The charity making life better by water

Making life better by water

Notices and stoppages

If you're planning a boat journey, or going for a walk or ride along our towpaths, it's a good idea to check if there are any closures or works affecting your route before you leave home.

Winter works programme 2026/27

After consultation rounds with those who use our waterways to minimise potential disruption, the programme has now been published

Ongoing notices

Booking passage

To travel through some tunnels, bridges and locks you will need to book passage in advance. This might be because of unexpected events, such as an unplanned stoppage, or because boat passage needs to coincide with tide times.

Keep up to date

Receive live updates and news by text or email when you sign up for alerts or our Boaters' Update newsletter

Email alerts

Create a free account to get email updates each time there's a new notice or stoppage. You can select which canals and rivers you want to know about and update your preferences whenever you like.

Text notifications

Set up alerts to your smartphone for notices issued on a canal or river that you're interested in

Boaters' Update

Receive regular email updates about boating on canals and rivers, important safety announcements, upcoming events and ways you can support our work

More important information for boaters

Water level and strong stream warnings

Search warnings about conditions that may affect navigation, such as varying water levels and faster flows

Waterway dimensions

Check the dimensions of our waterways before setting off on your journey

Boaters' guides

Download a PDF of your waterway for navigation information and boaters' facilities

Boating safety

Visit our safety pages for the latest information on safe boating

Flooding advice

If you're in an area affected by flooding, read our advice for walkers and boaters on staying safe during flooding

Waterway Code

However you use the waterways, please be aware of and considerate to other users. Read and follow our waterway code for boaters, anglers and unpowered craft