Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Cruiser moorings that allow liveaboards
Places that take cruisers. River and estuary motor cruisers. 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.
43 sites · 4 with space now · 4 with a waiting list · typical £2,684 a year for a 10m cruiser (£273–£4,970 across 18 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 43 sites: 22 on canals, 12 on rivers, 5 on estuaries and tidal rivers and 4 on the open coast.
- 4 of the 43 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Hazlemere Marina, Selby Boat Centre and Upper Large Moorings.
- Keeping a waiting list: Dart Harbour, Galmpton, Mayroyd Moorings, Sileby Mill Mooring Basin and Whitby Marina.
- For a 10m cruiser, published prices run from £273 a year (Kelpies Marina) to £4,970 a year (Lochrin Basin); the middle of 18 is £2,684 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 50m (164ft) at Hartlepool Marina.
- Of the 43, 36 have electric hook-up, 23 a pump-out, 18 diesel, 6 a boat hoist and 7 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: Aquavista (7), Canal & River Trust (7) and Scottish Canals (6).
Canals
Berths available
Hazlemere Marina
Waltham Abbey, Essex · Lee Navigation
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Selby Boat Centre
Selby, North Yorkshire · Selby Canal
£2,750 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (from)
Rivers
Berths available
Upper Large Moorings
Tilehurst, Berkshire · River Thames
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Waiting list
Dart Harbour, Galmpton
Galmpton, Devon · River Dart
£1,099 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Waiting list
Mayroyd Moorings
Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire · Rochdale Canal
£1,929 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Waiting list
Sileby Mill Mooring Basin
Sileby, Leicestershire · River Soar
Prices on request
Coast & harbours
Waiting list
Whitby Marina
Whitby, North Yorkshire · Whitby Harbour (North Sea)
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Abbot's Wharf L1
London, Greater London · Limehouse Cut
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Anderson's Wharf
London, Greater London · Limehouse Cut
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Cambrian Residential Moorings
Birmingham, West Midlands · Birmingham & Fazeley Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Horbury Basin
Wakefield, West Yorkshire · Calder & Hebble Navigation
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Shireoaks Marina
Worksop, Nottinghamshire · Chesterfield Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Auchinstarry Marina
Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,054 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Coast & harbours
Bembridge Harbour
St Helens, Isle of Wight · Bembridge Harbour
£3,800 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation
Chelmsford, Essex · Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation
£3,120 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Hannover Pontoon
Bristol, Bristol · Bristol Harbour
£3,042 a year for a 10m yacht
Coast & harbours
Hartlepool Marina
Hartlepool, County Durham · Tees Bay (North Sea)
£2,850 a year for a 10m yacht
Canals
Kelpies Marina
Falkirk, Falkirk · Forth & Clyde Canal
£273 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Lilford Marina
Oundle, Northamptonshire · River Nene
£2,250 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Lochrin Basin
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£8,633 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Medway Bridge Marina
Rochester, Kent · River Medway
£2,671 a year for a 10m yacht
Rivers
Odessa Boatyard
Newport, Isle of Wight · River Medina
£2,511 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Saltford Marina
Saltford, Somerset · River Avon
£2,696 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Southbank Marina
Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,595 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Speirs Wharf
Glasgow, Glasgow City · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,104 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Ashwood Marina
Kingswinford, Staffordshire · Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
Prices not published
Rivers
Blackthorn Lake Marina
Ringstead, Northamptonshire · River Nene
Prices not published
Rivers
Buckden Waterside & Marina
Buckden, Cambridgeshire · River Great Ouse
Prices on request
Canals
Cowroast Waterside & Marina
Tring, Hertfordshire · Grand Union 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
Canals
Galgate Waterside & Marina
Galgate, Lancashire · Lancaster Canal
Prices on request
Canals
High Line Yachting Ltd (Northolt Boatyard)
Northolt, Greater London · Paddington Arm
Prices not published
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Hull Waterside & Marina
Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire · Humber Estuary
Prices on request
Coast & harbours
Milford Marina
Milford Haven, Dyfed · Milford Haven Waterway
Prices on request
Canals
Nottingham Castle Waterside & Marina
Nottingham, Nottinghamshire · Nottingham and Beeston Canal
Prices on request
Estuaries & tidal rivers
Port Werburgh Marina
Rochester, Kent · Medway Estuary
Prices not published
Rivers
Sawley Waterside & Marina
Long Eaton, Leicestershire · River Trent
Prices on request
Canals
Seaport Marina
Inverness, Highland · Caledonian Canal
Prices not published
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 10m cruiser
| Site | Where | A year, 10m cruiser | Liveaboard | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Meadow L1 | Loughborough, River Soar | £3,272 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Hazlemere Marina | Waltham Abbey, Lee Navigation | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Selby Boat Centre | Selby, Selby Canal | from £2,750 | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Upper Large Moorings | Tilehurst, River Thames | – | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Dart Harbour, Galmpton | Galmpton, River Dart | £1,099 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Waiting list |
| Mayroyd Moorings | Hebden Bridge, Rochdale Canal | £1,117 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Waiting list |
| Sileby Mill Mooring Basin | Sileby, River Soar | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Whitby Marina | Whitby, Whitby Harbour (North Sea) | – | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Abbot's Wharf L1 | London, Limehouse Cut | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Anderson's Wharf | London, Limehouse Cut | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Cambrian Residential Moorings | Birmingham, Birmingham & Fazeley Canal | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Horbury Basin | Wakefield, Calder & Hebble Navigation | – | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Shireoaks Marina | Worksop, Chesterfield Canal | On request | Liveaboard by arrangement | Full |
| Auchinstarry Marina | Kilsyth, Forth & Clyde Canal | £1,758 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Bembridge Harbour | St Helens, Bembridge Harbour | £3,800 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation | Chelmsford, Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation | £1,796 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Hannover Pontoon | Bristol, Bristol Harbour | £3,042 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Hartlepool Marina | Hartlepool, Tees Bay (North Sea) | £2,850 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Kelpies Marina | Falkirk, Forth & Clyde Canal | £273 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Lilford Marina | Oundle, River Nene | £2,250 | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Lochrin Basin | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £4,970 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Medway Bridge Marina | Rochester, River Medway | £2,671 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Odessa Boatyard | Newport, River Medina | £2,511 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Saltford Marina | Saltford, River Avon | £2,696 | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Southbank Marina | Kirkintilloch, Forth & Clyde Canal | £2,070 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Speirs Wharf | Glasgow, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,104 | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Ashwood Marina | Kingswinford, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal | – | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Blackthorn Lake Marina | Ringstead, River Nene | – | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Buckden Waterside & Marina | Buckden, River Great Ouse | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Cowroast Waterside & Marina | Tring, Grand Union 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 |
| Galgate Waterside & Marina | Galgate, Lancaster Canal | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| High Line Yachting Ltd (Northolt Boatyard) | Northolt, Paddington Arm | – | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Hull Waterside & Marina | Hull, Humber Estuary | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Milford Marina | Milford Haven, Milford Haven Waterway | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Nottingham Castle Waterside & Marina | Nottingham, Nottingham and Beeston Canal | On request | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Port Werburgh Marina | Rochester, Medway Estuary | – | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Sawley Waterside & Marina | Long Eaton, River Trent | On request | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Seaport Marina | Inverness, Caledonian Canal | £2,702 | Residential moorings with planning consent | 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 10m cruiser cost in the UK?
Across the 18 cruiser moorings that allow liveaboards here that publish a price, a 10m cruiser costs from £273 a year at Kelpies Marina to £4,970 a year at Lochrin Basin. The middle figure is £2,684 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest cruiser moorings that allow liveaboards in the UK?
For a 10m cruiser, Kelpies Marina is cheapest at £273 a year in Falkirk.
Which cruiser moorings that allow liveaboards in the UK have space now?
4 of the 43 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Hazlemere Marina, Selby Boat Centre and Upper Large Moorings. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at cruiser moorings that allow liveaboards in the UK?
All 43 say you can: Bishop Meadow L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Hazlemere Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Selby Boat Centre (liveaboards allowed), Upper Large Moorings (liveaboards allowed), Dart Harbour, Galmpton (residential moorings with planning consent), Mayroyd Moorings (residential moorings with planning consent), Sileby Mill Mooring Basin (liveaboards allowed), Whitby Marina (liveaboards allowed) and 35 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, 14 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 8 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways), 6 need a Scottish Canals licence, 3 need an Avon Navigation Trust licence and 3 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Cruiser moorings that allow liveaboards by county
Run one of these sites? Tell boaters what you have free in a minute, no account needed. Update your availability