Owning a boat on the River Thames

Imagine owning your own boat… a home from home in a tranquil riverside setting to enjoy any day, weekend or evening. From canoes and small powered boats to motor cruisers and narrowboats, the River Thames is the perfect place to start your adventure.

There are a large number of boatyards dotted along the river that sell new and used boats to suit all budgets.

If you’ve not brought a boat before, check out our handy Beginners Guide to choosing your first boat and our Guide to Buying a Used Boat with Bray Marine Sales to find out the process. Prices start from £7,000 depending on what type of boat you are looking for.

Once you’ve got your boat, you will need to register it with the Environment Agency, visit their River Thames boat registration pages for more information.

There’s a wide range of boating facilities and services along the River Thames, such as base moorings, boat repairs and fuel sales. To find out what’s available see our Marinas and Services section.

The River Thames offers a great choice for those looking to have a boat restored or a new one built and the long established boatyards along the Thames also offer many other services.

If you would like to have access to a boat but not own one, you could consider joining a Boat Club,