that allow liveaboards in the UK?
For a 10m boat, Girvan Harbour is cheapest at £807 a year.
Which quay and harbour wall berths that allow liveaboards in the UK have space now?
3 of the 12 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Engineers Wharf Residential L1, Gweek Classic Boatyard and Hockley Port. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at quay and harbour wall berths that allow liveaboards in the UK?
All 12 say you can: Engineers Wharf Residential L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Gweek Classic Boatyard (residential moorings with planning consent), Hockley Port (residential moorings with planning consent), Temple Quay (liveaboards allowed), Wapping Wharf (liveaboards allowed), Horbury Basin (residential moorings with planning consent), Bristol Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Girvan Harbour (liveaboard by arrangement) and 4 more. Living aboard can need planning consent and council tax; ask each site about its terms.
Do I need a licence as well as a mooring?
On top of the mooring fee: of these, 3 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 2 need a Scottish Canals licence and 1 need an Avon Navigation Trust licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Quay and harbour wall berths that allow liveaboards by county
- Bristol 3
Run one of these sites? Tell boaters what you have free in a minute, no account needed. Update your availability