Canal & River Trust

Kennet & Avon Canal

86 miles of navigable water, 104 locks, 6 named marinas and moorings. Passes Bath, Bradford on Avon, Devizes, Hungerford, Keynsham, Newbury, Reading, Thatcham.

Will your boat fit?

BoatSizeFits?
Narrowboat57ft × 6ft 10inFits
Long narrowboat70ft × 6ft 10inFits
Widebeam60ft × 10ftFits
Widebeam60ft × 12ftFits
Dutch barge70ft × 14ft 6inSome sections

Length and beam against Canal & River Trust. “Some sections” means your boat is too big for at least one section or lock. Draught and headroom aren't checked here: see the table below.

BathBradford on AvonHungerfordKeynshamReadingThatcham

Published size limits

Maximum boat sizes in metres, from the Canal & River Trust's waterway dimensions (page last edited 26 Mar 2026). “–” means the Trust doesn't give a figure.

SectionLengthBeamDraughtHeadroom
Hanham Lock to Bridge 194 (Bath)22.554.881.32.67
Bridge 194 - Blakes Lock (Reading)21.9541.12.4

Marinas and moorings

Each opens its Check a Mooring page: what's nearby on the water and ashore.

Services on the water

Mapped within 150 m of the Kennet & Avon Canal in OpenStreetMap. Volunteers map these, so there are gaps.

Water points 17

17 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Elsan disposal 16

  • Kintbury Slucice point

15 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Pump-out 0

None mapped.

Boat fuel 2

2 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Rubbish disposal 16

16 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Winding holes 37

37 more without a name in OpenStreetMap.

Questions

Can a widebeam go on the Kennet & Avon Canal?

Yes. A 60ft × 10ft widebeam is within every published limit on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

Will a 57ft narrowboat fit on the Kennet & Avon Canal?

Yes. A 57ft × 6ft 10in narrowboat is within every published limit on the Kennet & Avon Canal.

How long is the Kennet & Avon Canal, and how many locks does it have?

About 86 miles of navigable water on our map, with 104 locks mapped in OpenStreetMap.