Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Liveaboard moorings for 70ft narrowboats
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. Canal marinas and moorings that take a full-length 70ft (21.3m) narrowboat. Many marinas stop at 60ft or 62ft, and some canals can't take a 70ft boat at all.
20 sites · 4 with space now · 1 with a waiting list · typical £4,617 a year for a 70ft narrowboat (£3,272–£8,979 across 12 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 20 sites: 13 on canals, 6 on rivers and 1 on an estuary.
- 4 of the 20 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Engineers Wharf Residential L1, Upper Large Moorings and Venetian Marina.
- Keeping a waiting list: Sileby Mill Mooring Basin.
- For a 70ft narrowboat, published prices run from £3,272 a year (Bishop Meadow L1) to £8,979 a year (Engineers Wharf Residential L1); the middle of 12 is £4,617 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 38m (125ft) at Blackwall Basin Moorings.
- Of the 20, 17 have electric hook-up, 15 a pump-out, 10 diesel, 1 a boat hoist and 1 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: ABC Leisure Group (8) and Canal & River Trust (4).
Canals
Berths available
Engineers Wharf Residential L1
Northolt, Greater London · Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm)
£8,979 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
Rivers
Waiting list
Sileby Mill Mooring Basin
Sileby, Leicestershire · River Soar
Prices on request
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Full
Blackwall Basin Moorings
London, Greater London · Blackwall Basin
Prices on request
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
Anderton Marina
Anderton, Cheshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
£4,247 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Gayton Marina
Blisworth, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal
£3,565 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Goytre Wharf Marina
Goytre, Gwent · Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal
£3,742 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
Canals
Nantwich Canal Centre
Nantwich, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal
£3,243 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
Canals
Devizes Marina Village
Devizes, Wiltshire · Kennet & Avon Canal
Prices on request
Rivers
Sawley Waterside & Marina
Long Eaton, Leicestershire · River Trent
Prices on request
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
Compared: prices for a 70ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 70ft narrowboat | Liveaboard | Longest boat | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Meadow L1 | Loughborough, River Soar | £3,272 | Residential moorings with planning consent | 21.4m (70ft) | Berths available |
| Engineers Wharf Residential L1 | Northolt, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm) | £8,979 | Residential moorings with planning consent | 21.4m (70ft) | Berths available |
| Upper Large Moorings | Tilehurst, River Thames | – | Liveaboards allowed | 21.3m (70ft) | Berths available |
| Venetian Marina | Cholmondeston, Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) | £4,054 | Liveaboard by arrangement | 21.3m (70ft) | Berths available |
| Sileby Mill Mooring Basin | Sileby, River Soar | On request | Liveaboards allowed | 21.9m (72ft) | Waiting list |
| Blackwall Basin Moorings | London, Blackwall Basin | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | 38m (125ft) | Full |
| Stoke Bruerne (Residential) L1 | Stoke Bruerne, Grand Union Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | 21.8m (72ft) | Full |
| Alvechurch Marina | Alvechurch, Worcester & Birmingham Canal | £5,556 | Liveaboard by arrangement | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Anderton Marina | Anderton, Trent & Mersey Canal | £5,290 | Liveaboard by arrangement | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Gayton Marina | Blisworth, Grand Union Canal | £4,441 | Liveaboard by arrangement | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Goytre Wharf Marina | Goytre, Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal | £4,661 | Liveaboard by arrangement | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Grove Lock Marina | Leighton Buzzard, Grand Union Canal | £5,733 | Liveaboard by arrangement | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Kings Orchard Marina | Huddlesford, Coventry Canal | £4,572 | Liveaboard by arrangement | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Nantwich Canal Centre | Nantwich, Shropshire Union Canal | £4,040 | Liveaboard by arrangement | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Saltford Marina | Saltford, River Avon | £5,801 | Liveaboards allowed | 21.9m (72ft) | Not reported |
| Springwood Haven Marina | Nuneaton, Coventry Canal | £4,040 | Liveaboard by arrangement | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Devizes Marina Village | Devizes, Kennet & Avon Canal | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Sawley Waterside & Marina | Long Eaton, River Trent | On request | Liveaboards allowed | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Willowtree Marina | Hayes, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm) | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Woodford Riverside Marina | Woodford, River Nene | On request | Liveaboards allowed | 22.9m (75ft) | 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 70ft narrowboat cost in the UK?
Across the 12 liveaboard moorings for 70ft narrowboats here that publish a price, a 70ft narrowboat costs from £3,272 a year at Bishop Meadow L1 to £8,979 a year at Engineers Wharf Residential L1. The middle figure is £4,617 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest liveaboard moorings for 70ft narrowboats in the UK?
For a 70ft narrowboat, Bishop Meadow L1 is cheapest at £3,272 a year in Loughborough.
Which liveaboard moorings for 70ft narrowboats in the UK have space now?
4 of the 20 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Engineers Wharf Residential L1, Upper Large Moorings and Venetian Marina. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Where can I keep a boat over 21.3m (70ft) in the UK?
All 20 say they take a boat that long. Stated maximums: Bishop Meadow L1 (21.4m (70ft)), Engineers Wharf Residential L1 (21.4m (70ft)), Upper Large Moorings (21.3m (70ft)), Venetian Marina (21.3m (70ft)), Sileby Mill Mooring Basin (21.9m (72ft)), Blackwall Basin Moorings (38m (125ft)), Stoke Bruerne (Residential) L1 (21.8m (72ft)), Alvechurch Marina (21.3m (70ft)) and 12 more. Check beam and draught too.
Can you live aboard at liveaboard moorings for 70ft narrowboats in the UK?
All 20 say you can: Bishop Meadow L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Engineers Wharf Residential L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Upper Large Moorings (liveaboards allowed), Venetian Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Sileby Mill Mooring Basin (liveaboards allowed), Blackwall Basin Moorings (residential moorings with planning consent), Stoke Bruerne (Residential) L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Alvechurch Marina (liveaboard by arrangement) and 12 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, 15 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 4 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways) and 1 need an Avon Navigation Trust licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Liveaboard moorings for 70ft narrowboats by county
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