Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Walk-ashore berths for 70ft narrowboats in the Midlands
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. 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.
26 sites · 8 with space now · 1 with a waiting list · typical £3,625 a year for a 70ft narrowboat (£463–£5,698 across 14 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 26 sites: 20 on canals and 6 on rivers.
- 8 of the 26 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Bosworth Marina, Kingswood Basin, Lowsonford L1 Leisure, Mancetter Marina, Shardlow Marina and 2 more.
- Keeping a waiting list: Sileby Mill Mooring Basin.
- For a 70ft narrowboat, published prices run from £463 a year (Bosworth Marina) to £5,698 a year (Worcester Marina); the middle of 14 is £3,625 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 33.5m (110ft) at Mancetter Marina.
- Of the 26, 22 have electric hook-up, 19 a pump-out, 16 diesel, 1 a boat hoist and 3 visitor berths.
- 8 of the 26 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
- Groups running more than one: ABC Leisure Group (4) and Canal & River Trust (5).
Canals
Berths available
Bosworth Marina
Market Bosworth, Leicestershire · Ashby Canal
£463 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Berths available
Kingswood Basin
Lapworth, Warwickshire · North Stratford Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Lowsonford L1 Leisure
Lowsonford, Warwickshire · South Stratford Canal
£3,183 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Berths available
Mancetter Marina
Atherstone, Warwickshire · Coventry Canal
Prices on request
Rivers
Berths available
Shardlow Marina
Shardlow, Derbyshire · River Trent
£1,242 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Berths available
Tibberton Towpath L1 Leisure
Worcester, Worcestershire · Worcester & Birmingham Canal
£2,791 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Berths available
Willow Moorings
Kegworth, Leicestershire · River Soar
£1,782 a year for a 10m cruiser (from)
Rivers
Waiting list
Sileby Mill Mooring Basin
Sileby, Leicestershire · River Soar
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
Aston Marina
Stone, Staffordshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
£3,725 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Barby Moorings
Barby, Northamptonshire · Oxford Canal
£1,440 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Droitwich Spa Marina
Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire · Droitwich Junction Canal
£3,390 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Heyford Fields Marina
Nether Heyford, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal
£3,020 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Kings Orchard Marina
Huddlesford, Staffordshire · Coventry Canal
£3,671 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Springwood Haven Marina
Nuneaton, Warwickshire · Coventry Canal
£3,243 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Worcester Marina
Worcester, Worcestershire · Worcester & Birmingham Canal
£4,574 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Great Haywood Marina
Great Haywood, Staffordshire · Trent & Mersey Canal
Prices on request
Canals
High Onn Wharf
Church Eaton, Staffordshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
North Kilworth Wharf
North Kilworth, Leicestershire · Grand Union Canal, Leicester Section
Prices on request
Canals
Rose Narrowboats
Stretton under Fosse, Warwickshire · Oxford Canal
Prices not published
Rivers
Sawley Waterside & Marina
Long Eaton, Leicestershire · River Trent
Prices on request
Canals
Thrupp Wharf Marina
Milton Keynes, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal
Prices on request
Rivers
Woodford Riverside Marina
Woodford, Northamptonshire · River Nene
Prices on request
Canals
Yelvertoft Marina
Yelvertoft, Northamptonshire · Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line)
Prices on request
Compared: prices for a 70ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 70ft narrowboat | Berths | Longest boat | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Meadow L1 | Loughborough, River Soar | £3,272 | linear moorings | 21.4m (70ft) | Berths available |
| Bosworth Marina | Market Bosworth, Ashby Canal | £463 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | 21.3m (70ft) | Berths available |
| Kingswood Basin | Lapworth, North Stratford Canal | – | pontoon berths | 21.4m (70ft) | Berths available |
| Lowsonford L1 Leisure | Lowsonford, South Stratford Canal | £3,416 | linear moorings | 22m (72ft) | Berths available |
| Mancetter Marina | Atherstone, Coventry Canal | On request | pontoon berths, linear moorings | 33.5m (110ft) | Berths available |
| Shardlow Marina | Shardlow, River Trent | £2,331 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | 21.3m (70ft) | Berths available |
| Tibberton Towpath L1 Leisure | Worcester, Worcester & Birmingham Canal | £2,791 | linear moorings | 22m (72ft) | Berths available |
| Willow Moorings | Kegworth, River Soar | from £3,834 | linear moorings | 21.3m (70ft) | Berths available |
| Sileby Mill Mooring Basin | Sileby, River Soar | On request | pontoon berths, linear moorings | 21.9m (72ft) | Waiting list |
| Stoke Bruerne (Residential) L1 | Stoke Bruerne, Grand Union Canal | – | pontoon berths | 21.8m (72ft) | Full |
| Alvechurch Marina | Alvechurch, Worcester & Birmingham Canal | £5,556 | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Aston Marina | Stone, Trent & Mersey Canal | £4,345 | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Barby Moorings | Barby, Oxford Canal | £1,440 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | 21.9m (72ft) | Not reported |
| Droitwich Spa Marina | Droitwich Spa, Droitwich Junction Canal | £3,950 | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Heyford Fields Marina | Nether Heyford, Grand Union Canal | £3,327 | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Kings Orchard Marina | Huddlesford, Coventry Canal | £4,572 | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Springwood Haven Marina | Nuneaton, Coventry Canal | £4,040 | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Worcester Marina | Worcester, Worcester & Birmingham Canal | £5,698 | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Great Haywood Marina | Great Haywood, Trent & Mersey Canal | On request | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| High Onn Wharf | Church Eaton, Shropshire Union Canal | – | pontoon berths | 21.9m (72ft) | Not reported |
| North Kilworth Wharf | North Kilworth, Grand Union Canal, Leicester Section | On request | linear moorings | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Rose Narrowboats | Stretton under Fosse, Oxford Canal | – | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Sawley Waterside & Marina | Long Eaton, River Trent | On request | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Thrupp Wharf Marina | Milton Keynes, Grand Union Canal | On request | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | Not reported |
| Woodford Riverside Marina | Woodford, River Nene | On request | pontoon berths | 22.9m (75ft) | Not reported |
| Yelvertoft Marina | Yelvertoft, Grand Union Canal (Leicester Line) | On request | pontoon berths | 21.3m (70ft) | 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 Midlands?
Across the 14 walk-ashore berths for 70ft narrowboats here that publish a price, a 70ft narrowboat costs from £463 a year at Bosworth Marina to £5,698 a year at Worcester Marina. The middle figure is £3,625 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest walk-ashore berths for 70ft narrowboats in the Midlands?
For a 70ft narrowboat, Bosworth Marina is cheapest at £463 a year in Market Bosworth.
Which walk-ashore berths for 70ft narrowboats in the Midlands have space now?
8 of the 26 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Bosworth Marina, Kingswood Basin, Lowsonford L1 Leisure, Mancetter Marina, Shardlow Marina, Tibberton Towpath L1 Leisure and Willow Moorings. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Where can I keep a boat over 21.3m (70ft) in the Midlands?
All 26 say they take a boat that long. Stated maximums: Bishop Meadow L1 (21.4m (70ft)), Bosworth Marina (21.3m (70ft)), Kingswood Basin (21.4m (70ft)), Lowsonford L1 Leisure (22m (72ft)), Mancetter Marina (33.5m (110ft)), Shardlow Marina (21.3m (70ft)), Tibberton Towpath L1 Leisure (22m (72ft)), Willow Moorings (21.3m (70ft)) and 18 more. Check beam and draught too.
Can you live aboard at walk-ashore berths for 70ft narrowboats in the Midlands?
8 of the 26 say you can: Bishop Meadow L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Sileby Mill Mooring Basin (liveaboards allowed), Stoke Bruerne (Residential) L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Alvechurch Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Kings Orchard Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Springwood Haven Marina (liveaboard by arrangement), Sawley Waterside & Marina (liveaboards allowed) and Woodford Riverside Marina (liveaboards allowed). 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, 22 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 3 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways) and 1 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
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