River Thames: locks and facilities for boaters
Source: gov.uk (2025-12-01)

Facilities for boaters at Environment Agency lock sites on the non-tidal River Thames and the River Kennet.

Using the locks

Lock keepers work at Environment Agency locks to help boaters through the lock during their hours of duty.

To find out whether there will be a lock keeper on duty at the lock you are visiting, check our River Thames lock keeper service (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/river-thames-lock-keeper-service) page.

When lock keepers are not available you may work the lock yourself, at your own risk. Some locks have power, which makes them easier to operate.

Full details of the service lock keepers offer on the River Thames are in the River Thames customer charter (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-thames-customer-charter).

Lock keeper hours of duty

Teddington Lock normally has a 24 hour service all year. There are currently restrictions to navigation through Teddington Lock. For more information please visit River Thames: restrictions and closures (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/river-thames-restrictions-and-closures#river-closures-updated-14-april-2025).

At all other locks, you need to operate the lock yourself when the blue ‘self service’ signs are displayed.

Operating the lock yourself

Operating instructions are posted at locks. Read the operating instructions before you operate the lock.

If you are operating the lock yourself:
- stay close to the sluice controls while the sluices are in operation
- close the lock gates properly before slowly opening the sluices to fill or empty the lock
- leave the lock empty and shut the gates after use - there is often a public right of way over the gates
In an emergency you should close all sluices before dealing with the situation. Emergency contact details are displayed at each lock.

Camping at lock sites

We are sorry to have to inform you that we have closed all Environment Agency campsites at our River Thames lock sites.

The Environment Agency are reviewing all aspects of our campsite management to ensure we have suitable arrangements in place to meet our statutory obligations and all other legal responsibilities for the sites.

Visitor mooring

Unless signs state otherwise, you are allowed to moor for up to 24 hours at Environment Agency visitor moorings.

You may have to pay a fee at some sites, either for mooring at any time, or after an initial free period.

Signs will usually show any applicable conditions and charges payable. By mooring, you are agreeing to them.

From 16 May 2025 we will no longer accept pre-booking of visitor moorings, except for electrically propelled vehicles. Existing bookings made before this date will be honoured.

Group bookings will still be available at Hurley, Cookham and Boveney Locks throughout 2025 for recognised clubs. Group bookings must be a minimum of 5 boats. Please email your request to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) and include ‘Group visitor mooring request’ and the name of the lock site in the subject line. This inbox is monitored Monday to Friday.

Additional charges and penalties

You may get a penalty or have to pay additional charges if you do not follow the conditions of use. Penalties could include:
- suspension of your boat registration
- removal of your boat under court order (at the owner’s expense)
If the Environment Agency has issued warnings for the current river conditions (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/river-thames-current-river-conditions) that advise you not to navigate, these penalties will not apply. You should plan to move your boat from the mooring when it is safe to do so.

Electric charging point moorings

Electric powered boats have priority at Environment Agency electric charging point moorings.

Any boat using the electric charging point at an Environment Agency mooring for any length of time will be charged for this service.

You should move a fully charged boat away from the charging point if there is another boat waiting to use it.

During the boating season (1 April to 31 October inclusive) you can only book electric charging point moorings for electric powered boats. Book at least 48 hours in advance by emailing xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) (monitored Monday to Friday).

Electric charging point moorings are only available for 24 hours and boats must not return to the same electric charging point for 72 hours.

After 4pm any electric charging point moorings not booked will be available to any boat, whether electric powered or not, on a first come first serve basis.

Outside the boating season, the previous information does not apply. However, you must move any boat moored at an Environment Agency electric charging point mooring within 24 hours if an electric powered boat requests to use the service.

Environment Agency visitor mooring locations

Visitor mooring locations:
- St John’s Lock island - downstream
- Buscot Lock island - upstream
- Shifford Lock island - upstream
- Northmoor Lock island - upstream
- Eynsham Lock - upstream
- Eynsham Lock - downstream
- Kings Lock island - upstream
- Kings Lock - downstream
- Oxford - East Street - closed until further notice
- Iffley Lock - upstream
- Iffley Lock - downstream
- Sandford Lock and island - upstream
- Sandford Lock island - downstream
- Abingdon Lock - upstream
- Culham Lock - upstream
- Clifton Lock - upstream
- Days Lock island - upstream
- Benson Lock island - upstream
- Cleeve Lock - downstream
- Goring Lock island - upstream
- Goring Lock island - downstream
- Goring - downstream of Goring Bridge
- Reading - Scours Lane (moor with care - water depth variable)
- Sonning - for 225 metres upstream of Sonning Lock (moor with care - water depth variable)
- Shiplake Lock island - upstream
- Wargrave - opposite Lashbrook
- Hurley Lock island - downstream (groups can pre-book)
- Temple Lock island - upstream
- Temple Lock - downstream
- Marlow - downstream of Marlow Lock (currently closed)
- Cookham Lock island - downstream (groups can pre-book) *
- Dorney Reach - opposite Queens Eyot
- Boveney - upstream of Eton boathouse (PG Point)
- Boveney - downstream of Eton boathouse
- Boveney Lock island - downstream (groups can pre-book)
- Runnymede - downstream of Runnymede Pleasure Ground
- Bell Weir Lock island - downstream
- Staines - between Runnymede Bridge and Staines Bridge (Staines Wharf)
- Staines - opposite Memorial Gardens
- Staines - between Riverbank Apartments and Wheatsheaf Lane
- Laleham - between Blacksmiths Lane and Vicarage Lane (Laleham Wharf)
- Weybridge - opposite Shepperton Lock island (Weybridge Point)
- Shepperton - downstream end of Desborough Island on old river
- Walton - opposite Shepperton Marina
- Walton - opposite Beasley’s Ait (Gridley Miskin)
- Molesey - Hurst Park
- Kingston - Railway Wharf
- Kingston - Stevens Eyot
*Please note there is no access to Odney Common or Cookham Village.

Base mooring at lock sites

If you keep, or mainly use, your boat on the River Thames you must have a proper base mooring. This is somewhere to put your boat when you are not cruising, such as a marina berth.

If you live on your boat as your only place of residence, you need to have an approved residential mooring.

The Environment Agency offers base mooring at some lock sites. None of these sites allow residential mooring.

Where you can find Environment Agency base moorings

You can find base moorings at:
- St John’s Lock
- Radcot Lock
- Shifford Lock
- Pinkhill Lock
- Eynsham Lock
- Kings Lock
- Iffley Lock
- Abingdon Lock
- Days Lock
- Benson Lock
- Cleeve Lock
- Goring Lock
- Mapledurham Lock
- Sonning Lock
- Shiplake Lock
- Marsh Lock
- Hambleden Lock
- Hurley Lock
- Temple Lock
- Bray Lock
- Boveney Lock
- Old Windsor Lock
- Penton Hook Lock
- Chertsey Lock
- Shepperton Lock
- Sunbury Lock
- Molesey Lock
Apply for an Environment Agency base mooring

To apply for an Environment Agency base mooring:
- calculate your mooring charges (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-thames-lock-base-mooring-charges)
- fill in the application for moorings at River Thames lock sites (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-thames-lock-site-mooring-application-form)
Send your completed application to xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) with ‘Thames lock mooring application’ in the subject line.

Or post your application to:

Thames Lock Mooring ApplicationsEnvironment AgencyKings Meadow HouseKings Meadow RoadReading RG1 8DQ

If the Environment Agency does not have a mooring available, they will add your details to a waiting list.

Enquiries about Environment Agency base moorings

Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) for all enquiries about Environment Agency base moorings on the River Thames.

You can also telephone the Environment Agency about moorings. Call 03708 506 506 and ask to speak to the Thames Waterways team.

Find out about call charges (https://www.gov.uk/call-charges).

Lock locations and other facilities

Many River Thames lock sites have additional facilities such as toilets, drinking water or waste disposal points. This list gives a guide of what is usually available. Some facilities may not be available at all times.

For more information on using electric charging points, check the electric charging point moorings (#electric-charging-point-moorings) section.

Availability of facilities was last updated 1 December 2025.

St John’s

Postcode: GL7 3HA

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet - currently closed
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- electric charging point
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out - currently closed
- recycling facilities
- refuse disposal
Buscot

Postcode: SN7 8DA

National grid reference: SU 23016 98092
- toilet
- shower - currently closed
Grafton

Postcode: OX18 2RY

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- shower – currently closed
- bulk supply water point - currently closed
Radcot

Postcode: SN7 8JT

National grid reference: SP 29649 00199

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point - currently closed
Rushey

Buckland Marsh, Faringdon, Oxfordshire

Postcode: SN7 8RF

National grid reference: SP xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet (accessible)
- shower – currently closed
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out - currently closed
- refuse disposal
Shifford

Chimney, Bampton, Oxfordshire

Postcode: OX18 2EJ

National grid reference: SP xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- shower – currently closed
- bulk supply water point
- electric charging point
Northmoor

Postcode: OX13 5JP

National grid reference: SP xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Pinkhill

Eynsham, Witney, Oxfordshire

Postcode: OX29 4JH

National grid reference: SP xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- shower – currently closed
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Eynsham

Swinford, Witney, Oxfordshire

Postcode: OX29 4BY

National grid reference: SP xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet (accessible)
- shower
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out
- recycling facilities
- refuse disposal
Kings

Postcode: OX2 8PY

National grid reference: SP 47901 10267

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Godstow

Postcode: OX2 8PJ

National grid reference: SP xx-xxxx-xxxx

No facilities.

Osney

Postcode: OX2 0AX

National grid reference: SP xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Iffley

Postcode: OX4 4EJ

National grid reference: SP xx-xxxx-xxxx

No facilities.

Sandford

Postcode: OX4 4YD

National grid reference: SP xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- electric charging point
Abingdon

Postcode: OX14 3NW

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out - (available only when Lock Keeper on duty)
- refuse disposal
Culham

Postcode: OX14 4NE

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Clifton

Postcode: OX14 3EH

National grid reference: SU 54699 94720

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Days

Little Wittenham, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Postcode: OX14 4RB

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- chemical toilet disposal
- refuse disposal
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Benson

Postcode: OX10 6SL

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- electric charging point
The public walkway over Benson Weir is currently closed. A diversion is signposted.

Cleeve

Postcode: RG8 0JY

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
Goring

Postcode: RG8 9AE

National grid reference: SU 59679 80876

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- electric charging point - currently out of service
- recycling facilities
- refuse disposal
Whitchurch

Postcode: RG8 7DJ

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

No facilities.

Mapledurham

Postcode: RG8 8BE

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet (accessible)
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out
- recycling facilities
- refuse disposal
Caversham

Postcode: RG1 8BP

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

No facilities.

Blakes (River Kennet)

Postcode: RG1 3DS

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

No facilities.

Sonning

Postcode: RG4 6UR

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
Shiplake

Postcode: RG9 3NA

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point - currently closed
- electric charging point
- chemical toilet disposal - currently closed
- sewage pump-out - currently closed
- refuse disposal - currently closed
Marsh

Postcode: RG9 4HB

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

No facilities.

Marsh Horse Bridge upstream of Marsh Lock is currently closed. A diversion is signposted.

Hambleden

Postcode: RG9 3AZ

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- recycling facilities (glass only)
- refuse disposal
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Hurley

Mill Lane, Hurley, Maidenhead, Berkshire

Postcode: SL6 5ND

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet (accessible)
- shower for overnight moorers and campers – currently closed
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
- chemical toilet disposal
- refuse disposal
Temple

Postcode: SL7 2FL

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Temple Footbridge upstream of Temple Lock is currently closed. A diversion is signposted.

Marlow

Postcode: SL7 1QE

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Cookham

Odney Lane, Cookham, Maidenhead, Berkshire

Postcode: SL6 9SR

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet (accessible)
- shower – currently closed
- bulk supply water point
- electric charging point
- chemical toilet disposal
- refuse disposal
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Boulters

Postcode: SL6 8PE

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Bray

Postcode: SL6 0EE

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet (accessible)
Boveney

Postcode: SL4 6QQ

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- shower – currently closed
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
- chemical toilet disposal - currently closed
- sewage pump-out - currently closed
- refuse disposal
Romney

Postcode: SL4 6HU

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Old Windsor

Postcode: SL4 2JZ

National grid reference: SU xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- electric charging point - currently closed
Please note there is a beam width restriction of approximately 2.6 metres (8’ 6”) for the electric charging point

Bell Weir

Postcode: TW20 0AA

National grid reference: TQ 01727 72060

No facilities.

Penton Hook

Postcode: TW18 2JA

National grid reference: TQ xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- refuse disposal
Chertsey

Postcode: KT16 8LD

National grid reference: TQ xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
Shepperton

Postcode: TW17 9LJ

National grid reference: TQ xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet (accessible)
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- chemical toilet disposal
Sunbury

Postcode: KT12 2JD

National grid reference (new lock): TQ 10964 68544

National grid reference (old lock): TQ 10960 68559

Facilities include:
- toilet (accessible)
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- chemical toilet disposal
Molesey

Postcode: KT8 9AW

National grid reference: TQ xx-xxxx-xxxx

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out
- refuse disposal
Teddington

Postcode: TW11 9NG

National grid reference (barge lock): TQ xx-xxxx-xxxx

National grid reference (launch lock): TQ xx-xxxx-xxxx

National grid reference (skiff lock): TQ 16630 71576

Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Email updates and newsletter

You can subscribe to newsletters about navigation on the River Thames and email updates on River Thames closures and restrictions.

To subscribe to this service, email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx) with ‘subscribe’ in the subject line.

Say whether you want to subscribe to:
- closures and restrictions emails
- newsletter emails
- both
The Environment Agency will use your personal information in line with their privacy notice (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/river-thames-privacy-notice-for-mailing-lists).

Contact the Environment Agency

General enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre PO Box 544RotherhamS60 1BY

Email xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)

Telephone 03708 506 506

Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) xx-xxxx-xxxx

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.

Floodline

Telephone (24 hour service) xx-xxxx-xxxx

Type talk (for the hard of hearing) xx-xxxx-xxxx