Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Liveaboard moorings in the Midlands
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.
42 sites · 6 with space now · 3 with a waiting list · typical £3,671 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£2,250–£4,560 across 11 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 42 sites: 29 on canals and 13 on rivers.
- 6 of the 42 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Diglis Waterside & Marina, Hockley Port, Ladybird Pontoon, Memory Lane and Whixall Marina.
- Keeping a waiting list: Saltisford Canal Centre, Sileby Mill Mooring Basin and Sutton Stop Marina.
- 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: 22.9m (75ft) at Woodford Riverside Marina.
- Of the 42, 37 have electric hook-up, 24 a pump-out, 17 diesel, 1 a boat hoist and 4 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: ABC Leisure Group (5), Aquavista (8) and Canal & River Trust (12).
Rivers
Berths available
Diglis Waterside & Marina
Worcester, Worcestershire · River Severn
Prices on request
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
Berths available
Memory Lane
Leicester, Leicestershire · Grand Union Canal
£4,560 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Berths available
Whixall Marina
Whixall, Shropshire · Llangollen Canal (Prees Branch)
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
Waiting list
Sutton Stop Marina
Coventry, Warwickshire · Coventry Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Cambrian Residential Moorings
Birmingham, West Midlands · Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Prices not published
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
Shireoaks Marina
Worksop, Nottinghamshire · Chesterfield Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Silver Street (Residential) L1
Brownhills, West Midlands · Wyrley & Essington Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Sneyd Wharf (Electric) L1
Bloxwich, West Midlands · Wyrley & Essington Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Stoke Bruerne (Residential) L1
Stoke Bruerne, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Alvechurch Marina
Alvechurch, Worcestershire · Worcester & Birmingham Canal
£4,460 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
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
Rivers
Leicester Marina
Thurmaston, Leicester, Leicestershire · River Soar
£2,724 a year for a 10m cruiser
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
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
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
Rivers
Blackthorn Lake Marina
Ringstead, Northamptonshire · River Nene
Prices not published
Canals
Brinklow Waterside & Marina
Brinklow, Warwickshire · Oxford Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Crick Waterside & Marina
Crick, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal, Leicester Line
Prices on request
Rivers
Evesham Marina
Evesham, Worcestershire · River Avon
Prices on request
Rivers
Kings Waterside & Marina
Newark, Nottinghamshire · River Trent
Prices on request
Canals
Nottingham Castle Waterside & Marina
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire · Nottingham and Beeston Canal
Prices on request
Rivers
Redhill Marina
Ratcliffe-on-Soar, Nottinghamshire · River Soar
Prices on request
Rivers
Sawley Waterside & Marina
Long Eaton, Leicestershire · River Trent
Prices on request
Canals
Trinity Waterside & Marina
Hinckley, Leicestershire · Ashby Canal
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
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 |
| Diglis Waterside & Marina | Worcester, River Severn | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Hockley Port | Birmingham, Birmingham Canal, Soho Branch | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Ladybird Pontoon | Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal | On request | Liveaboard by arrangement | Berths available |
| Memory Lane | Leicester, Grand Union Canal | £4,560 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Whixall Marina | Whixall, Llangollen Canal (Prees Branch) | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| 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 |
| Sutton Stop Marina | Coventry, Coventry Canal | – | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Cambrian Residential Moorings | Birmingham, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Engine Arm Residential Moorings | Smethwick, Birmingham Canal Navigations | On request | Liveaboard by arrangement | Full |
| Lincoln L1 | Lincoln, Fossdyke Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Nodens Victoria Wharf | Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Shelmore | Norbury, Shropshire Union Canal | – | Liveaboard by arrangement | Full |
| Shireoaks Marina | Worksop, Chesterfield Canal | On request | Liveaboard by arrangement | Full |
| Silver Street (Residential) L1 | Brownhills, Wyrley & Essington Canal | – | Liveaboards allowed | Full |
| Sneyd Wharf (Electric) L1 | Bloxwich, Wyrley & Essington Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Stoke Bruerne (Residential) L1 | Stoke Bruerne, Grand Union Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Alvechurch Marina | Alvechurch, Worcester & Birmingham Canal | £4,460 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Blackwater Meadow Marina | Ellesmere, Llangollen Canal | £4,158 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Gayton Marina | Blisworth, Grand Union Canal | £3,565 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Kings Orchard Marina | Huddlesford, Coventry Canal | £3,671 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Leicester Marina | Thurmaston, Leicester, River Soar | £3,876 | Liveaboards allowed | 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 |
| Northampton Marina | Northampton, River Nene | £2,275 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Springwood Haven Marina | Nuneaton, Coventry Canal | £3,243 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Ashwood Marina | Kingswinford, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal | – | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Barton Marina | Burton upon Trent, Trent & Mersey Canal | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Blackthorn Lake Marina | Ringstead, River Nene | – | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Brinklow Waterside & Marina | Brinklow, Oxford Canal | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Crick Waterside & Marina | Crick, Grand Union Canal, Leicester Line | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Evesham Marina | Evesham, River Avon | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Kings Waterside & Marina | Newark, River Trent | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Nottingham Castle Waterside & Marina | Nottingham, Nottingham and Beeston Canal | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Redhill Marina | Ratcliffe-on-Soar, River Soar | On request | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Sawley Waterside & Marina | Long Eaton, River Trent | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Trinity Waterside & Marina | Hinckley, Ashby Canal | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Wigrams Turn Waterside & Marina | Napton on the Hill, Southam, Oxford Canal and Grand Union Canal | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Willowbrook Moorings | Shardlow, Trent and Mersey Canal | – | Liveaboard by arrangement | 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 the Midlands?
Across the 11 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 liveaboard moorings in the Midlands?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Lilford Marina is cheapest at £2,250 a year in Oundle.
Which liveaboard moorings in the Midlands have space now?
6 of the 42 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Diglis Waterside & Marina, Hockley Port, Ladybird Pontoon, Memory Lane and Whixall Marina. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at liveaboard moorings in the Midlands?
All 42 say you can: Bishop Meadow L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Diglis Waterside & Marina (liveaboards allowed), Hockley Port (residential moorings with planning consent), Ladybird Pontoon (liveaboard by arrangement), Memory Lane (residential moorings with planning consent), Whixall Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Saltisford Canal Centre (liveaboard by arrangement), Sileby Mill Mooring Basin (liveaboards allowed) and 34 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, 29 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 10 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways), 2 need an Avon Navigation Trust licence and 1 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Liveaboard moorings in the Midlands, by county
Liveaboard moorings in other areas
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