River Thames: locks and facilities for boaters
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 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.
Lock keeper hours of duty
| Month | Morning | Afternoon |
|---|---|---|
| January | 9:15am to 1pm | 2pm to 4pm |
| February | 9:15am to 1pm | 2pm to 4pm |
| March | 9:15am to 1pm | 2pm to 4pm |
| April | 9am to 1pm | 2pm to 5pm |
| May | 9am to 1pm | 2pm to 6pm |
| June | 9am to 1pm | 2pm to 6pm |
| July | 9am to 1pm | 2pm to 6:30pm |
| August | 9am to 1pm | 2pm to 6:30pm |
| September | 9am to 1pm | 2pm to 6pm |
| October | 9am to 1pm | 2pm to 5pm |
| November | 9:15am to 1pm | 2pm to 4pm |
| December | 9:15am to 1pm | 2pm to 4pm |
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.
Payments at lock sites
Payment for boat registration, moorings and other services at our lock sites can now only be made by card or contactless payments.
Under exceptional circumstances where cash is the only option to pay, please speak to the Lock Keeper.
Not all lock sites accept payments, please check lock locations and other facilitates for which locks accept payments.
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.
We no longer accept pre-booking of visitor moorings, except for electrically propelled vehicles.
Group bookings will still be available at Days, Goring, Hurley, Cookham and Boveney Locks throughout 2026 for recognised clubs. Group bookings must be a minimum of 5 boats. Please email your request at least 5 working days in advance to enquiries_THM@environment-agency.gov.uk and include ‘Group visitor mooring request’ and the name of the lock site in the subject line. This inbox is monitored Monday to Friday.
Visitor moorings are currently closed at Hurley Lock due to safety concerns.
Please ensure you include the following information in your booking request: date of booking, location, mooring type, name, contact details, boat name and boat length.
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 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 5 working days in advance by emailing enquiries_THM@environment-agency.gov.uk (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
- Oxford - East Street - closed until further notice
- 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)
- Wargrave - opposite Lashbrook
- Marlow - downstream of Marlow Lock (currently closed)
- Dorney Reach - opposite Queens Eyot
- Boveney - upstream of Eton boathouse (PG Point)
- Boveney - downstream of Eton boathouse
- Runnymede - downstream of Runnymede Pleasure Ground
- 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
Environment Agency lock 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
- 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
- Shiplake Lock island - upstream
- Hurley Lock island - downstream (groups can pre-book) **
- Temple Lock island - upstream
- Temple Lock - downstream
- Cookham Lock island - downstream (groups can pre-book) *
- Boveney Lock island - downstream (groups can pre-book)
- Bell Weir Lock island - downstream
*Please note there is no access to Odney Common or Cookham Village.
**Base moorings are currently closed at Hurley Lock due to safety concerns.
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, we strongly advise you 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:
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 riverthames@environment-agency.gov.uk 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.
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 section.
Availability of facilities was last updated 27 July 2026.
St John’s
Postcode: GL7 3HA
National grid reference: SU 22216 99042
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet (currently closed)
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- electric charging point
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out
- recycling facilities
- refuse disposal
Buscot
Postcode: SN7 8DA
National grid reference: SU 23016 98092
- toilet - currently closed
- shower - currently closed
Grafton
Postcode: OX18 2RY
National grid reference: SU 27146 99233
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet - available during Lock and Weir Keeper hours only
- shower – available during Lock and Weir Keeper hours only
- bulk supply water point
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 32301 00075
Facilities include:
- toilet (accessible)
- shower – currently closed
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out
- refuse disposal
Shifford
Chimney, Bampton, Oxfordshire
Postcode: OX18 2EJ
National grid reference: SP 37049 01064
Facilities include:
- toilet
- shower – currently closed
- bulk supply water point
- electric charging point
Northmoor
Postcode: OX13 5JP
National grid reference: SP 43143 02137
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Pinkhill
Eynsham, Witney, Oxfordshire
Postcode: OX29 4JH
National grid reference: SP 44063 07130
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet
- shower – currently closed
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Eynsham
Swinford, Witney, Oxfordshire
Postcode: OX29 4BY
National grid reference: SP 44471 08649
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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:
- card and contactless payments
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Godstow
Postcode: OX2 8PJ
National grid reference: SP 48509 08945
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
Osney
Postcode: OX2 0AX
National grid reference: SP 50359 05861
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Iffley
Postcode: OX4 4EJ
National grid reference: SP 52574 03667
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
Sandford
Postcode: OX4 4YD
National grid reference: SP 53105 01336
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- electric charging point
Abingdon
Postcode: OX14 3NW
National grid reference: SU 50646 97113
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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 50767 94872
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Clifton
Postcode: OX14 3EH
National grid reference: SU 54699 94720
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only) - currently out of service until further notice
Days
Little Wittenham, Abingdon, Oxfordshire
Postcode: OX14 4RB
National grid reference: SU 56882 93586
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- chemical toilet disposal
- refuse disposal
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Benson
Postcode: OX10 6SL
National grid reference: SU 61303 91263
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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 60064 81820
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
Goring
Postcode: RG8 9AE
National grid reference: SU 59679 80876
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- electric charging point
- recycling facilities
- refuse disposal
Whitchurch
Postcode: RG8 7DJ
National grid reference: SU 63438 76828
No facilities.
Mapledurham
Postcode: RG8 8BE
National grid reference: SU 66759 76806
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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 72063 74033
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
Blakes (River Kennet)
Postcode: RG1 3DS
National grid reference: SU 72735 73533
No facilities.
Sonning
Postcode: RG4 6UR
National grid reference: SU 75242 75443
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet
Shiplake
Postcode: RG9 3NA
National grid reference: SU 77647 78675
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
- electric charging point
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out - currently closed
- refuse disposal - currently closed
Marsh
Postcode: RG9 4HB
National grid reference: SU 77408 81668
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
Marsh Horse Bridge upstream of Marsh Lock is currently closed. A diversion is signposted.
Hambleden
Postcode: RG9 3AZ
National grid reference: SU 78206 85157
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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 82692 84267
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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 83717 84374
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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 85432 86093
Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Cookham
Odney Lane, Cookham, Maidenhead, Berkshire
Postcode: SL6 9SR
National grid reference: SU 90550 85516
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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 90285 82391
Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Bray
Postcode: SL6 0EE
National grid reference: SU 91007 79769
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet (accessible)
Boveney
Postcode: SL4 6QQ
National grid reference: SU 94456 77767
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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 97002 77872
Facilities include:
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Old Windsor
Postcode: SL4 2JZ
National grid reference: SU 99494 74819
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
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
Penton Hook
Postcode: TW18 2JA
National grid reference: TQ 04390 69487
Facilities include:
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- refuse disposal
Chertsey
Postcode: KT16 8LD
National grid reference: TQ 05427 66839
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- bulk supply water point
Shepperton
Postcode: TW17 9LJ
National grid reference: TQ 07364 65908
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- 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:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet (accessible)
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
- chemical toilet disposal
Molesey
Postcode: KT8 9AW
National grid reference: TQ 15146 68606
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only) - currently out of use
- bulk supply water point
- chemical toilet disposal
- sewage pump-out
- refuse disposal
Please note that Molesey water point is currently out of use until further notice due to a burst water pipe.
Teddington
Postcode: TW11 9NG
National grid reference (barge lock): TQ 16579 71652
National grid reference (launch lock): TQ 16624 71588
National grid reference (skiff lock): TQ 16630 71576
Facilities include:
- card and contactless payments
- toilet
- drinking water tap (for portable containers only)
Contact the Environment Agency
General enquiries
National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY
Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk
Telephone 03708 506 506
Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Floodline
Telephone (24 hour service) 0345 988 1188
Type talk (for the hard of hearing) 0345 602 6340