Join us
Join us and together we can continue to campaign to protect and restore the waterways you love. Become a member for as little as £36 per year – or you can choose to give more.
7,000 miles of British waterways
New research reveals a total of 7,000 miles of waterways in Great Britain.
Help us to protect the future of our waterways
Join waterways-lovers across Britain to campaign to protect and restore rivers and canals.
Covid-19
Our waterways our special places – particularly in these challenging times – but it is important to follow social distancing rules.
Canal and river walks
Find a canal or riverside walk near you.
EXPLORE YOUR WATERWAYS
Find out about the navigable canals and rivers near you – and the waterways events, activities and groups happening
WHAT IWA DOES
We are passionate about protecting and restoring Britain’s network of canals and navigable rivers for everyone to enjoy.
The inland waterways are special outdoor places – sometimes tranquil and sometimes bustling – whose unique heritage and habitats are under threat from lack of funding and inconsiderate planning.
We campaign locally and nationally for the waterways – supporting restorations, lobbying parliament, championing regeneration and raising waterways users concerns. We’re also prone to rolling up our sleeves and giving the waterways a bit of TLC.
Our members are waterways-lovers from all walks of life who want to preserve and improve the network for future generations.
Waterway restoration
Restoring the UK’s blue infrastructure – our inherited network of navigable canals and rivers – is good for people and places.
Waterway underfunding
Hundreds of miles of waterways – along with their unique heritage and habitats – are currently starved of funding and rely on constant lobbying by us to safeguard their future.
Waterways heritage
Our waterways heritage is what makes Britain’s canals and rivers special and it must be actively protected – through the local planning system and sufficient funding – for the future.
Sustainable boating
We want boating on canals and rivers to be more sustainable and – even though the current overall contribution to UK carbon emissions is very small – we want to help reduce emissions on the waterways.
Waterways affected by HS2
We’re campaigning to protect canals and rivers from the damaging effects of HS2, especially where the tranquillity of the waterways is under threat.
Inland Waterways Events
LATEST NEWs
LATEST NEWs
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Love your waterways
Together we can protect and restore our waterways; the UK’s 6,500 miles of canals and rivers need your help.