Olympic Moorings

Boating and mooring in London in summer 2012

The London 2012 Olympic Games offer a once-in-a-lifetime array of spectacular sporting events, combined with a rich and diverse cultural Olympiad, showcasing the best in arts and music. The waterways through London will be subject to special restrictions designed to minimise security risks and ensure that those people who have purchased mooring permits have an enjoyable and trouble-free time.

Online bookings for Olympic moorings have now closed. Please email olymoorings@britishwaterways.co.uk if you were still hoping to book or if you have any other questions about mooring on BW/Canal & River Trust moorings during the summer.

Plan your journey to London

If you have booked a mooring in London, use our boaters' guides to find out what's on offer en-route. We recommend you sign up for and check this site regularly for up to date information. There are drought restrictions on some locks on the Grand Union and Oxford Canals so best to allow plenty of time for the journey. Please check www.waterscape.com/stoppages for details of restrictions that might affect you.

Boating on the River Thames

British Waterways, Environment Agency and the Port of London Authority are working together to ensure there is an integrated approach to travel on London's Waterways.

Only boats with a confirmed booking will be able to proceed into London via the River Thames, so you must bring your booking confirmation with you. Each authority will be able to issue the required window identifier at the point of entry to the Thames.

The Port of London Authority (PLA) is responsible for the management of navigation on the tidal Thames and will need to be assured that you have a safe berth to go to. As a result, PLA harbour service or in some cases UK Border Agency or police patrols may ask you to produce proof of your booking.  The PLA website for boaters is www.boatingonthethames.co.uk.

The Environment Agency is responsible for the non-tidal Thames, their web site is www.environment-agency.gov.uk.

Boating on the Regent's Canal, Hertford Union, Limehouse area and lower Lee

Navigation controls will apply between 3rd July to the 10th September 2012 inclusive on the Regent's Canal from Little Venice to Commercial Road Lock, the whole of the Hertford Union Canal, the River Lee south of Lea Bridge Road, Limehouse Cut and Limehouse Basin. A checkpoint will operate in the Paddington area and boats will not be permitted into this Controlled Zone without proof that they have a mooring permit or valid agreement to moor issued by a moorings provider. Boats remaining within the Zone without permission to moor will be subject to a mooring fee of £25 per day.

There will be no access between the Hertford Union Canal and the River Lee.

Passage past the Olympic Park is restricted to 6am - 9am and 7pm - 9pm on a pre-bookable basis.

Commercial Road Lock will be available once per day on a pre-bookable basis.

To book passage through Commercial Road or past the Olympic Park between 3rd July and 10th September please email olymoorings@britishwaterways.co.uk with PASSAGE in the subject heading or call 0207 517 5551. Please give 7 days' notice. Passage is not guaranteed.

Some boat owners with a home mooring in London may wish to take their boat out of London for the period of the Games and perhaps rent the berth out to another boater. We advise people with a BW mooring permit that this is permissible, providing that details of the visiting boat and the dates of the sub-letting agreement are supplied to us in advance. For BW moorers there will be a charge for the necessary documentation; without which the visiting boat will not be permitted into the controlled zone.

The renting of the boat itself to members of the public is not permitted under the license terms, even if the boat does not move. This is because of the higher safety standards required by the Marine and Coastguard Agency for boats let out for hire. If you wish to do this, you will need to apply for the appropriate consent. Please see this advice note (pdf).

Boating Trade

For floating trade on the Regents Canal please contact olymoorings@britishwaterways.co.uk

For trading in Docklands contact gareth.stephens@britishwaterways.co.uk.

For trading on the Tidal Thames contact the Port of London Authority and for trading on the non-tidal Thames refer to the contact pages on www.visitthames.co.uk or contact the Environment Agency

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