More London pre-booked moorings

MORE moorings are being made pre-bookable in the capital, Canal & River Trust announce.

This will give boaters visiting the capital's waterways a better chance of securing a mooring, with the service started with the new season and extends the number of moorings available.

Demand grows dramatically

The number of boating visitors to the capital has seen boat numbers grow dramatically, particularly in central areas, so demand for mooring space is at a premium. This resulted it is told that boaters are put off visiting because of the perception that they would not be able to find somewhere to moor.

The additions to the existing pre-bookable moorings will give boaters the security of a spot before they embark on a cruise into central London. the trust relates.

New sites include 800m of pre-bookable moorings at Camden, (pictured) King’s Cross, Broadway Market and Victoria Park on the Regent’s Canal, and Cowley North and Kensal Green on the Grand Union Canal.

1,500m of pre-bookable moorings

This brings the total length of pre-bookable moorings in central London to around 1,500m with existing sites at Little Venice (pictured) and Paddington on the Grand Union, and eco-moorings (with electric hook-up) at King’s Cross and Islington on the Regent’s Canal.

The charges for the sites are between £25 and £35 per night and can be booked for one to seven days, with a maximum of seven days in a single visit. Moorings can be booked online or by calling the trust's customer service team on 0303 040 4040.

The trust tells that over 90% of London’s moorings remain available to moor on for free for up to 14 days. It has also created 1,200m of free towpath moorings in central London over the past few years to meet the needs of cruising boats.

The additional income raised from the pre-bookable moorings will allow the charity to employ rangers to make sure that boats are not staying too long and blocking spaces for other boaters.