Canals
Full
Talbot Wharf
Market Drayton, Shropshire · Shropshire Union Canal
£1,984 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Cheapest visitor moorings in the Midlands
Every site here with a published price, cheapest first, worked out for the same boat so the figures compare. Places that take boats for a night or a few: visitor berths with a published nightly rate, or that say they keep space for visitors. Prices are worked out for one night.
19 sites · 2 with space now · 1 with a waiting list · typical £22 a night for a 57ft narrowboat (£10–£25.65 across 19 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 19 sites: 12 on canals and 7 on rivers.
- 2 of the 19 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bosworth Marina and Braunston Marina.
- Keeping a waiting list: Saltisford Canal Centre.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £10 a night (Talbot Wharf) to £25.65 a night (Blackwater Meadow Marina); the middle of 19 is £22 a night.
- Longest boat taken: 21.9m (72ft) at Northampton Marina.
- Of the 19, 18 have electric hook-up, 14 a pump-out, 14 diesel and 4 a boat hoist.
- 6 of the 19 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
- Groups running more than one: ABC Leisure Group (4) and Tingdene Marinas (3).
Canals
Blackwater Meadow Marina
Ellesmere, Shropshire · Llangollen Canal
£4,158 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
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
New Mills Marina
New Mills, Derbyshire · Peak Forest Canal
£3,434 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Oundle Marina Village
Oundle, Northamptonshire · River Nene
Prices not published
Canals
Waiting list
Saltisford Canal Centre
Warwick, Warwickshire · Grand Union Canal (Saltisford Arm)
Prices not published
Rivers
Leicester Marina
Thurmaston, Leicester, Leicestershire · River Soar
£2,724 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Northampton Marina
Northampton, Northamptonshire · River Nene
£1,310 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Farndon Marina
Farndon, Nottinghamshire · River Trent
£3,105 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Newark Marina
Newark, Nottinghamshire · River Trent
Prices not published
Canals
Union Wharf Marina
Market Harborough, Leicestershire · Harborough Arm
Prices not published
Rivers
Upton Marina
Upton-upon-Severn, Worcestershire · River Severn
£4,043 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Berths available
Bosworth Marina
Market Bosworth, Leicestershire · Ashby Canal
£463 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Aston Marina
Stone, Staffordshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
£3,725 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Debdale Wharf Marina
Kibworth, Leicestershire · Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line)
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Braunston Marina
Braunston, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal
£3,170 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Droitwich Spa Marina
Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire · Droitwich Junction Canal
£3,390 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Stourport Marina
Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire · River Severn
£2,635 a year for a 10m cruiser
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A night, 57ft narrowboat | Space |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talbot Wharf | Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal | £10 | Full |
| Blackwater Meadow Marina | Ellesmere, Llangollen Canal | £25.65 | Not reported |
| Gayton Marina | Blisworth, Grand Union Canal | £25.65 | Not reported |
| Kings Orchard Marina | Huddlesford, Coventry Canal | £25.65 | Not reported |
| New Mills Marina | New Mills, Peak Forest Canal | £25.65 | Not reported |
| Oundle Marina Village | Oundle, River Nene | £15 | Not reported |
| Saltisford Canal Centre | Warwick, Grand Union Canal (Saltisford Arm) | £15 | Waiting list |
| Leicester Marina | Thurmaston, Leicester, River Soar | £18 | Not reported |
| Northampton Marina | Northampton, River Nene | £18 | Not reported |
| Farndon Marina | Farndon, River Trent | £20 | Not reported |
| Newark Marina | Newark, River Trent | £20 | Not reported |
| Union Wharf Marina | Market Harborough, Harborough Arm | £20 | Not reported |
| Upton Marina | Upton-upon-Severn, River Severn | £20 | Not reported |
| Bosworth Marina | Market Bosworth, Ashby Canal | £23 | Berths available |
| Aston Marina | Stone, Trent & Mersey Canal | £22 | Not reported |
| Debdale Wharf Marina | Kibworth, Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line) | £22 | Not reported |
| Braunston Marina | Braunston, Grand Union Canal | £25 | Berths available |
| Droitwich Spa Marina | Droitwich Spa, Droitwich Junction Canal | £25 | Not reported |
| Stourport Marina | Stourport-on-Severn, River Severn | £25 | Not reported |
From each site's published tariff, for one night. "–" means the site doesn't say. Prices change; confirm with the site.
Questions
How much is a night on a visitor berth for a 57ft narrowboat in the Midlands?
Across the 19 cheapest visitor moorings here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £10 a night at Talbot Wharf to £25.65 a night at Blackwater Meadow Marina. The middle figure is £22 a night. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest cheapest visitor moorings in the Midlands?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Talbot Wharf is cheapest at £10 a night in Market Drayton.
Which cheapest visitor moorings in the Midlands have space now?
2 of the 19 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bosworth Marina and Braunston Marina. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at cheapest visitor moorings in the Midlands?
6 of the 19 say you can: Blackwater Meadow Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Gayton Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Kings Orchard Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Saltisford Canal Centre (liveaboard by arrangement), Leicester Marina (liveaboards allowed) and Northampton Marina (residential moorings with planning consent). 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, 14 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence and 3 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways). Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Cheapest visitor moorings in the Midlands, by county
Cheapest visitor moorings in other areas
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