River Medway - using, mooring and river conditions
Information on the River Medway navigation, including river maps, registration and using slipways.
Applies to England
Strong Stream Advice
We issue Strong Stream Advice (SSA) to inform river users when river levels are increasing and conditions are becoming unsuitable for boating.
This service is free. You can register for the Strong Stream Advice messaging service by completing our registration form.
Once registered you will receive an automated call when SSA is issued and cancelled. This is a 24 hour service so you could receive a message at any time of the day or night. You cannot specify to only receive messages between certain times. There is also the option to receive a text message and email.
Navigation notices
| When | Where | What’s happening | More information | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 August 2026 | Allington and Tonbridge Lock | Navigation Restrictions During Drought Conditions | Due to the area moving into drought status, we will be further restricting the use at some of our sites and asking navigation users to take additional measures to conserve water. | |
| 31 July 2026 | Allington Lock | Navigation Restrictions during Prolonged Dry Weather | Due to the prolonged period of dry weather and low flows in the River Medway, we will be restricting the use at some of our sites and asking navigation users to take measures to conserve water. This will enable navigation to continue while protecting strategic water abstractions. | |
| 27 July 2026 | Various | Upcoming Events | Mariners are advised of several organised events taking place on the River Medway |
You can also sign up to receive details of restrictions and closures on the Medway Navigation. You can do this using our online form.
Tide times
| Date | State | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 20 August 2026 | High - 2.9m | 0652 |
| 20 August 2026 | High - 2.8m | 1906 |
| 21 August 2026 | High - 2.6m | 0734 |
| 21 August 2026 | High - 2.4m | 2001 |
| 22 August 2026 | High - 2.3m | 0831 |
| 22 August 2026 | High - 2.2m | 2120 |
| 23 August 2026 | High - 2.2m | 0952 |
| 23 August 2026 | High - 2.3m | 2257 |
| 24 August 2026 | High - 2.4m | 1121 |
| 25 August 2026 | High - 2.7m | 0010 |
| 25 August 2026 | High - 2.8m | 1225 |
| 26 August 2026 | High - 3.0m | 0101 |
| 26 August 2026 | High - 3.1m | 1313 |
Before you use the River Medway
You must register your boat each year to use the River Medway and its moorings. Failure to register can result in a £1,000 fine and your boat being seized and auctioned on eBay.
You should also read the navigation bylaws for the Upper Medway and Southern Region.
Registrations for visiting craft and permanent moorings
You can get short term (daily, weekly and monthly) and annual certificates to register your boat from Environment Agency offices at Allington Lock and Yalding. Other outlets include:
- Allington Marina
- Dragons Health Club in Maidstone
- Bow Bridge and Medway Wharf Marinas at Wateringbury
- Tonbridge Castle
River Medway locks including Allington Lock
There are 10 locks on the River Medway. You can operate them all yourself except for Allington Lock. Allington Lock is the most suitable for launching large boats as it has parking and a 5 metre slipway.
Allington Lock slipway
Before launching from the slipway to explore the Medway, you must:
- check with the lock keeper for any necessary registration requirements
- pay to use the slipway - currently £7.50 each way
- pay for car parking - currently £5 per vehicle or £10 for a vehicle with a trailer
You should also:
- check weather and tidal conditions
- check the trailer tow hitch and boat are properly secured before using the slipway
- do not block access: rig your vessel away from the slipway
- be aware of other slipway users such as paddleboarders, pedestrians and canoeists
When you launch:
- know where the end of the slipway is
- do not stand behind a boat trailer when it is being launched or recovered
- remove your vehicle immediately after using the slipway
- do not leave any trailers on the slipway - use the area designated by the lock keeper
- use a second person (a banksman) if possible when reversing to guide you back
Other facilities for visitors to Allington Lock
Other features for visitors at Allington Lock include:
- an interactive display screen
- a birdbox webcam available from the Nestera camera app
How to get in touch or request information
You can email: allington.lock@environment-agency.gov.uk for any enquiries. You can also register for information by emailing us using specific subject lines.
To receive:
- our quarterly newsletter, put ‘Newsletter’ in the subject line
- news, put ‘News’ in the subject line
- notices to mariners, put ‘Notices to Mariners’ in the subject line
You can also contact us using our form.
Mooring a boat on the River Medway
As well as Allington Lock, other permanent boat mooring sites on the River Medway include:
- Allington and Maidstone
- East Farleigh
- Wateringbury
- Hampstead and Yalding
- Tonbridge
These sites are listed in the next sections. Where more information is available, we have provided these links.
Allington and Maidstone
East Farleigh
- East Farleigh Boatyard (M Clifton Ltd)
- The Basin
Wateringbury
Hampstead and Yalding
Tonbridge
- Tonbridge Boat Yard Ltd
Canoeing on the Medway
You can canoe along 29km of the River Medway, starting from Tonbridge, through Kent countryside to Maidstone before finishing at Allington Lock.
You must register your canoe or kayak before using the Medway. You can purchase a short-term registration from either Allington Lock or Tonbridge Castle. Paddle UK members are covered by their BCU membership.
Other useful information
You can check:
- conditions, closures and restrictions on the River Medway
- tide predictions for Allington Lock on the River Medway
- bridges, locks and facilities on the River Medway
If you see any damage when you are at Allington Lock you can report an issue.
You can also:
- download Allington Lock tide times for 2026 to 2028
- read the - this describes the Environment Agency’s annual service standards
- read the - this provides an updated heritage audit of the Medway Navigation
- read the - this guides design, planning, and management along the Medway Navigation
- find lots of useful information on the Canal & River Trust website including the Boaters Handbook
- read the boats and waterways guidance and regulation
- find more detailed information on the River Medway navigation, including river maps, registration, how to use locks and leisure activities in the user’s guide to the River Medway