l am thinking of buying a small boat from a seller in Ely, Cambridgeshire.l need to get it to East London on the Thames.. Can this be done by water, or will l need to have it lorried down.

have you got the grand union canal nearby

yes use the steering wheel to navigate

You could do it by navigating the Middle Levels towards Peterborough, then up the Nene, onto the Grand Union, then down towards Watford for the Slough Arm and onto the Thames..I've been a boater for 8 years and have travelled part of this journey a few times (not all of it), it would likely take around 4 - 5 days non-stop boating. You would have to plan fuel and food stops very carefully if you went by water!....I'd put it on a trailer....Much cheaper and quicker!

Shaun has the correct answer,but the connection from the
River NENE to the Grand Union Canal will only take a narrow
craft as the Northampton Arm has 7ft wide Locks.So if the
boat is too wide,GO BY ROAD.Also
if you go by water you
will require a valid Licence from Environment Agency & I.W.

GOOD LUCK.