Canals
Berths available
Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire · Calder & Hebble Navigation
£1,640 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Cheapest liveaboard moorings in England
Every site here with a published price, cheapest first, worked out for the same boat so the figures compare. 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.
36 sites · 8 with space now · 6 with a waiting list · typical £2,433 a year for a 10m boat (£944–£8,979 across 36 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 36 sites: 18 on canals, 9 on rivers, 7 on estuaries and tidal rivers and 2 on the open coast.
- 8 of the 36 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge, Selby Boat Centre, Venetian Marina, Bishop Meadow L1, The Embankment Marina, Memory Lane and 2 more.
- Keeping a waiting list: Cambridge City Council Residential Moorings, Mayroyd Moorings, Temple Quay, Wapping Wharf, Thames Ditton Marina and South Dock Marina.
- For a 10m boat, published prices run from £944 a year (Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge) to £8,979 a year (Engineers Wharf Residential L1); the middle of 36 is £2,433 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 50m (164ft) at Hartlepool Marina.
- Of the 36, 28 have electric hook-up, 17 a pump-out, 14 diesel, 2 a boat hoist and 3 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: ABC Leisure Group (8), Bristol City Council (4) and Canal & River Trust (4).
Rivers
Waiting list
Cambridge City Council Residential Moorings
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire · River Cam
£1,537 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Waiting list
Mayroyd Moorings
Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire · Rochdale Canal
£1,929 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Lilford Marina
Oundle, Northamptonshire · River Nene
£2,250 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Northampton Marina
Northampton, Northamptonshire · River Nene
£1,310 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Berths available
Selby Boat Centre
Selby, North Yorkshire · Selby Canal
£2,750 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (from)
Canals
Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation
Chelmsford, Essex · Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation
£3,120 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Estuaries & tidal rivers
St Augustine's Reach
Bristol, Bristol · Bristol Harbour
£1,817 a year for a 10m yacht
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
Nantwich Canal Centre
Nantwich, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
£3,243 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Springwood Haven Marina
Nuneaton, Warwickshire · Coventry Canal
£3,243 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Berths available
Venetian Marina
Cholmondeston, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch)
£3,254 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Berths available
The Embankment Marina
Gravesend, Kent · River Thames
£1,680 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Gayton Marina
Blisworth, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal
£3,565 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Newbury Manor Marina
Newbury, Berkshire · Kennet & Avon Canal
£3,639 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Kings Orchard Marina
Huddlesford, Staffordshire · Coventry Canal
£3,671 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Mercia Marina
Willington, Derbyshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
£3,803 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Leicester Marina
Thurmaston, Leicester, Leicestershire · River Soar
£2,724 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Blackwater Meadow Marina
Ellesmere, Shropshire · Llangollen Canal
£4,158 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Anderton Marina
Anderton, Cheshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
£4,247 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Odessa Boatyard
Newport, Isle of Wight · River Medina
£2,511 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Alvechurch Marina
Alvechurch, Worcestershire · Worcester & Birmingham Canal
£4,460 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Berths available
Memory Lane
Leicester, Leicestershire · Grand Union Canal
£4,560 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Grove Lock Marina
Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire · Grand Union Canal
£4,603 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Medway Bridge Marina
Rochester, Kent · River Medway
£2,671 a year for a 10m yacht
Rivers
Saltford Marina
Saltford, Somerset · River Avon
£2,696 a year for a 10m cruiser
Coast & harbours
Hartlepool Marina
Hartlepool, County Durham · Tees Bay (North Sea)
£2,850 a year for a 10m yacht
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Hannover Pontoon
Bristol, Bristol · Bristol Harbour
£3,042 a year for a 10m yacht
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Bristol Marina
Bristol, Bristol · Bristol City Docks Floating Harbour
£3,551 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Bembridge Harbour
St Helens, Isle of Wight · Bembridge Harbour
£3,800 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Berths available
Brentford Island
Brentford, Greater London · Grand Union Canal
£8,183 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Waiting list
Thames Ditton Marina
Surbiton, Surrey · River Thames
£4,880 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Berths available
Engineers Wharf Residential L1
Northolt, Greater London · Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm)
£8,979 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Waiting list
South Dock Marina
London, Greater London · River Thames
£5,609 a year for a 10m yacht
Compared: prices for a 10m boat
| Site | Where | A year, 10m boat | Per metre a year | Liveaboard | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge | Sowerby Bridge, Calder & Hebble Navigation | £944 | £94.40 | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Cambridge City Council Residential Moorings | Cambridge, River Cam | £1,537 | £153.72 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Waiting list |
| Mayroyd Moorings | Hebden Bridge, Rochdale Canal | £1,117 | £111.67 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Waiting list |
| Lilford Marina | Oundle, River Nene | £2,250 | £225 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Northampton Marina | Northampton, River Nene | £1,310 | £131 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Selby Boat Centre | Selby, Selby Canal | from £2,750 | £275 | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation | Chelmsford, Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation | £1,796 | £179.64 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| St Augustine's Reach | Bristol, Bristol Harbour | £1,817 | £181.65 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Temple Quay | Bristol, Bristol Harbour | £1,817 | £181.65 | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Wapping Wharf | Bristol, Bristol Harbour | £1,817 | £181.65 | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Nantwich Canal Centre | Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal | £1,878 | £187.77 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Springwood Haven Marina | Nuneaton, Coventry Canal | £1,878 | £187.77 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Venetian Marina | Cholmondeston, Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) | £3,140 | £314.03 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Berths available |
| Bishop Meadow L1 | Loughborough, River Soar | £3,272 | £327.22 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| The Embankment Marina | Gravesend, River Thames | £1,680 | £168 | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Gayton Marina | Blisworth, Grand Union Canal | £2,064 | £206.42 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Newbury Manor Marina | Newbury, Kennet & Avon Canal | £2,107 | £210.67 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Kings Orchard Marina | Huddlesford, Coventry Canal | £2,125 | £212.52 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Mercia Marina | Willington, Trent & Mersey Canal | £2,401 | £240.13 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Leicester Marina | Thurmaston, Leicester, River Soar | £2,724 | £272.40 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Blackwater Meadow Marina | Ellesmere, Llangollen Canal | £2,407 | £240.74 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Anderton Marina | Anderton, Trent & Mersey Canal | £2,459 | £245.85 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Odessa Boatyard | Newport, River Medina | £2,511 | £251.06 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Alvechurch Marina | Alvechurch, Worcester & Birmingham Canal | £2,582 | £258.23 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Memory Lane | Leicester, Grand Union Canal | £2,400 | £240 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Grove Lock Marina | Leighton Buzzard, Grand Union Canal | £2,665 | £266.48 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Medway Bridge Marina | Rochester, River Medway | £2,671 | £267.12 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Saltford Marina | Saltford, River Avon | £2,696 | £269.61 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Hartlepool Marina | Hartlepool, Tees Bay (North Sea) | £2,850 | £285 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Hannover Pontoon | Bristol, Bristol Harbour | £3,042 | £304.15 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Bristol Marina | Bristol, Bristol City Docks Floating Harbour | £3,551 | £355.06 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Bembridge Harbour | St Helens, Bembridge Harbour | £3,800 | £380 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Brentford Island | Brentford, Grand Union Canal | £8,183 | £818.32 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Berths available |
| Thames Ditton Marina | Surbiton, River Thames | £4,880 | £488 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Waiting list |
| Engineers Wharf Residential L1 | Northolt, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm) | £8,979 | £897.92 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| South Dock Marina | London, River Thames | £5,609 | £560.90 | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
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 England?
Across the 36 cheapest liveaboard moorings here that publish a price, a 10m boat costs from £944 a year at Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge to £8,979 a year at Engineers Wharf Residential L1. The middle figure is £2,433 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest cheapest liveaboard moorings in England?
For a 10m boat, Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge is cheapest at £944 a year.
Which cheapest liveaboard moorings in England have space now?
8 of the 36 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge, Selby Boat Centre, Venetian Marina, Bishop Meadow L1, The Embankment Marina, Memory Lane, Brentford Island and Engineers Wharf Residential L1. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at cheapest liveaboard moorings in England?
All 36 say you can: Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge (liveaboards allowed), Cambridge City Council Residential Moorings (residential moorings with planning consent), Mayroyd Moorings (residential moorings with planning consent), Lilford Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Northampton Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Selby Boat Centre (liveaboards allowed), Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation (liveaboard by arrangement), St Augustine's Reach (liveaboards allowed) and 28 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, 16 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 5 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways), 1 need an Avon Navigation Trust licence and 3 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Cheapest liveaboard moorings in England, by county
Cheapest liveaboard moorings in other areas
- Scotland 14
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