Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Linear moorings that allow liveaboards in the Midlands
Moored alongside a bank or towpath, one boat behind another. 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 £3,272 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£3,272–£3,272 across 1 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 12 sites: 10 on canals and 2 on rivers.
- 3 of the 12 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Hockley Port and Ladybird Pontoon.
- Keeping a waiting list: Saltisford Canal Centre and Sileby Mill Mooring Basin.
- Only Bishop Meadow L1 publishes a price for a 57ft narrowboat: £3,272 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 21.9m (72ft) at Sileby Mill Mooring Basin.
- Of the 12, 11 have electric hook-up, 3 a pump-out and 1 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: Canal & River Trust (7).
Canals
Berths available
Hockley Port
Birmingham, West Midlands · Birmingham Canal, Soho Branch
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Ladybird Pontoon
Market Drayton, Shropshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices on request
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
Canals
Full
Engine Arm Residential Moorings
Smethwick, West Midlands · Birmingham Canal Navigations
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Lincoln L1
Lincoln, Lincolnshire · Fossdyke Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Nodens Victoria Wharf
Market Drayton, Shropshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Shelmore
Norbury, Staffordshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Silver Street (Residential) L1
Brownhills, West Midlands · Wyrley & Essington Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Ashwood Marina
Kingswinford, Staffordshire · Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Willowbrook Moorings
Shardlow, Derbyshire · Trent and Mersey Canal
Prices not published
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 57ft narrowboat | Berths | Liveaboard | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Meadow L1 | Loughborough, River Soar | £3,272 | linear moorings | 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 |
| Ladybird Pontoon | Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal | On request | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Berths available |
| Saltisford Canal Centre | Warwick, Grand Union Canal (Saltisford Arm) | – | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Waiting list |
| Sileby Mill Mooring Basin | Sileby, River Soar | On request | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Engine Arm Residential Moorings | Smethwick, Birmingham Canal Navigations | On request | linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Full |
| Lincoln L1 | Lincoln, Fossdyke Canal | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Nodens Victoria Wharf | Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Shelmore | Norbury, Shropshire Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Full |
| Silver Street (Residential) L1 | Brownhills, Wyrley & Essington Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Full |
| Ashwood Marina | Kingswinford, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Willowbrook Moorings | Shardlow, Trent and Mersey Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
From each site's published tariff. "–" means the site doesn't say. Prices change; confirm with the site.
Questions
Which linear moorings that allow liveaboards in the Midlands have space now?
3 of the 12 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Hockley Port and Ladybird Pontoon. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at linear moorings that allow liveaboards in the Midlands?
All 12 say you can: Bishop Meadow L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Hockley Port (residential moorings with planning consent), Ladybird Pontoon (liveaboard by arrangement), Saltisford Canal Centre (liveaboard by arrangement), Sileby Mill Mooring Basin (liveaboards allowed), Engine Arm Residential Moorings (liveaboard by arrangement), Lincoln L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Nodens Victoria Wharf (residential moorings with planning consent) 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, 10 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 1 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways) and 1 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Linear moorings that allow liveaboards in the Midlands, by county
Run one of these sites? Tell boaters what you have free in a minute, no account needed. Update your availability