Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Narrowboat moorings that allow liveaboards in England
Places that take narrowboats. Up to 7ft (2.13m) beam. 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.
61 sites · 9 with space now · 6 with a waiting list · typical £3,565 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£1,640–£8,979 across 21 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 61 sites: 46 on canals, 12 on rivers and 3 on estuaries and tidal rivers.
- 9 of the 61 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Engineers Wharf Residential L1, Hazlemere Marina, Hockley Port, Selby Boat Centre, Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge and 3 more.
- Keeping a waiting list: Aire Valley Marina, Cambridge City Council Residential Moorings, Mayroyd Moorings, Saltisford Canal Centre, Sileby Mill Mooring Basin and Thames Ditton Marina.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £1,640 a year (Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge) to £8,979 a year (Engineers Wharf Residential L1); the middle of 21 is £3,565 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 38m (125ft) at Blackwall Basin Moorings.
- Of the 61, 53 have electric hook-up, 36 a pump-out, 23 diesel, 2 a boat hoist and 8 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: ABC Leisure Group (8), Aquavista (9) and Canal & River Trust (15).
Canals
Berths available
Engineers Wharf Residential L1
Northolt, Greater London · Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm)
£8,979 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Berths available
Hazlemere Marina
Waltham Abbey, Essex · Lee Navigation
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Hockley Port
Birmingham, West Midlands · Birmingham Canal, Soho Branch
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Selby Boat Centre
Selby, North Yorkshire · Selby Canal
£2,750 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (from)
Canals
Berths available
Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire · Calder & Hebble Navigation
£1,640 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Berths available
Upper Large Moorings
Tilehurst, Berkshire · River Thames
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Venetian Marina
Cholmondeston, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch)
£3,254 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Berths available
Whixall Marina
Whixall, Shropshire · Llangollen Canal (Prees Branch)
Prices on request
Canals
Waiting list
Aire Valley Marina
Leeds, West Yorkshire · Leeds & Liverpool Canal
Prices on request
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
Canals
Waiting list
Saltisford Canal Centre
Warwick, Warwickshire · Grand Union Canal (Saltisford Arm)
Prices not published
Rivers
Waiting list
Sileby Mill Mooring Basin
Sileby, Leicestershire · River Soar
Prices on request
Rivers
Waiting list
Thames Ditton Marina
Surbiton, Surrey · River Thames
£4,880 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Full
Abbot's Wharf L1
London, Greater London · Limehouse Cut
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Anderson's Wharf
London, Greater London · Limehouse Cut
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Atlip Road L1
Alperton, Greater London · Grand Union Canal
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Full
Blackwall Basin Moorings
London, Greater London · Blackwall Basin
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Blomfield Road (Residential)
Paddington, Greater London · Grand Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Cambrian Residential Moorings
Birmingham, West Midlands · Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Horbury Basin
Wakefield, West Yorkshire · Calder & Hebble Navigation
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Ice Wharf Marina
London, Greater London · Regent's Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Shireoaks Marina
Worksop, Nottinghamshire · Chesterfield Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Stoke Bruerne (Residential) L1
Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Talavera Moorings
Hackney, Greater London · Regents Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Alvechurch Marina
Alvechurch, Worcestershire · Worcester & Birmingham Canal
£4,460 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Anderton Marina
Anderton, Cheshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
£4,247 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Blackwater Meadow Marina
Ellesmere, Shropshire · Llangollen Canal
£4,158 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation
Chelmsford, Essex · Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation
£3,120 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Gayton Marina
Blisworth, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal
£3,565 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Grove Lock Marina
Leighton Buzzard, Buckinghamshire · Grand Union Canal
£4,603 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Kings Orchard Marina
Huddlesford, Staffordshire · Coventry Canal
£3,671 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Lilford Marina
Oundle, Northamptonshire · River Nene
£2,250 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Mercia Marina
Willington, Derbyshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
£3,803 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Nantwich Canal Centre
Nantwich, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
£3,243 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Newbury Manor Marina
Newbury, Berkshire · Kennet & Avon Canal
£3,639 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Saltford Marina
Saltford, Somerset · River Avon
£2,696 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Springwood Haven Marina
Nuneaton, Warwickshire · Coventry Canal
£3,243 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Swale Marina
Teynham, Kent · Conyer Creek and the Swale
£2,730 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Ashwood Marina
Kingswinford, Staffordshire · Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Barton Marina
Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Battlebridge Moorings
King's Cross, London, Greater London · Regent's Canal
Prices on request
Rivers
Blackthorn Lake Marina
Ringstead, Northamptonshire · River Nene
Prices not published
Canals
Brinklow Waterside & Marina
Brinklow, Warwickshire · Oxford Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Cowroast Waterside & Marina
Tring, Hertfordshire · Grand Union Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Crick Waterside & Marina
Crick, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal, Leicester Line
Prices on request
Canals
Devizes Marina Village
Devizes, Wiltshire · Kennet & Avon Canal
Prices on request
Rivers
Evesham Marina
Evesham, Worcestershire · River Avon
Prices on request
Canals
Galgate Waterside & Marina
Galgate, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices on request
Canals
High Line Yachting Ltd (Northolt Boatyard)
Northolt, Greater London · Paddington Arm
Prices not published
Canals
Limehouse Residential Moorings
London, Greater London · Limehouse Cut
Prices on request
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Limehouse Waterside & Marina
London, Greater London · River Thames
Prices not published
Canals
Nottingham Castle Waterside & Marina
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire · Nottingham and Beeston Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Packet Boat Waterside & Marina
Uxbridge, Greater London · Grand Union Canal
Prices on request
Rivers
Sawley Waterside & Marina
Long Eaton, Leicestershire · River Trent
Prices on request
Canals
Wigrams Turn Waterside & Marina
Napton on the Hill, Southam, Warwickshire · Oxford Canal and Grand Union Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Willowbrook Moorings
Shardlow, Derbyshire · Trent and Mersey Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Willowtree Marina
Hayes, Greater London · Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm)
Prices on request
Rivers
Woodford Riverside Marina
Woodford, Northamptonshire · River Nene
Prices on request
Rivers
Wyre Marina Boatyard
Pershore, Worcestershire · River Avon
Prices on request
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 57ft narrowboat | Liveaboard | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Meadow L1 | Loughborough, River Soar | £3,272 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Engineers Wharf Residential L1 | Northolt, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm) | £8,979 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Hazlemere Marina | Waltham Abbey, Lee Navigation | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Hockley Port | Birmingham, Birmingham Canal, Soho Branch | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Selby Boat Centre | Selby, Selby Canal | from £2,750 | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge | Sowerby Bridge, Calder & Hebble Navigation | £1,640 | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Upper Large Moorings | Tilehurst, River Thames | – | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Venetian Marina | Cholmondeston, Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) | £3,254 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Berths available |
| Whixall Marina | Whixall, Llangollen Canal (Prees Branch) | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Aire Valley Marina | Leeds, Leeds & Liverpool Canal | On request | Liveaboard by arrangement | Waiting list |
| Cambridge City Council Residential Moorings | Cambridge, River Cam | £1,810 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Waiting list |
| Mayroyd Moorings | Hebden Bridge, Rochdale Canal | £1,929 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Waiting list |
| Saltisford Canal Centre | Warwick, Grand Union Canal (Saltisford Arm) | – | Liveaboard by arrangement | Waiting list |
| Sileby Mill Mooring Basin | Sileby, River Soar | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Thames Ditton Marina | Surbiton, River Thames | £8,477 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Waiting list |
| Abbot's Wharf L1 | London, Limehouse Cut | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Anderson's Wharf | London, Limehouse Cut | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Atlip Road L1 | Alperton, Grand Union Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Blackwall Basin Moorings | London, Blackwall Basin | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Blomfield Road (Residential) | Paddington, Grand Union Canal | – | Liveaboards allowed | Full |
| Cambrian Residential Moorings | Birmingham, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Horbury Basin | Wakefield, Calder & Hebble Navigation | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Ice Wharf Marina | London, Regent's Canal | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Shireoaks Marina | Worksop, Chesterfield Canal | On request | Liveaboard by arrangement | Full |
| Stoke Bruerne (Residential) L1 | Stoke Bruerne, Grand Union Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Talavera Moorings | Hackney, Regents Canal | – | Liveaboards allowed | Full |
| Alvechurch Marina | Alvechurch, Worcester & Birmingham Canal | £4,460 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Anderton Marina | Anderton, Trent & Mersey Canal | £4,247 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Blackwater Meadow Marina | Ellesmere, Llangollen Canal | £4,158 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation | Chelmsford, Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation | £3,120 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Gayton Marina | Blisworth, Grand Union Canal | £3,565 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Grove Lock Marina | Leighton Buzzard, Grand Union Canal | £4,603 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Kings Orchard Marina | Huddlesford, Coventry Canal | £3,671 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Lilford Marina | Oundle, River Nene | £2,250 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Mercia Marina | Willington, Trent & Mersey Canal | £3,803 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Nantwich Canal Centre | Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal | £3,243 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Newbury Manor Marina | Newbury, Kennet & Avon Canal | £3,639 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Saltford Marina | Saltford, River Avon | £4,657 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Springwood Haven Marina | Nuneaton, Coventry Canal | £3,243 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Swale Marina | Teynham, Conyer Creek and the Swale | – | Liveaboards allowed | 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 57ft narrowboat cost in England?
Across the 21 narrowboat moorings that allow liveaboards here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £1,640 a year at Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge to £8,979 a year at Engineers Wharf Residential L1. The middle figure is £3,565 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest narrowboat moorings that allow liveaboards in England?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge is cheapest at £1,640 a year.
Which narrowboat moorings that allow liveaboards in England have space now?
9 of the 61 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Engineers Wharf Residential L1, Hazlemere Marina, Hockley Port, Selby Boat Centre, Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge, Upper Large Moorings, Venetian Marina and 1 more. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at narrowboat moorings that allow liveaboards in England?
All 61 say you can: Bishop Meadow L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Engineers Wharf Residential L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Hazlemere Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Hockley Port (residential moorings with planning consent), Selby Boat Centre (liveaboards allowed), Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge (liveaboards allowed), Upper Large Moorings (liveaboards allowed), Venetian Marina (liveaboard by arrangement) and 53 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, 44 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 7 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways), 3 need an Avon Navigation Trust licence and 4 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Narrowboat moorings that allow liveaboards in England, by county
Narrowboat moorings that allow liveaboards in other areas
- Scotland 14
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