Kingston moorings

thamesS23

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We are planning to spend a few days heading downstream for an extended weekend this bank holiday, and have some nights booked in Penton Hook (2) and Shepperton Marina (1). Have never been past further than Hampton Court, so we want to go to Teddington Lock and back one day, hopefully stopping for lunch at Kingston.

What is it like to moor there (Kingston)? Are there any public moorings, suitable for a lunch stop, or are they all occupied or private? Any heads up, most appreciatted.
 
Heading downstream, on the left, just before the pubs and restaurants, are some public moorings, just past the park. Don't be fooled by the "No Mooring" signs. The small print says 24 hours permitted. The other public moorings, that are usually full, are on the right before the bridge and on the left just past the bridge.
 
We are planning to spend a few days heading downstream for an extended weekend this bank holiday, and have some nights booked in Penton Hook (2) and Shepperton Marina (1). Have never been past further than Hampton Court, so we want to go to Teddington Lock and back one day, hopefully stopping for lunch at Kingston.

What is it like to moor there (Kingston)? Are there any public moorings, suitable for a lunch stop, or are they all occupied or private? Any heads up, most appreciatted.
If you have no luck you have two / three riverside pubs with moorings. The Boaters which is about half a mile downstream from Kingston Bridge on your right , shallow but okay with caution. Or The Olde White Swan in the inside of Thames Ditton Island about half a mile downstream of Hampton Court Bridge. You also have the Albany just below Hampton Court. If you wanted to go through Tedd Lock ( 0900-1630) you can take a hard left and go up the weir stream to the Anglers in right, again with floating pontoon. All have decent food of varying degrees ! Personally i would give Kingston a miss but you can form your own opinion when you get to it !
 
Not sure what the position is currently but the little pontoon immediately below the ugly 'houseboat' monstrosities below Kingston bridge used to be a short stay (4hr?) Visitor mooring. At the end of old Bridge Street in Hampton Wick.

It may not be public any more. Someone will know.

Screenshot_20250825-130854_Maps.jpg
 
Not sure what the position is currently but the little pontoon immediately below the ugly 'houseboat' monstrosities below Kingston bridge used to be a short stay (4hr?) Visitor mooring. At the end of old Bridge Street in Hampton Wick.

It may not be public any more. Someone will know.

View attachment 198370
That’s a really interesting little pontoon. I have no idea if it’s still public but nobody ( astonishingly) is ever on there.
 
You were very lucky to get that today ! Or any day for that matter. Just watch the drive on the lime
Bikes that live just below the surface there !
Didn’t see any Lime bikes, but there was two drowned shopping trolleys about 6ft behind the back of the boat.

First ever visit to Kingston by boat, and we certainly noticed that it was pretty much all unlicensed live aboards taking up pretty much every public mooring below Sunbury
 
Didn’t see any Lime bikes, but there was two drowned shopping trolleys about 6ft behind the back of the boat.

First ever visit to Kingston by boat, and we certainly noticed that it was pretty much all unlicensed live aboards taking up pretty much every public mooring below Sunbury
Sadly yes, 15 mins more and you have reached the peace and tranquility of Teddington ! You can even walk back up the tow path to Kingston. One for next time !
 
That’s a really interesting little pontoon. I have no idea if it’s still public but nobody ( astonishingly) is ever on there.
I lived in Hampton Wick riverside 1986 to 1996. I think the pontoon was probably put in when permission was given for the awful 'houseboat' things. These were fabricated at Porthampton island. I am sure there must have been complaints against putting them in so the addition of a public mooring pontoon could have been part of the deal.

The John Lewis side is better although prone to antisocial behaviour so I would not leave the Boat unattended for long. Too much temptation for rattlesnakes.
 
I lived in Hampton Wick riverside 1986 to 1996. I think the pontoon was probably put in when permission was given for the awful 'houseboat' things. These were fabricated at Porthampton island. I am sure there must have been complaints against putting them in so the addition of a public mooring pontoon could have been part of the deal.

The John Lewis side is better although prone to antisocial behaviour so I would not leave the Boat unattended for long. Too much temptation for rattlesnakes.
They go for around 800 k when for sale.
 
If you can find space but it’s almost impossible now due to over stayers. Venture into the Thames Facebook page if you are brave enough ;)
Naa....
Our stop there lasted about 30 mins.

To our stern at ear level was a "budget" generator and immediately in front was what looked like a large bowser containing God Knows What.
............... Then a couple of the locals commenced a somewhat heated hissy fit argument ......we upsticks and left.
 
Naa....
Our stop there lasted about 30 mins.

To our stern at ear level was a "budget" generator and immediately in front was what looked like a large bowser containing God Knows What.
............... Then a couple of the locals commenced a somewhat heated hissy fit argument ......we upsticks and left.
Astonishingly there were spaces today at HC. It looks as if four or five have gone! Apart from the Birchwood 33 that Henry VIII used to use. That’s still there…. Unless they’ve all gone to pump out ?

Interesting last trip of the season. Still very busy, shed load of sunken boats, loads of classics on way to St Kats, river works at Platts Eyot and sadly a body recovery directly opposite.
 
At some point somebody is going to have decide what to do about several hundred tons of slightly damp glassfibre now lining much of the upper Thames.
Pointless even attempting to try and trace or track down last/ former owners.
And as for asking the organisation that has had 50% of its funding snatched back over last two decades, to undertake the task ?
As for the upper Mudway, 2 boats seized by EA , on sale for pennies at the moment up at Allington Lock.


Home – Medway Navigation
 
Shock horror ! Again ! Just cycled past and it would appear there are now even more free spaces, occupied by mix of hire boats and weekenders.

The grey water / waste tank is still there as is Henry VIII Birchwood
 
Shock horror ! Again ! Just cycled past and it would appear there are now even more free spaces, occupied by mix of hire boats and weekenders.

The grey water / waste tank is still there as is Henry VIII Birchwood
Did wonder what was innit but doubt it adds to thye attractions at Hampton CT.
Did wonder why somebody bothered to build a castle next to a flottila of Ye livyabords ?
 
There have been complaints sent to the HC estate managers.

I think it highly unlikely they will want vessels moored for winter as it comes over the mooring area plus when the conbined Mole and Ember are full thats a lot of water coming in opposite. HC royal palaces own the land and riverbed so if they allow people to remain they will get sunk vessels which cost money to get rid of.

Best policy for that mooring is to close it for winter season and havr patrols.

Otherwise there will be predictable problems.
 
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