Cruising Guide to The River Thames and Connecting Waterways 2012-2013 Supported by Introduction and Contents As Chairman of BMF Thames Valley, I am immensely Introduction 3 proud to introduce the 2012/13 Cruising Guide to The River Thames Management 4-5 the River Thames and its connecting waterways. The Non-tidal River Thames 7-13 Cruising Guide has been jointly produced with the Environment Agency and is supported by the Port Bridge Heights - Non-tidal River Thames 14 of London Authority - it provides all the relevant St John’s Lock - Shifford Lock 15 information anyone would need whilst boating on Shifford Lock - Sandford Lock 16-17 The River Thames and its connecting waterways. Sandford Lock - Benson Lock 18-19 BMF Thames Valley is a Regional Association of the Cleeve Lock - Sonning Lock 20-21 British Marine Federation, the National trade association for the leisure boating industry. BMF Thames Valley Sonning Lock - Boulter’s Locks 22-23 represents around 200 businesses that all share a Boulter’s Lock - Old Windsor Lock 24-25 passion for our inland waterways. 2012 is going to be Bell Weir Lock - Shepperton Lock 26-27 an exciting year on the River Thames with the London Shepperton Lock - Teddington Lock 28-29 2012 Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. What’s new for 2012! The Tidal Thames 30 • New map design Tidal Thames Cruising Times 31 • Complete map of navigable River Thames from Lechlade Teddington Lock - Vauxhall Bridge 32-33 to the Thames Barrier • Information on the non-tidal Thames - Environment Agency Lambeth Bridge - Thames Barrier 34-35 • Information on the tidal Thames - PLA Connecting Waterways 36-37 • A boaters code of conduct - Thames MotorBoaters Association • 2012 cruising guidance Boatyards, Marinas and Services A-Z 41-48 You will still find all the previous useful information such as: The Gold Anchor Award Scheme 49 • Services and facilities guide Key to River Map & Lock Services 51 • Directory of services • Connecting waterways information Discover the River Thames 52 • Points of interest I hope you use this guide throughout your time on the water and encourage you to make the most of the The maps on the following pages services on offer from BMF Thames Valley members. show the locations of all BMF Thames Valley waterside members on the River Thames, and the services Happy Boating, and facilities that are available to boaters. Please refer to the flap inside the back cover of this booklet for a full key. For more information, please visit Mike Gates CMM, Chairman www.britishmarine.co.uk/thamesvalley 3 The River Thames - Who manages the river Non-tidal Tidal River Thames EYNSHAM OXFORD CANAL River Thames Shifford Lock SUTTON BOTLEY P16-17 FILCHAMSTEAD Sandford Lock P18-19 CHIMNEY MEADOWS SHIFFORD MORETON CHIMNEY RADCOT DUXFORD The Environment Agency manages the The Port of London Authority (PLA) LECHLADE BUCKLAND MARSH ABINGDON non-tidal section of the River Thames manages the tidal section of the River EATON BUSCOT PARK HASTINGS and its principal aims are to protect Thames, keeping leisure and commercial St John’s Lock and improve the environment, and to users safe, and protecting and enhancing DORCHESTER P15 promote sustainable development of the environment and promoting the use the waterway. of the river for travel and trade. TO OLYMPIC CANOEING LEE VALLEY WALLINGFORD NORTH STOKE MARLOW OLYMPIC STADIUM CLIVEDEN HOUSE EXCEL COVENT GARDEN BOURNE END THEATRE LAND CANARY MOULSFORD WHARF LONDON CITY AIRPORT CLEEVE HENLEY MEDMENHAM ROYAL REGATTA Cleeve Lock COOKHAM Boulter’s Lock WATERLOO TOWER THE P20-21 P24-25 WESTMINSTER BRIDGE O2 HENLEY-ON-THAMES LONDON PARLIAMENT ARENA GORING HURLEY LONDON EYE THAMES JUBILEE RIVER BARRIER MAIDENHEAD CHELSEA Lambeth Bridge STREATLEY OLYMPIC ROWING BRENTFORD HAMMERSMITH DORNEY LAKE GRAND UNION & P34-35 NATIONAL SONNING ETON CHISWICK REGENTS CANAL CLAPHAM MARITIME MUSEUM PANGBOURNE PURLEY- BRAY FULHAM ON- CAVERSHAM WARGRAVE THAMES DATCHET THE OVAL PUTNEY WINDSOR CASTLE TWICKENHAM RICHMOND READING Sonning Lock LEGOLAND WINDSOR RUGBY STADIUM UNIVERSITY P22-23 BOAT RACE © Tony Riley LBIPP READING KENNET STAINES- MUSIC FESTIVAL & AVON Bell Weir Lock ON-THAMES CANAL P26-27 EGHAM TEDDINGTON Tidal/Non Tidal Teddington Lock MAGNA CARTA SHEPPERTON MEMORIAL P32-33 KINGSTON-UPON-THAMES HAMPTON COURT Shepperton Lock PALACE P28-29 RIVER WEY 2012 Cruising Guidance Users of the River Thames will need to plan All short-stay moorings between these locks will The PLA is working closely with several agencies to of commercial shipping. This is regardless of ahead and book early this summer. be suspended between July and September 2012. ensure all recreational users navigating the Thames whether you are coming from the sea or through Moorings will only be available at Bray, Windsor and and Medway in 2012 experience a safe and the UK’s inland waterway network. You should From late July to early September 2012, the Olympic Windsor Racecourse Marinas. Visitor moorings in enjoyable Olympics. also be aware that anchoring is not permitted in and Paralympic rowing and canoeing events will the Windsor and Maidenhead area are likely to be the Thames above Gravesend and should not be take place at Eton College’s Dorney Lake, located extremely busy during the games, so we advise you The tidal Thames is the UK’s second biggest port and regarded as an alternative to having a confirmed, adjacent to the River Thames, in Buckinghamshire. to plan early. busiest inland waterway, and the Olympic Games will dedicated mooring. attract millions of visitors. The tidal Thames cannot The Environment Agency is working closely with the There will be heightened security measures in place accommodate significant numbers of additional, The Port of London Authority will establish London Organising Committee of Olympic Games during the games and additional visiting boats are unplanned recreational vessels. Gatekeeper Patrols in the Gravesend area, and (LOCOG) and Thames Valley Police to achieve a expected during this period, please be prepared for between Teddington and Richmond to support shared ambition of delivering a ‘safe and secure’ some possible minor delays as you enter the non- If you are planning to bring a recreational boat navigational safety and to check that arriving Games. tidal River Thames at Teddington Lock. to London this summer, it is essential that you recreational craft have a confirmed mooring to go pre-book and confirm a mooring before you begin to; and to monitor the movement of vessels passing The river remains open for navigation throughout Keep up-to-date with what’s happening including your journey. Mooring and boating facilities are very the games, however there will be some restrictions directly through the port, which will not require any restrictions at: www.environment-agency. limited in ports, marinas and inland waterways on on the Dorney reach between Boveney and Bray a mooring. gov.uk/thamesolympics2012 or near the tidal River Thames. Locks and the whole width of the river may not For available moorings visit: always be available. If you don’t have a confirmed mooring in London, www.whichmarina.co.uk or for general port you will be asked to leave the area for your own information, see www.pla.co.uk safety, that of other recreational users and the safety 4 5 Non-tidal River Thames www.environment-agency.gov.uk/boating Who manages the River Thames? • Children should always be supervised. Know The Environment Agency manages the where they are at all times and don’t let them non-tidal River Thames from Cricklade in the sit in positions where a turn, change of speed Cotswolds to Teddington on the outskirts of or wash from another boat could toss them London, including the 44 locks. There is much into the water. to explore as the River Thames runs through 3 • Always use grab rails when moving around Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and some the boat, and never run or jump. of England’s most picturesque towns. To find • Be careful when passing through low bridges out more about our service to customers on the and ensure everyone on board is in a safe non-tidal River Thames, read our customer position. Some hire boats will not pass under charter www.environment-agency.gov.uk/ Folly Bridge or Osney Bridge, Oxford – please thamescustomercharter check with your boatyard. Do I need to register my boat? • Ensure your boat systems (engine, fuel, gas All boats kept or used on the River Thames and electrical) are properly maintained and (including backwaters and marinas) must be serviced according to manufacturer currently registered with the Environment recommendations. Agency. Visit www.environment-agency. • Take care when refuelling, especially with gov.uk/boatregthames for more information. petrol (petrol vapour is heavier than air and does not readily disperse if there is a spillage If you are visiting the River Thames from or a leak). Before refuelling, switch off your another waterway for a short period, you are engine and extinguish all cigarettes and eligible for a visitor registration. You can buy naked flames. Ensure all cooking, heating and one in advance by post or from a number of lighting appliances are turned off. To ensure River Thames locks during published hours of the fuel system is not overfilling, monitor the duty. Visit www.environment-agency.gov. fuel level carefully. Any portable fuel tank uk/boatregthames for more information. connected to an outboard motor must be removed from the boat for filling. Mop up Hire boat customers should discuss registration any spillage and ventilate the boat before with their hire company in advance. starting the engine or using naked flames. • Never go afloat or leave a safe mooring How do I stay safe on the water? without checking the local conditions. The Environment Agency wants you to enjoy Extra safety information for hire boaters.