Following an agreement with the Bridgewater Canal Company, CRT-licensed boaters wishing to access the Bridgewater Canal, must now pre-book the visit using the on-line booking system (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/planning-your-boat-trip/booking-your-passage-online), after you have set up a customer account, or by phone on 0303 0404040. Outbound passage, free of charge, is limited to a maximum of seven continuous days and return passage is up to a maximum of three continuous days free of charge. If you do not book the return journey when you book the outbound journey, you should log into your online account and tick the ‘three extra days’ box on the date of your return journey. The outbound and return journeys must be made within a continuous 28-day period, which starts on the first day of the outbound journey. You cannot return to the Bridgewater within 28 days, unless you buy a short-term Bridgewater licence from www.bridgewatercanal.co.uk/boating (between £20 for three days to £160 for 28 days).

Other places that require booking are:

London: Thames lock, River Brent; Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park; Bow Back Rivers; Three Mills, Carpenters Road and City Mill locks.

East Midlands: Blisworth, Saddington and Braunston tunnels (widebeams only); Boston lock, River Witham; Cromwell and Torksey locks, River Trent (online booking soon, currently call 0303 0404040).

West Midlands: Frankton locks, Montgomery canal; Harecastle tunnel.

North East: Bingley three- and five-rise locks; Tinsley flight, Tinsley canal; Newlay and Kirkstall Forge locks, L&L; Standedge tunnel, Huddersfield Narrow canal; Tuel lock, Rochdale canal; Keadby lock, Stainforth & Keadby canal/River Trent (online booking soon, currently call 07733 124611); West Stockwith lock, Chesterfield canal/River Trent (online booking soon, currently call 01427 890204).

North West: Anderton boat lift; Liverpool canal link and Salthouse docks, L&L; Ribble canal link; Marsh lock, River Weaver (online booking soon, currently call 03030 404040)

More information on booking passages online is at https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/boating/planning-your-boat-trip/booking-your-passage-online (https://canalrivertrust.org.uk > Search ‘Booking passage’)