Useful Downloads

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.

Read more about boat licensing on the British Waterways site.

• Other places to buy your boat licence

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
• Conditions for BW mooring permits where the mooring is against private land
• BW mooring price list 2009 - 2010
• British Waterways' offline and online mooring policy
• British Waterways' Legal department information on offside moorings
• Electricity mooring pillar instructions
• Winter moorings customer information

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
• Craft 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
• London Tidal Lock Availability leaflet 2010 - includes Tide Tables
• Boating in London - facilities table 1
• Boating in London - facilities table 2
• Boating in London - facilities table 3
• Boating in London - general information
• Boating in London - more information