News & Blog

Beginner Guide to Narrowboats

This is a complete beginner’s guide to narrowboats. Find out what narrowboats are used for and the pros and cons of buying them. Click to learn more.

Choosing the right boat - 7 Best Types of Boats to Buy

Want to know how to choose the right boat? Find out today with our boat buying guide on the top 7 best types of boats to buy. Click to learn more.

17 River Trent Facts You Need to Know

If you need to learn more about the iconic River Trent, we’re here to help. On this blog, you’ll find 17 interesting facts about the River Trent - perfect for kids and adults. Click to learn more.

Green fingered winners of Aquavista in Bloom announced

The competition was launched in April when we invited our 29 inland and coastal marinas to accept the challenge of creating some stunning floral displays around their marina.

12 Beginner Boating Tips for New Boaters

New to boating? Before you take on the seas, be sure to read our must-know beginner boating tips for 2023. Click now to read our 12 beginner boating tips.

Residential vs Liveaboard vs Long-Term Moorings - What’s the Difference?

A guide explaining the differences between common terms around residential and leisure moorings.

Warwickshire Ring Canal: A Boating Guide

Here, you’ll find important information you need to plan your next (or first) trip on the Warwickshire Ring.

Aquavista becomes new dealer of Waterlodge floating apartments

Aquavista Watersides, the UK’s largest marina group with a portfolio of 29 marinas, has announced a new partnership working alongside Waterlodge UK, a leading manufacturer of contemporary floating apartments.

Top 25 Types of Boats

Looking for a list of types of boats? Travelling the waterways, rivers, and canals has become a sought-after pastime in recent years. And for some people living on the water is a full-time proposition.

Aquavista Launches New Customer Benefits Package

Aquavista has now launched a new package of benefits to all annual contract holders across the company’s 29 marinas. The ‘Moor Benefits’ scheme is the first of its kind within the market and provides Aquavista customers with a range of special offers and discounts, as well as 34 nights free of charge mooring across the marina network under its new ‘Explore34’ product. Customers are now entitled to marina network deals including discounts off all fuels and chandlery items. Plus Aquavista has partnered with local businesses around the marinas to provide customers with offers on everything from dog groomers to hairdressers to gyms and restaurants.

Aquavista Announces Castle Marina Rebrand

Aquavista, the UK’s premier residential and leisure mooring provider, has announced the rebrand of Castle Marinas to Aquavista. The rebrand, will see an enhanced offer delivered to existing and new Aquavista customers across all 29 of the marinas, including the opportunity for free pre-bookable stop-overs at any of the network marinas.

RSPB's Big Birdwatch Weekend

Be wowed by your local wildlife. Big Garden Birdwatch is for everyone, whether you're a complete beginner or a birding expert. Simply count the birds you see in your garden, from your boat or in your local park for one hour between 28 and 30 January 2022.

Aquavista Christmas Vista

We would like to wish each one of our customers a very merry Christmas and thank you for joining us throughout the changing seasons on the water. It’s been our pleasure to share our love of waterside life with you this year – and hope you can join us again next year – whether virtually or on a marina tour. From all of the crew, we wish you a very Happy Waterside Christmas – on land or water! We hope the new year brings your best 'boat life story' yet.

Aquavista December Vista

It’s that time of year again to deck the hulls, turn up the festive songs and watch out for falling snow as we all get ready for Christmas and turn our thoughts to spending time with family and loved ones. In December’s Vista you’ll find some exciting news about Aquavista; winter tips; a tour around Packet Boat Waterside & Marina and our gift to you - a festive lights competition to win a lovely bespoke prize.

Festive feels competition - Winner

Winner announcement of our December photography competition in which we gave you the chance to win a fantastic bespoke hand-woven blanket worth £125 from Gillyflower - The Narrowboat Weaver, plus a magazine subscription of your choice!

Festive feels competition worth more than £150

What does this season look like on your boat? Do you truly deck the hulls? Or are your twinkling lights accompanied by a warming stove?  Show us what Christmas looks like on your boat (inside or out) and win a gorgeous bespoke weaved throw by Gillyflower – Narrowboat Weaver; and a magazine subscription of your choice – so you can grab a hot chocolate and snuggle up this season catching up on your favourite hobby.

A message from our CEO, Steve de Polo

Aquavista broadens marina portfolio with acquisition of Castle Marinas

Aquavista November Vista

The clocks have gone back, and the nights are drawing in – winter and the season of festivities is well and truly upon us. Whilst you’re hopefully relaxing and enjoying the sparkle of fireworks in the crisp air, this Vista we’ve got a great winter mooring offer for you and some exciting updates from our marinas.

Pumpkin Carving Competition

Get your knives and spoons at the ready! It’s time to get your creative skills going and enter our Halloween Pumpkin Carving Competition!

Aquavista October Vista

As the rain falls and the wind blows, there’s no escaping that winter will soon be upon us. We’ve got some handy tips on how to prepare for the season, including CRT stoppages. If you're looking to settle for the season then why not take a look at our Winter mooring offer.

Floating Assets - Feature in the Daily Mail

On 17th September our Priory Waterside & Marina floating homes were featured in the Daily Mail as Caroline Clark and her dog Aggie made the move to a home on the water and haven’t looked back since.

Summer update from CEO, Steve de Polo

Over the last few weeks our operations teams have been busy getting our watersides and marinas ready to fully reopen following the removal of all government restrictions in July. We are delighted to be able to now welcome everyone back and thank you all for your patience during a trying 18 months.

Crick Boat Show Prize Draw

We’re delighted that Crick Boat Show is back this summer for three days on Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd August. We're giving you the chance to win x2 free tickets to Crick Boat Show 2021 on Saturday 21st August!

Enduro7 Challenge at Ripon Waterside & Marina

7 extreme events over 7 days with no rest. Follow Major Powers' Enduro7 Challenge in support of veterans mental health.

#mywalkbythewater - Photography Competition

To mark May as National Walking Month, we're launching our #mywalkbythewater photography competition.

Pull of the River - Book Giveaway

We are giving you the chance to receive a free copy of 'Pull of the River' by Matt Gaw in our latest giveaway.

Waterways, Lakes and Seas: Where in the UK has the most blue space?

Have you ever felt a wash of calm pass over you when you’ve looked over the ocean? Or felt energised as you’ve walked along a river or lake shore? Do you relish the idea of a gentle trip down a canal? Well, you’re not alone.

Exploring the night sky at Aquavista

Our Waterside & Marina locations are not only ideal locations to get close to nature and enjoy tranquillity – but they are often also great spots to explore the night sky.

Winter warmer competition

Win an Onboard Winter Warmer Pack worth over £200!

Fundraising for Young Lives vs Cancer

Aquavista Waterside & Marinas are proud to be supporting Young Lives vs Cancer to raise money for families affected by childhood cancer.

Help support the winter habitat of our bugs

They aren’t soft and cuddly, but without saving and protecting the habitats of the nation’s insects, British wildlife will not be the same. Aquavista work with Buglife to ‘save the small things that run the planet’ and they’ve created some tips on how you can help too this winter.

Welcome to Aquavista

Welcome to www.aquavista.com - all the crew at Aquavista are incredibly excited to have you on board!

‘We’re good to go’

Aquavista Waterside & Marinas have been certified under the Visit Britain ‘We’re good to go’ scheme.

Cruising the Thames

Steve Davies of North Kent Yachting Association reflects on the attraction of a different destination, plus a relatively low-cost way to stay in central London.

Carbon monoxide alarms are mandatory - did you know?

From 1 April 2019 it became mandatory for at least one carbon monoxide (CO) alarm on all private and non-private boats in scope of the Boat Safety Scheme (BSS) requirements.