GovWire

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

Teddington Lock has a 24 hour service all year.

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.

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.

Short stay mooring

Unless signs state otherwise, you are allowed to moor for up to 24 hours at Environment Agency short stay 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.

Ask about short stay mooring availability

Call 03708 506 506 if you have any queries, including if you want to pre-book a short stay mooring. You can only pre-book at selected locks.

Find out about call charges.

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 owners 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 48 hours in advance by emailing waterwaysthames@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 short stay mooring locations

You can pre-book short stay moorings at the following locations (if spaces are available) by contacting us at least 5 working days (Monday to Friday) in advance of your proposed mooring date.

Please email your request to waterwaysthames@environment-agency.gov.uk and include Short stay lock mooring request in the subject line.

Please include the following information in your short stay mooring request:

• Date of booking
• Mooring type
• Mooring location (including upstream or downstream)
• Full name
• Contact details (email and phone number)
• Boat name
• Boat length

Short stay mooring locations:

• St Johns Lock island - downstream (can pre-book)
• Buscot Lock island - upstream (can pre-book)
• Shifford Lock island - upstream (can pre-book)
• Northmoor Lock island - upstream (can pre-book)
• Eynsham Lock - upstream
• Eynsham Lock - downstream
• Kings Lock island - upstream (can pre-book)
• Kings Lock - downstream
• Oxford - East Street
• Iffley Lock - upstream
• Iffley Lock - downstream
• Sandford Lock and island - upstream (can pre-book)
• Sandford Lock island - downstream (can pre-book)
• Abingdon Lock - upstream (can pre-book)
• Culham Lock - upstream (can pre-book)
• Clifton Lock - upstream (can pre-book)
• Days Lock island - upstream (can pre-book)
• Benson Lock island - upstream (can pre-book)
• Cleeve Lock - downstream
• Goring Lock island - upstream (can pre-book)
• Goring Lock island - downstream
• 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)
• Shiplake Lock island - upstream (can pre-book)
• Wargrave - opposite Lashbrook
• Hurley Lock island - downstream (clubs can pre-book)
• Temple Lock island - upstream
• Temple Lock - downstream
• Marlow - downstream of Marlow Lock (currently closed)
• Cookham Lock island - downstream (clubs can pre-book)
• Dorney Reach - opposite Queens Eyot
• Boveney - upstream of Eton boathouse (PG Point)
• Boveney - downstream of Eton boathouse
• Boveney Lock island - downstream (can pre-book)
• Runnymede - downstream of Runnymede Pleasure Ground
• Bell Weir Lock island - downstream
• 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 Beasleys Ait (Gridley Miskin)
• Molesey - Hurst Park
• Kingston - Railway Wharf
• Kingston - Stevens Eyot

Base mooring at lock sites

If you k

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