Walk-ashore berths on the Grand Union Canal

Berths you step off onto a pontoon, quay or bank: no tender, no rowing out to a buoy. Easier for loading, for a dog, and for getting aboard after dark.

66 sites · 11 with space now · 3 with a waiting list · typical £3,020 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£2,394–£8,979 across 9 published tariffs)

Licence: Canal & River Trust. About licences

At a glance

66 sites: 65 on canals and 1 on an estuary.
11 of the 66 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Brentford Island, Buckby Top Lock L1 Leisure, Bugbrooke Marina, Cowley North (Towpath), Engineers Wharf Residential L1, Knowle Bottom Lock L1 Leisure and 5 more.
Keeping a waiting list: Brentford Semi Tidal L1 Leisure, Cowley South (Off-side) and Saltisford Canal Centre.
For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £2,394 a year (Kingfisher Marina) to £8,979 a year (Engineers Wharf Residential L1); the middle of 9 is £3,020 a year.
Longest boat taken: 21.9m (72ft) at Kingfisher Marina.
Of the 66, 32 have electric hook-up, 16 a pump-out, 12 diesel, 3 a boat hoist and 2 visitor berths.
15 of the 66 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
Groups running more than one: Aquavista (5), Canal & River Trust (40) and Canal & River Trust (Waterside Moorings) (4).

Canals Berths available

Brentford Island

Brentford, Greater London · Grand Union Canal

£8,183 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Seen on their website 8 days ago · Liveaboard

Canals Berths available

Buckby Top Lock L1 Leisure

Daventry, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

£2,606 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Berths available

Bugbrooke Marina

Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

£2,964 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Berths available

Cowley North (Towpath)

Uxbridge, Greater London · Grand Union Canal

£3,260 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Berths available

Engineers Wharf Residential L1

Northolt, Greater London · Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm)

£8,979 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Seen on their website 8 days ago · Liveaboard

Canals Berths available

Knowle Bottom Lock L1 Leisure

Solihull, West Midlands · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Berths available

Leighton Buzzard L1 Leisure

Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Berths available

Memory Lane

Leicester, Leicestershire · Grand Union Canal

£4,560 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Seen on their website 8 days ago · Liveaboard

Canals Berths available

Uxbridge L1 Leisure

Uxbridge, Buckinghamshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Berths available

Weltonfield Marinas

Daventry, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Berths available

Willowbridge Marina

Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Estuaries & tidal rivers Waiting list

Brentford Semi Tidal L1 Leisure

Brentford, Greater London · Grand Union Canal (River Brent)

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Waiting list

Cowley South (Off-side)

Uxbridge, Greater London · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Waiting list

Saltisford Canal Centre

Warwick, Warwickshire · Grand Union Canal (Saltisford Arm)

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago · Liveaboard

Canals Full

Atlip Road L1

Alperton, Greater London · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago · Liveaboard

Canals Full

Aylesbury Waterside Moorings

Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago · Liveaboard

Canals Full

Bascote Wharf L1 Leisure

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire · Grand Union Canal, Leamington Arm

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Blomfield Road (Residential)

Paddington, Greater London · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago · Liveaboard

Canals Full

Blue Lias L1 Leisure

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices on request

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Braunston Towpath L1 Leisure

Daventry, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices on request

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Browns Meadow L1 Leisure

Uxbridge, Greater London · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Bulls Bridge Moorings

Hayes, west London, Greater London · Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm)

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Cassio Bridge Lock L1 Leisure

Watford, Hertfordshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Cooks Wharf L1 Residential

Prices on request

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Hormead Wharf (East)

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago · Liveaboard

Canals Full

Stoke Bruerne L1 Leisure

Northampton, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Stowe Hill L1 Leisure

Daventry, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Three Bridges L1 Leisure

Ealing, Greater London · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Weedon Church L1 Leisure

Northampton, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals Full

Willow Wren Wharf

Hayes, Greater London · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Seen on their website 8 days ago

Canals

Heyford Fields Marina

Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

£3,020 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Kingfisher Marina

Yardley Gobion, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

£2,394 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Willows Marina

Weedon, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal

£2,400 a year for a 57ft narrowboat

Canals

Apsley Waterside & Marina

Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices on request

Liveaboard

Canals

Batchworth L1 Leisure

Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices on request

Canals

Bates Boatyard

Tring, Hertfordshire · Grand Union Canal, Aylesbury Arm

Prices not published

Canals

Cowroast Waterside & Marina

Tring, Hertfordshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices on request

Liveaboard

Canals

Crick Waterside & Marina

Crick, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal, Leicester Line

Prices on request

Liveaboard

Canals

Debdale Wharf Marina

Kibworth, Leicestershire · Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line)

Prices not published

Canals

Denham Marina

Uxbridge, Buckinghamshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Canals

Grenville Marina

Fenny Stratford, Buckinghamshire · Grand Union Canal

Prices not published

Canals

High Line Yachting Ltd (Northolt Boatyard)

Northolt, Greater London · Paddington Arm

Prices not published

Liveaboard

Canals

North Kilworth Wharf

North Kilworth, Leicestershire · Grand Union Canal, Leicester Section

Prices on request

Canals

Packet Boat Waterside & Marina

Uxbridge, Greater London · Grand Union Canal

Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line)

Prices on request

Course, length and connections from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat

Site	Where	A year, 57ft narrowboat	Berths	Space
Brentford Island	Brentford, Grand Union Canal	£8,183	pontoon berths	Berths available
Buckby Top Lock L1 Leisure	Daventry, Grand Union Canal	£2,606	linear moorings	Berths available
Bugbrooke Marina	Bugbrooke, Grand Union Canal	£2,964	linear moorings	Berths available
Cowley North (Towpath)	Uxbridge, Grand Union Canal	£3,260	linear moorings	Berths available
Engineers Wharf Residential L1	Northolt, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm)	£8,979	pontoon berths, quay and harbour wall berths	Berths available
Knowle Bottom Lock L1 Leisure	Solihull, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Berths available
Leighton Buzzard L1 Leisure	Leighton Buzzard, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Berths available
Memory Lane	Leicester, Grand Union Canal	£4,560	pontoon berths	Berths available
Uxbridge L1 Leisure	Uxbridge, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Berths available
Weltonfield Marinas	Daventry, Grand Union Canal	–	pontoon berths	Berths available
Willowbridge Marina	Milton Keynes, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Berths available
Brentford Semi Tidal L1 Leisure	Brentford, Grand Union Canal (River Brent)	–	linear moorings	Waiting list
Cowley South (Off-side)	Uxbridge, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Waiting list
Saltisford Canal Centre	Warwick, Grand Union Canal (Saltisford Arm)	–	pontoon berths, linear moorings	Waiting list
Atlip Road L1	Alperton, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Aylesbury Waterside Moorings	Aylesbury, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Bascote Wharf L1 Leisure	Leamington Spa, Grand Union Canal, Leamington Arm	–	linear moorings	Full
Blomfield Road (Residential)	Paddington, Grand Union Canal	–	pontoon berths	Full
Blue Lias L1 Leisure	Leamington Spa, Grand Union Canal	On request	linear moorings	Full
Braunston Towpath L1 Leisure	Daventry, Grand Union Canal	On request	linear moorings	Full
Browns Meadow L1 Leisure	Uxbridge, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Bulls Bridge Moorings	Hayes, west London, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Arm)	–	linear moorings	Full
Cassio Bridge Lock L1 Leisure	Watford, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings, quay and harbour wall berths	Full
Cooks Wharf L1 Residential	Tring, Grand Union Canal	On request	pontoon berths, pile moorings	Full
Dodford Wharf L1 Leisure	Daventry, Grand Union Canal	On request	linear moorings	Full
Fenny Stratford O/S L1	Fenny Stratford, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Fisheries Lock L1 Leisure	Hemel Hempstead, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Fosse Locks L1 Leisure	Leamington Spa, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Hatton Top Lock	Warwick, Grand Union Canal	On request	linear moorings	Full
Home Park	Kings Langley, Grand Union Canal	On request	linear moorings	Full
Hormead Wharf (East)	Paddington / Kensal Green, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Branch)	On request	pontoon berths	Full
Kensal Green L1	Kensal Green, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Branch)	On request	linear moorings	Full
Kilby Bridge L1 Leisure	Wigston, Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line)	–	linear moorings	Full
Leighton Lock L1 Leisure	Leighton Buzzard, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Marsworth (Residential)	Marsworth, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Rising Lane L1 Leisure	Warwick or Solihull, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Seabrook Lock L1 Leisure	Tring, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Soulbury Three Locks L1 Leisure	Leighton Buzzard / Milton Keynes, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Springwell Lock L1 Leisure	Rickmansworth, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full
Stockton L1 Leisure	Leamington Spa, Grand Union Canal	–	linear moorings	Full

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 on the Grand Union Canal?

Across the 9 walk-ashore berths here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £2,394 a year at Kingfisher Marina to £8,979 a year at Engineers Wharf Residential L1. The middle figure is £3,020 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.

What are the cheapest walk-ashore berths on the Grand Union Canal?

For a 57ft narrowboat, Kingfisher Marina is cheapest at £2,394 a year in Yardley Gobion.

Which walk-ashore berths on the Grand Union Canal have space now?

11 of the 66 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Brentford Island, Buckby Top Lock L1 Leisure, Bugbrooke Marina, Cowley North (Towpath), Engineers Wharf Residential L1, Knowle Bottom Lock L1 Leisure, Leighton Buzzard L1 Leisure, Memory Lane and 3 more. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.

Can you live aboard at walk-ashore berths on the Grand Union Canal?

15 of the 66 say you can: Brentford Island (liveaboard by arrangement), Engineers Wharf Residential L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Memory Lane (residential moorings with planning consent), Saltisford Canal Centre (liveaboard by arrangement), Atlip Road L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Aylesbury Waterside Moorings (liveaboards allowed), Blomfield Road (Residential) (liveaboards allowed), Kensal Green L1 (liveaboards allowed) and 7 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, 66 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.

Broader

Walk-ashore berths on other waterways

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