When you start thinking about owning your own boat you should automatically consider where you can safely leave it when you are not using it! 
You may also need to prepare for your annual holiday in a hire boat on the Thames – where do you stop for the night etc?
This article is intended to highlight a few possibilities of available moorings this summer, and to provide you with some ideas and options. We hope you will find the suggestions useful! 

The River Thames of course provides a major connection route for all boats between the Upper Thames at Lechlade, Oxford, the junction with the South Oxford Canal,  Reading and the junction with the Kennet and Avon Canal and London, where the Thames connects with the Grand Union Canal at Brentford. This review highlights moorings available on the whole length of the Thames.

W. Bates and Son at Chertsey (a family run firm) have safe moorings for all boats:

Name Address and Contact Details: - W Bates and Son, Bridge Wharf, Chertsey Surrey KT16 8LG
Telephone: 01932 562255
Web Address: www.bateswharf.co.uk
E-Mail: angela@bateswharf.co.uk
Moorings: Temporary/overnight – Yes available, Price £24 (inc. VAT) per night any size. 
Permanent:  (not liveaboard) Yes - available.
Mooring costs:  £325 inc. per metre per annum.
Other Services Available: Boat Lifting – crane, toilets, showers, water, rubbish disposal. Elsan and Oil disposal,  electricity, hardstanding - parking. Family-run private marina near to Thorpe Park: 24 hour CCTV: On Site Chandlery and Engine Repairs.

Penton Hook Marina Staines Road Chertsey provide moorings for boats of all dimensions:
Name Address and Contact details: Mike Gates CMM, MDL, Penton Hook Marina Staines Road Chertsey KT16 8PY
Telephone: 01932 568681
Grid Ref: TQ 04146 68893
Web Address: www.mdlmarinas.co.uk
E-mail: A.Smith@mdlmarinas.co.uk
Moorings: Temporary/overnight -  Up to 10 Metres £15.32 per boat. £10 metres and over - £20.43 per boat
Monthly Berthing – Up to 7 metres - £35 per metre. Over 7 metres - £45 per metre.
Annual Berthing – Personal Quotations through the Penton Hook Marina website.
Other Services: Fuel (Petrol and Diesel) Boat Lifting and storage ashore – 20 ton crane. Trailer boat storage, engineering and repair services, laundry facilities, yacht club, brokerage, 2- pump out stations, 2 slipways and MDL Wi Fi. Pump out: Gas, Water and fuel: Crane: Showers: Toilets: Hardstanding: Parking.

Purley Gardens Moorings at Reading in Berkshire have safe moorings in a branching creek off the River Thames.

Name Address and Contact Details: David Unwin, Purley Gardens Moorings Near Reading  RG8 8BY
Telephone: 01189 428116 from 10am weekdays.
Grid Ref: SU 665 761
Web Address: www.purleygardens.co.uk
Moorings: No Overnight Moorings. Permanent Moorings – Let by the quarter year throughout the year.
Mooring Costs: For a 22’ long boat – about £260 per quarter year.
Other Services available: – No Services – operates on a “Do It Yourself” basis

Abingdon Marina at South Quay Abingdon Oxon

Abingdon Marina have popular moorings by the River Thames in the pretty town of Abingdon just south of Oxford.

Name Address and Contact Details: Abingdon Marina South Quay Abingdon Oxon OX14 5TW
Telephone: 01256 536147
E-mail: abingdonmarina@tiscali.co.uk
Web Address: www.abingdonmarina.co.uk
Moorings: Temporary overnight moorings and permanent moorings but no liveaboard
Mooring Costs: £210 per metre per annum + VAT for a single pre-payment.  Other payment schedules available – telephone or e-mail for full details.
Services: Water, Electricity, Elsan Disposal, secure parking.


Above: Abingdon Marina Moorings by the River Thames

Thamesmooring.com - Brentford West London

Thamesmooring.com have moorings at Brentford West London in three separate locations. These are in Soaphouse Creek, the River Brent near the Brentford Aits, and on Lots Ait overlooking Kew Gardens.

Name, Address and Contact Details: Mike Barnes, Thamesmoorings.com. TW8 0AT
Website: www.Thamesmooring.com
E-Mail: mike@nbyco.com
Moorings: Temporary overnight moorings not available. Permanent moorings available, details on request.
Mooring Costs: from £250 per metre per annum plus VAT and service charge.
Services: see their own website for full details. They have water, electricity, refuse and foul water collection, telecoms, parking and security. All services only available to boats permanently moored with them.

Stanley and Thomas at Romney Lock Windsor
Stanley and Thomas are a well established boat building firm who also have moorings at Windsor.

Above – Stanley and Thomas Moorings at Windsor

Name Address and Contact Details: Stanley and Thomas Boat Builders, Tom Jones Boatyard, Romney Lock, Riverside Walk, Windsor Berkshire SL4 6HU
Telephone: 01753 833166
Grid Ref: SU 97050 77890
e-mail: info@stanleyandthomas.co.uk
Web Address: www.stanleyandthomas.co.uk
Moorings: No Overnight moorings
Permanent Moorings available and hardstanding storage.  6 Spaces currently available
Mooring Costs: On application - £3.74 per metre
Other Services available: Workshops for repairs refits and restorations: On-site engineer, craneage: moorings: Hard standing storage: boat brokerage and sculls: de-commissioning and storage service for winter.

Above – Stanley and Thomas Moorings at Datchet Windsor

 Bossoms Marina is located in the upper reaches of the River Thames near the great city of Oxford

Name Address and Contact Details: Bossoms Boatyard Near Binsey Village Oxford OX2 0DL
Telephone: 01865 247780
E-mail: info@bossoms.co.uk
Web Address: www.bossoms.com
A berth at Bossoms Marina gives access to the uncrowded and unspoiled upper reaches of the River Thames.  Bossoms will be pleased to help if you get in touch.