Rivers
Lilford Marina
Oundle, Northamptonshire · River Nene
£2,250 a year for a 10m cruiser
Cheapest liveaboard moorings in the Midlands
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.
11 sites · 2 with space now · typical £3,671 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£2,250–£4,560 across 11 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 11 sites: 7 on canals and 4 on rivers.
- 2 of the 11 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1 and Memory Lane.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £2,250 a year (Lilford Marina) to £4,560 a year (Memory Lane); the middle of 11 is £3,671 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 21.9m (72ft) at Northampton Marina.
- Of the 11, 11 have electric hook-up, 9 a pump-out, 8 diesel and 1 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: ABC Leisure Group (5) and Canal & River Trust (2).
Rivers
Northampton Marina
Northampton, Northamptonshire · River Nene
£1,310 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Springwood Haven Marina
Nuneaton, Warwickshire · Coventry Canal
£3,243 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Gayton Marina
Blisworth, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal
£3,565 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
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
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 57ft narrowboat | Per metre a year | Liveaboard | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lilford Marina | Oundle, River Nene | £2,250 | £129.53 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Northampton Marina | Northampton, River Nene | £2,275 | £131 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Springwood Haven Marina | Nuneaton, Coventry Canal | £3,243 | £186.72 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Bishop Meadow L1 | Loughborough, River Soar | £3,272 | £188.38 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Gayton Marina | Blisworth, Grand Union Canal | £3,565 | £205.26 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Kings Orchard Marina | Huddlesford, Coventry Canal | £3,671 | £211.33 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Mercia Marina | Willington, Trent & Mersey Canal | £3,803 | £218.92 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Leicester Marina | Thurmaston, Leicester, River Soar | £3,876 | £223.14 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Blackwater Meadow Marina | Ellesmere, Llangollen Canal | £4,158 | £239.39 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Alvechurch Marina | Alvechurch, Worcester & Birmingham Canal | £4,460 | £256.78 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Memory Lane | Leicester, Grand Union Canal | £4,560 | £262.52 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
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 the Midlands?
Across the 11 cheapest liveaboard moorings here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £2,250 a year at Lilford Marina to £4,560 a year at Memory Lane. The middle figure is £3,671 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest cheapest liveaboard moorings in the Midlands?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Lilford Marina is cheapest at £2,250 a year in Oundle.
Which cheapest liveaboard moorings in the Midlands have space now?
2 of the 11 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1 and Memory Lane. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at cheapest liveaboard moorings in the Midlands?
All 11 say you can: Lilford Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Northampton Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Springwood Haven Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Bishop Meadow L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Gayton Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Kings Orchard Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Mercia Marina (liveaboards allowed), Leicester Marina (liveaboards allowed) and 3 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, 8 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence and 3 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways). Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Cheapest liveaboard moorings in the Midlands, by county
Cheapest liveaboard moorings in other areas
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