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.

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.

Winter works programme 2024/25

Each winter, when fewer boats are on our waterways, we carry out essential repairs and maintenance. In many cases we need to close the waterway completely, and sometimes even the towpath.

Before we begin, we always consult the people who use our waterways to make sure these stoppages cause as little disruption as possible.

Thank you to all those who commented on our draft winter 2024/25 programme. The list has now been published and you can see the individual stoppages in the main search function above.

We aim to deliver the winter programme as published. However, changes are occasionally required. Change will only be made where necessary and the website will be updated accordingly. Please sign up to our email or text alerts (below) to keep up to date.

Keep up to date

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

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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.

Two narrowboats in a lock to enter Bancroft Basin in Stratford

Text notifications

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

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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

Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal, Staffordshire

Water level and strong stream warnings

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

Two narrowboats at the bottom of a lock with the gates open and Canal & River Trust volunteers in life jackets stand on the bank.

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

Child wearing a life jacket reaches for a bell on the back of a narrowboat

Boating safety

Visit our safety pages for the latest information on safe boating

Storm flood water submerged the towpath and neighbouring field.

Flooding advice

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

Wide shot of a canal with anglers fishing

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