In terms of licence it depends upon who the navigation authority is. If it’s s canal and river trust waterway, then you either need your own licence for an unpowered craft, or membership of British canoeing (iirc) or other affiliated group to cover you.
Hope it’s got a nice long pound to paddle along, portaging round s lock every half a mile, and mixing with 40ton boats with the person steering 60ft from the pointy end, and with limited visibility due to front cabin/stuff on roof/short sightedness/innebriation wouldn’t be my idea of a good time with a 5 year old.
Would be interested to know if it is s canal and river trust waterway, given you don’t seem to know who manages it yet live very close.
If it’s not crt, it could be environment agency, an independent organisation or local authority.