Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Inland moorings for boats over 20m
Canals, rivers, the Broads and lakes: fresh water, no tides, and a navigation licence from the authority that runs the water. Marinas and harbours that say they take boats over 20m (65ft): a stated maximum length, or a published price for a boat that size. Canal sites that only take narrowboats are left out; see 70ft narrowboat moorings for those.
26 sites · 8 with space now · 2 with a waiting list · typical £3,947 a year for a 20m boat (£527–£7,457 across 12 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 26 sites: 6 on canals, 18 on rivers and 2 on the Broads, lakes and lochs.
- 8 of the 26 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Cathedral Marina, Mancetter Marina, Monk Meadow, National Trust Stonebridge Wharf Moorings, Shardlow Marina and 2 more.
- Keeping a waiting list: Fox Narrowboats Marina and Sileby Mill Mooring Basin.
- For a 20m boat, published prices run from £527 a year (Albert Basin) to £7,457 a year (Pyrford Marina); the middle of 12 is £3,947 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 60m (197ft) at Albert Basin.
- Of the 26, 16 have electric hook-up, 11 a pump-out, 8 diesel, 4 a boat hoist and 4 visitor berths.
- 7 of the 26 allow liveaboards, outright or by arrangement.
- Groups running more than one: Canal & River Trust (2), National Trust (4) and Scottish Canals (5).
Rivers
Berths available
Cathedral Marina
Ely, Cambridgeshire · River Great Ouse
Prices on request
Canals
Berths available
Mancetter Marina
Atherstone, Warwickshire · Coventry Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Berths available
Monk Meadow
Hempsted, Gloucestershire · Gloucester & Sharpness Canal
£2,474 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Berths available
National Trust Stonebridge Wharf Moorings
Shalford, Surrey · River Wey Navigation
Prices not published
Rivers
Berths available
Shardlow Marina
Shardlow, Derbyshire · River Trent
£1,242 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Berths available
Upper Large Moorings
Tilehurst, Berkshire · River Thames
Prices not published
Rivers
Berths available
Willow Moorings
Kegworth, Leicestershire · River Soar
£1,782 a year for a 10m cruiser (from)
Rivers
Waiting list
Fox Narrowboats Marina
March, Cambridgeshire · Middle Level Navigations
£1,079 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Waiting list
Sileby Mill Mooring Basin
Sileby, Leicestershire · River Soar
Prices on request
Canals
Albert Basin
Newry, Down · Newry Ship Canal
£527 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Ardrishaig Basin
Ardrishaig, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal
£3,761 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Ardrishaig Basin Dummy Lock
Ardrishaig, Argyll and Bute · Crinan Canal
£4,513 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Fort Augustus
Fort Augustus, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£4,704 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Broads, lakes & lochs
Gairlochy
Gairlochy, Highland · Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochy
£2,207 a year for a 10m cruiser
Broads, lakes & lochs
Laggan Avenue
Laggan, Highland · Caledonian Canal
£1,705 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Pyrford Marina
Pyrford, Surrey · River Wey Navigation
£3,729 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Saltford Marina
Saltford, Somerset · River Avon
£2,696 a year for a 10m cruiser
Rivers
Avon View Marina
Pershore, Worcestershire · River Avon
Prices on request
Rivers
National Trust Addlestone Moorings
Addlestone, Surrey · River Wey Navigation
Prices not published
Rivers
National Trust Godalming Wharf Moorings
Godalming, Surrey · Godalming Navigation
Prices not published
Rivers
National Trust Papercourt Lock Moorings
Ripley, Surrey · River Wey Navigation
Prices not published
Rivers
Newbury Marina
Newbury, Berkshire · Kennet Navigation
Prices on request
Rivers
Sawley Waterside & Marina
Long Eaton, Leicestershire · River Trent
Prices on request
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 20m boat
| Site | Where | A year, 20m boat | Longest boat | Widest beam | Deepest draught | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bishop Meadow L1 | Loughborough, River Soar | £3,272 | 21.4m (70ft) | – | – | Berths available |
| Cathedral Marina | Ely, River Great Ouse | On request | 21.3m (70ft) | – | – | Berths available |
| Mancetter Marina | Atherstone, Coventry Canal | On request | 33.5m (110ft) | – | – | Berths available |
| Monk Meadow | Hempsted, Gloucester & Sharpness Canal | – | 20m (66ft) | – | – | Berths available |
| National Trust Stonebridge Wharf Moorings | Shalford, River Wey Navigation | – | 21.9m (72ft) | – | – | Berths available |
| Shardlow Marina | Shardlow, River Trent | £2,188 | 21.3m (70ft) | – | – | Berths available |
| Upper Large Moorings | Tilehurst, River Thames | – | 21.3m (70ft) | – | – | Berths available |
| Willow Moorings | Kegworth, River Soar | from £3,564 | 21.3m (70ft) | – | – | Berths available |
| Fox Narrowboats Marina | March, Middle Level Navigations | £2,159 | 21.3m (70ft) | – | – | Waiting list |
| Sileby Mill Mooring Basin | Sileby, River Soar | On request | 21.9m (72ft) | – | – | Waiting list |
| Albert Basin | Newry, Newry Ship Canal | £527 | 60m (197ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Ardrishaig Basin | Ardrishaig, Crinan Canal | £4,331 | 26.8m (88ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Ardrishaig Basin Dummy Lock | Ardrishaig, Crinan Canal | £5,197 | 26.8m (88ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Fort Augustus | Fort Augustus, Caledonian Canal | £5,416 | 45m (148ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Gairlochy | Gairlochy, Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochy | £4,413 | 45m (148ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Laggan Avenue | Laggan, Caledonian Canal | £3,410 | 45m (148ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Pyrford Marina | Pyrford, River Wey Navigation | £7,457 | 21.3m (70ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Saltford Marina | Saltford, River Avon | £5,392 | 21.9m (72ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Avon View Marina | Pershore, River Avon | On request | 21m (69ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| National Trust Addlestone Moorings | Addlestone, River Wey Navigation | – | 21.9m (72ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| National Trust Godalming Wharf Moorings | Godalming, Godalming Navigation | – | 21.9m (72ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| National Trust Papercourt Lock Moorings | Ripley, River Wey Navigation | – | 21.9m (72ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Newbury Marina | Newbury, Kennet Navigation | On request | 21.3m (70ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Sawley Waterside & Marina | Long Eaton, River Trent | On request | 21.3m (70ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Woodford Riverside Marina | Woodford, River Nene | On request | 22.9m (75ft) | – | – | Not reported |
| Wyre Marina Boatyard | Pershore, River Avon | On request | 21m (69ft) | – | – | 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 20m boat cost in the UK?
Across the 12 inland moorings for boats over 20m here that publish a price, a 20m boat costs from £527 a year at Albert Basin to £7,457 a year at Pyrford Marina. The middle figure is £3,947 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest inland moorings for boats over 20m in the UK?
For a 20m boat, Albert Basin is cheapest at £527 a year in Newry.
Which inland moorings for boats over 20m in the UK have space now?
8 of the 26 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Bishop Meadow L1, Cathedral Marina, Mancetter Marina, Monk Meadow, National Trust Stonebridge Wharf Moorings, Shardlow Marina, Upper Large Moorings and Willow Moorings. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Where can I keep a boat over 20m (66ft) in the UK?
All 26 say they take a boat that long. Stated maximums: Bishop Meadow L1 (21.4m (70ft)), Cathedral Marina (21.3m (70ft)), Mancetter Marina (33.5m (110ft)), Monk Meadow (20m (66ft)), National Trust Stonebridge Wharf Moorings (21.9m (72ft)), Shardlow Marina (21.3m (70ft)), Upper Large Moorings (21.3m (70ft)), Willow Moorings (21.3m (70ft)) and 18 more. Check beam and draught too.
Can you live aboard at inland moorings for boats over 20m in the UK?
7 of the 26 say you can: Bishop Meadow L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Upper Large Moorings (liveaboards allowed), Sileby Mill Mooring Basin (liveaboards allowed), Saltford Marina (liveaboards allowed), Sawley Waterside & Marina (liveaboards allowed), Woodford Riverside Marina (liveaboards allowed) and Wyre Marina Boatyard (liveaboard by arrangement). 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, 4 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 6 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways), 5 need a Scottish Canals licence, 3 need an Avon Navigation Trust licence and 7 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
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