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Things to do boating on the canal

Find the essential information you need before you go boating.

The information sheets and application forms below are ready for you to download to your hard disk and print. They are stored as PDF files, so you'll need a program such as Adobe Reader (Windows) or Apple Preview (Mac) to open them.

Choose a section below to view available documents.

Licensing

British Waterways licence information

All boat owners are required to have a licence (or registration). This allows you to cruise around and to keep your boat on the waterways. There are several different types of licences available, as explained below. Find out more about boat licences and moorings

Boat licensing information

Find out about boat licensing regulations on all Britain's canals and rivers on our boat licensing page.

Application forms and downloads

Boat licence downloads are now available on the British Waterways site, on the application forms and downloads page.

Terms and Conditions

Read more about boat licensing on the British Waterways site.

Moorings

You can find moorings under 'Boating/Marinas + Moorings' for a specific waterway. You can also contact the navigation authority direct, listed under 'Contact Info'.

Moorings are essential for boat owners as you are legally required to have a permanent place to keep your boat when you are not on the move - whether it's a fully serviced marina or simply a spot on the towpath.

However, if you have no ties (such as jobs or children at school), you can opt to cruise the canals non-stop, never staying at the same place for more than a fortnight. British Waterways has a special set of guidelines for these 'continuous cruisers'.

Boating

New to boating or just looking to brush up on your knowledge? Find out everything you need to know about getting your boat out on the water.

London

Download information about boating and days out along London's canals and rivers.