Canals
Berths available
Agenda 21
Oxford, Oxfordshire · Oxford Canal
Prices not published
Linear moorings that allow liveaboards
Moored alongside a bank or towpath, one boat behind another. 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.
36 sites · 8 with space now · 4 with a waiting list · typical £3,312 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (£1,640–£5,898 across 12 published tariffs)
At a glance
- 36 sites: 31 on canals and 5 on rivers.
- 8 of the 36 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Agenda 21, Bishop Meadow L1, Hazlemere Marina, Hockley Port, Ladybird Pontoon, Selby Boat Centre and 2 more.
- Keeping a waiting list: Cambridge City Council Residential Moorings, Mayroyd Moorings, Saltisford Canal Centre and Sileby Mill Mooring Basin.
- For a 57ft narrowboat, published prices run from £1,640 a year (Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge) to £5,898 a year (Leamington Wharf East); the middle of 12 is £3,312 a year.
- Longest boat taken: 21.9m (72ft) at Sileby Mill Mooring Basin.
- Of the 36, 30 have electric hook-up, 13 a pump-out, 4 diesel and 1 visitor berths.
- Groups running more than one: Canal & River Trust (17) and Scottish Canals (5).
Rivers
Berths available
Bishop Meadow L1
Loughborough, Leicestershire · River Soar
£3,272 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Berths available
Hazlemere Marina
Waltham Abbey, Essex · Lee Navigation
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Hockley Port
Birmingham, West Midlands · Birmingham Canal, Soho Branch
Prices not published
Canals
Berths available
Ladybird Pontoon
Market Drayton, Shropshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices on request
Canals
Berths available
Selby Boat Centre
Selby, North Yorkshire · Selby Canal
£2,750 a year for a 57ft narrowboat (from)
Canals
Berths available
Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge
Sowerby Bridge, West Yorkshire · Calder & Hebble Navigation
£1,640 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Berths available
Venetian Marina
Cholmondeston, Cheshire · Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch)
£3,254 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Waiting list
Cambridge City Council Residential Moorings
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire · River Cam
£1,537 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Waiting list
Mayroyd Moorings
Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire · Rochdale Canal
£1,929 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Waiting list
Saltisford Canal Centre
Warwick, Warwickshire · Grand Union Canal (Saltisford Arm)
Prices not published
Rivers
Waiting list
Sileby Mill Mooring Basin
Sileby, Leicestershire · River Soar
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Atlip Road L1
Alperton, Greater London · Grand Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Aylesbury Waterside Moorings
Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire · Grand Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Engine Arm Residential Moorings
Smethwick, West Midlands · Birmingham Canal Navigations
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Fall Ing
Wakefield, West Yorkshire · Calder & Hebble Navigation
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Fife Terrace
Islington, Greater London · Regent's Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Hythe Bridge L1
Oxford, Oxfordshire · Oxford Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Kensal Green L1
Kensal Green, Greater London · Grand Union Canal (Paddington Branch)
Prices on request
Canals
Full
Lincoln L1
Lincoln, Lincolnshire · Fossdyke Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Marsworth (Residential)
Marsworth, Hertfordshire · Grand Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Nodens Victoria Wharf
Market Drayton, Shropshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Shelmore
Norbury, Staffordshire · Shropshire Union Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Silver Street (Residential) L1
Brownhills, West Midlands · Wyrley & Essington Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Full
Talavera Moorings
Hackney, Greater London · Regents Canal
Prices not published
Canals
Auchinstarry Marina
Kilsyth, North Lanarkshire · Forth & Clyde Canal
£3,054 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Braehead, Linlithgow
Linlithgow, West Lothian · Union Canal
£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Causewayend
Broxburn, West Lothian · Union Canal
£3,352 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation
Chelmsford, Essex · Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation
£3,120 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Leamington Wharf East
Edinburgh, City of Edinburgh · Union Canal
£5,898 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Canals
Linlithgow East
Linlithgow, West Lothian · Union Canal
£3,725 a year for a 57ft narrowboat
Rivers
Saltford Marina
Saltford, Somerset · River Avon
£2,696 a year for a 10m cruiser
Canals
Ashwood Marina
Kingswinford, Staffordshire · Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal
Prices not published
Canals
High Line Yachting Ltd (Northolt Boatyard)
Northolt, Greater London · Paddington Arm
Prices not published
Rivers
Moorhen Marina
Harlow, Hertfordshire · River Stort
Prices not published
Canals
Willowbrook Moorings
Shardlow, Derbyshire · Trent and Mersey Canal
Prices not published
Compared: prices for a 57ft narrowboat
| Site | Where | A year, 57ft narrowboat | Berths | Liveaboard | Space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agenda 21 | Oxford, Oxford Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Bishop Meadow L1 | Loughborough, River Soar | £3,272 | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Hazlemere Marina | Waltham Abbey, Lee Navigation | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Hockley Port | Birmingham, Birmingham Canal, Soho Branch | – | linear moorings, quay and harbour wall berths | Residential moorings with planning consent | Berths available |
| Ladybird Pontoon | Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal | On request | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Berths available |
| Selby Boat Centre | Selby, Selby Canal | from £2,750 | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge | Sowerby Bridge, Calder & Hebble Navigation | £1,640 | pontoon berths, linear moorings, hard standing | Liveaboards allowed | Berths available |
| Venetian Marina | Cholmondeston, Shropshire Union Canal (Middlewich Branch) | – | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Berths available |
| Cambridge City Council Residential Moorings | Cambridge, River Cam | £1,810 | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Waiting list |
| Mayroyd Moorings | Hebden Bridge, Rochdale Canal | £1,929 | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Waiting list |
| Saltisford Canal Centre | Warwick, Grand Union Canal (Saltisford Arm) | – | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Waiting list |
| Sileby Mill Mooring Basin | Sileby, River Soar | On request | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Waiting list |
| Atlip Road L1 | Alperton, Grand Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Aylesbury Waterside Moorings | Aylesbury, Grand Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Full |
| Engine Arm Residential Moorings | Smethwick, Birmingham Canal Navigations | On request | linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Full |
| Fall Ing | Wakefield, Calder & Hebble Navigation | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Fife Terrace | Islington, Regent's Canal | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Hythe Bridge L1 | Oxford, Oxford Canal | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Kensal Green L1 | Kensal Green, Grand Union Canal (Paddington Branch) | On request | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Full |
| Lincoln L1 | Lincoln, Fossdyke Canal | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Marsworth (Residential) | Marsworth, Grand Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Nodens Victoria Wharf | Market Drayton, Shropshire Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Full |
| Shelmore | Norbury, Shropshire Union Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Full |
| Silver Street (Residential) L1 | Brownhills, Wyrley & Essington Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Full |
| Talavera Moorings | Hackney, Regents Canal | – | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Full |
| Auchinstarry Marina | Kilsyth, Forth & Clyde Canal | £3,539 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Braehead, Linlithgow | Linlithgow, Union Canal | £3,352 | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Causewayend | Broxburn, Union Canal | £3,352 | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation | Chelmsford, Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation | £3,120 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| Leamington Wharf East | Edinburgh, Union Canal | £5,898 | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Linlithgow East | Linlithgow, Union Canal | £3,725 | linear moorings | Residential moorings with planning consent | Not reported |
| Saltford Marina | Saltford, River Avon | £4,657 | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Ashwood Marina | Kingswinford, Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | Not reported |
| High Line Yachting Ltd (Northolt Boatyard) | Northolt, Paddington Arm | – | linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Moorhen Marina | Harlow, River Stort | – | pontoon berths, linear moorings | Liveaboards allowed | Not reported |
| Willowbrook Moorings | Shardlow, Trent and Mersey Canal | – | linear moorings | Liveaboard by arrangement | 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 57ft narrowboat cost in the UK?
Across the 12 linear moorings that allow liveaboards here that publish a price, a 57ft narrowboat costs from £1,640 a year at Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge to £5,898 a year at Leamington Wharf East. The middle figure is £3,312 a year. Check what each includes: electricity, water and VAT vary.
What are the cheapest linear moorings that allow liveaboards in the UK?
For a 57ft narrowboat, Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge is cheapest at £1,640 a year.
Which linear moorings that allow liveaboards in the UK have space now?
8 of the 36 told us in the last six weeks they have space: Agenda 21, Bishop Meadow L1, Hazlemere Marina, Hockley Port, Ladybird Pontoon, Selby Boat Centre, Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge and Venetian Marina. Each page shows the date they told us and what they have.
Can you live aboard at linear moorings that allow liveaboards in the UK?
All 36 say you can: Agenda 21 (liveaboards allowed), Bishop Meadow L1 (residential moorings with planning consent), Hazlemere Marina (residential moorings with planning consent), Hockley Port (residential moorings with planning consent), Ladybird Pontoon (liveaboard by arrangement), Selby Boat Centre (liveaboards allowed), Shire Cruisers, Sowerby Bridge (liveaboards allowed), Venetian Marina (liveaboard by arrangement) and 28 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, 25 need a Canal & River Trust boat licence, 1 need Environment Agency registration (Thames, Medway, Anglian waterways), 5 need a Scottish Canals licence, 1 need an Avon Navigation Trust licence and 3 need the navigation's own licence. Coastal marinas usually need none.
Broader
Linear moorings that allow liveaboards by county
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