Do I need a license to kayak in the UK?
If you want to canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard on most rivers and canals in England and Wales, you’ll need a waterways licence. Without one, you risk fines or being asked to leave the water. In England and Wales, you will need a Waterways Licence to paddle on all Environment Agency and Canal & River Trust waterways, plus a few other stretches of water across the country.In England & Wales, you can kayak anywhere you like, free of charge, on tidal waters except those which are off limits as above. The effect of the tide extends far up many rivers. Non-tidal waters are very different.
Can you kayak for free in the UK?
In England & Wales, you can kayak anywhere you like, free of charge, on tidal waters except those which are off limits as above. The effect of the tide extends far up many rivers. Non-tidal waters are very different. If you want to canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard on most rivers and canals in England and Wales, you’ll need a waterways licence. Without one, you risk fines or being asked to leave the water.
How much is a kayak licence UK?
An On The Water individual licence costs £60 for the year when you purchase through Paddle UK and covers around 4,500km of waterways. For renewing members the cost is £47 per year. If you purchased all the canal and river licences included in Paddle UK membership it would cost you around £150! For novice paddlers who want a good-quality SUP experience, I would recommend budgeting around $1,000 and looking for paddleboards in the middle of the price range. At this pricing tier you will begin to experience better performance on the water and the construction will be a bit higher quality than low-level boards.
Do you have to wear a life jacket on a kayak in the UK?
Wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid Even if you’re kayaking close to shore, conditions can turn quickly. Wearing a buoyancy aid or lifejacket can make the critical difference. If you unexpectedly find yourself in the water and you’re wearing a lifejacket, you’re four times more likely to survive*. There, an unfortunate number of them capsize or fall in—and drown. Cold-water immersion is the leading cause of death in paddlesports, yet thousands of paddlers are unaware of the danger.