No, you don't need a licence to pilot a boat on most inland waters in the UK (there may be exceptions on busy commercial stretches). It would not be complicat

No, you don't need a licence to pilot a boat on most inland waters in the UK (there may be exceptions on busy commercial stretches). It would not be complicated to get a boat, assuming you have the money. You basically need to buy a boat, pay for the relevant licences, make sure the boat has the correct safety certificate, and off you go. You cannot just stop and tie up anywhere. You either need some private land where you will keep the boat, or you need to make sure you don't violate the rules of the public areas. There is a concept of "continuous cruising", which means you need to move on every 14 days (I think). Anyway, not complicated, but requires a bit of homework. Easiest if you can find a mentor who is already boating in the UK to help you out.