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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
- BW long-term mooring Terms and Conditions for England and Wales
- BW Licensing Terms and Conditions for England and Wales
- BW long-term licences and moorings Terms and Conditions for Scotland
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'.
- BW long-term mooring conditions for England and Wales
- BW long-term licences and moorings Terms and Conditions for Scotland
- BW mooring price list 2011 - 2012
- British Waterways' offline and online mooring policy
- British Waterways' Legal department information on offside moorings
- Application form for a mooring against Private Residential Land
- Application form for a mooring against Third Party Owned Land
- Conditions for BW mooring permits where the mooring is against private land
- BW's position on the sale of boats and moorings
- Background and explanatory notes to mooring policy
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.
- Buying a Boat - how to get started
- Handcuff keys - where they're used and how to get them
- Boaters' Handbook
- Watch the Boaters' Handbook DVD
- Dimension data for BW waterways
- BW waterway boundary map and office details (from 2 November 2009)
- List of boat insurance and financing companies
- Information about the NABO waterway reports boards
- Star quality - explanation of star ratings for quality assessed narrowboats, cruisers and hotel boats in England
London
Download information about boating and days out along London's canals and rivers.
- London by the water
- Days out - a guide to London and the surrounding area
- London Tideway Handbook 1 - Upstream: Limehouse to Brentford & Teddington
- London Tideway Handbook 2 - Downstream: Teddington & Brentford to Limehouse
- London Tideway Handbook 3 - Estuary: Thames Barrier to Limehouse
- Tidal lock availability information
- Tidal lock availability 2012 - Q1
- Tidal lock availability 2012 - Q2
- Tidal lock availability 2012 - Q3
- Tidal lock availability 2012 - Q4
- Boating in London - general information
- Boating in London - more information
Find boating services
Find local boating services. Simply type your postcode or nearest town into the search box below.