Do I need a license to go kayaking?

No matter where you live in the UK, you’re never too far from a place to go kayaking—whether it’s a river, canal, lake, reservoir, or even the ocean. However, before you head out, it’s important to check whether or not you need a waterways license to paddle in that particular area.While not all bodies of water require a license (for example, the sea), there are lots that do, especially in England and Wales. These are typically inland waterways like canals and rivers that are managed by authorities like the Environmental Agency and the Canal and River Trust.You can buy individual licences from these authorities. Although the best value option is to purchase a membership with British Canoeing (BA) or Canoe Wales (CW), which gives canoers, kayakers, and stand-up paddleboarders access to all the waterways managed by the major authorities, plus a few extra benefits like civil liability insurance.Due to the 2003 Land Reform Act, what’s often referred to as the ‘right to roam’, you don’t need a licence to kayak in Scotland. But if you’re a regular paddler, you might want to join the Scottish Canoe Association (SCA) because, as with BA and CW, you’ll get a few benefits like insurance.As for Northern Ireland, you don’t need a license, but you may have to register your boat before heading out into certain waters. You can find out more information about that on the GOV.UK website. Northern Ireland also has a governing body that you become a member of called the Canoe Association of Northern Ireland (CANI).