The Boathouse

Location: The floating pocket park Merchant Square, Paddington, London, gb

Star Rating: 8.8 Stars

Property Type: Houseboat

About this Property

Policies

Check-in: 03:00 PM - 12:00 AM

Check-out: 11:00 AM

Amenities & Facilities

• Parking
• Non-smoking rooms
• Terrace
• Non-smoking throughout
• Board games/puzzles
• Outdoor furniture
• Staff adhere to local safety protocols
• Guest rooms disinfected between stays
• Cleaning standards that are effective against Coronavirus
• Physical distancing rules followed
• Hand sanitizer in guest room and key areas
• Cashless payment available
• First aid kit available
• Sanitized tableware & silverware
• Contactless check-in/check-out
• Guests can opt-out any cleaning services during stay
• Shared stationery like menus, pens are removed
• Guest room sealed after cleaning
• Property cleaned by professional cleaning companies
• Physical distancing in dining areas
• Food delivered to guest room
• Process in place to check health of guests
• Access to health care professionals
• Screens / Barriers between staff and guests for safety
• Face masks for guests available
• 24-hour security
• Delivered food - securely covered
• Thermometers for guests provided by property
• Mobile app for room service
• Free wired internet
• Snack bar/deli
• Internet access
• Private picnics
• Secured parking
• Bicycle-friendly property
• Charcoal grill

Rooms Available

• One-Cabin Boat

  This boutique boat has one double cabin, a sofa bed in the living area, a bathroom with separate bath and shower, kitchen and rooftop dining space.

  Max Occupancy: 4 (4 Adults)

  • Coffee/tea maker
  • Shower
  • Hair dryer
  • Bathrobe
  • Refrigerator
  • Seating Area
  • Toilet
  • Private bathroom
  • Heating
  • Kitchen
  • Dining area
  • Electric kettle
  • Oven
  • Stovetop
  • Terrace
  • Linen
  • Dining table
  • Outdoor furniture
  • Outdoor dining area
  • Toilet paper
  • Wine glasses
  • Hand sanitiser

Guest Reviews

• Natalie (6/5): Lovely oat and would like to stay again but only if issues were rectified. - Beautiful quirky accommodation Great location and access to facilities Broken fridge and no bikes available as stated which was a shame
• sonya (10/5): sensational place to stay with beautiful and thoughtful accessories. - sensational place to stay with beautiful and thoughtful accessories. Coffee , tea and granola on arrival with optional champagne if you forgot to buy some on the way! super lovely staff the sofa bed is not very comfortable for 2 adults.
• Simon (10/5): -
• nicola (10/5): -
• Ellen (8/5): Lovely experience - The boathouse definitely has the wow factor from the moment you step aboard. Its decor is impressive but also comfortable and the whole boat is supringly spacious. Once all the blinds are closed you feel the beauty of how private booking here is, which is odd when you are so central to everything. There's lovely little touches like pillow mist, reed diffusers and bath salts which makes it feel more luxurious. It was a lovely experience to stay on a boat hotel, we did only have one night and two would have been lovely as the weather meant we couldn't really sit outside but that can't be helped. The need to confirm arrival time, while I understand someone being there to greet you is nice, it felt like I was having to juggle the tube while text about arrival when a key lock and code and written instructions would have been our preferred method. Although it has a wow factor, after a little you notice a few places where cleaning has been neglected, the roller blinds are dirty, cobwebs in the bathroom with dead spider and another with bugs, dust on the ceiling vents, mugs that need a descale and mould in corner of the shower kind of took the rating down slightly. None of that however made our stay uncomfortable, I just would have expected higher standard for what we paid. The water system is noisy, but, again didnt make the stay uncomfortable and I guess you expect it on a boat. There were a lot of renovation going on with the pontoon with didn't give a great view out the windows but work needs doing and I understand that, would have preferred it not on our stay though of course!
• Christina (10/5): - Hi we loved the entire stay. The staff were phenomenal, special mention to Fran who was very lovely and made sure I was checked in properly
• Joanne (10/5): -
• Stephanie (10/5): -
• Sarah (10/5): Excellent quirky experience! - Very stylish and very cool! Nothing really!
• Adam (10/5): -
• Florence (10/5): Pure magic. Great fun. Certainly unique. Like a chalet on water. - A stunning boathouse with beautiful interior design that far outstrips any expectations. Cosy and stunning. Central location. The most magical experience.
• Florence (10/5): - Beautiful interior design. Larger than expected. Warm. Cosy and unique experience.
• Laura (10/5): lovely, unique, memorable, look forward to staying again - It was connected to the floating park in Paddington basin and such a unique property being a barge, you really felt a bit special. Loads of room inside with a high spec finish and you definitely stood out, it was amazing, You can sit outside in a lovely area on top of the boat which was great at all times but particularly at night watching the lights and for us was lovely and quiet. nothing really
• Mary (7/5): Amazing location, fantastic boat for a couple. - The location was fantastic. Much bigger than expected somehow and it all looked amazing. Great bathroom. Check in process was easy. I got a text asking me when I wanted to check in (any time from 15.00) so I said 16.00. We turned up at 15.53 as we gave ourselves ample time to find the place. They were still there prepping the place and although welcoming mentioned twice that we’d said 16.00. They should have been ready from 15.00! The second bed which I knew was a sofa bed had the thinnest mattress I’ve ever seen. Not comfortable. Since it was only me on the sofa I ended up sleeping on a side sofa as more comfortable. They also made a point of saying they’d put a clean sheet on the sofa bed ready. This was a tiny square which didn’t even cover the whole mattress. Not really what I would call a sheet. Lastly we found a dirty dish in the oven - which we left as not our job to tidy up previous peoples mess. We also found a necklace on the floor which indicated that the floors hadn’t actually been cleaned very thoroughly. The boat has a lot of windows and a lot of blinds which appeared to originally have velcro to help keep the bottom part closed - this has come off on most blinds so the person sleeping in the main room needs to be warned to bring an eye mask as a lot of light gets in.
• Chi (7/5): Good -
• Christopher (8/5): A lovely venue, which we enjoyed, only slightly let down by the absence of some basic facilities. - The property was attractive, warm and comfortable, great location, with excellent access to outside amenities. Excellent introduction by Boathouse staff. We thought that the overall vibe was a little chi-chi with non-essentials taking up a lot of the worktop space. There was a lack of several items which could have improved the stay: no television, a coffee machine would not work for us, swallowing a pod, but dispensing no coffee. No hand towels in bathroom or kitchen. No drainage rack for washing-up. No corkscrew, despite several bottles of wine provided. No bathmat. We could not use the projector, as we brought only an i-pad. We found we were running short of water (on the gauge) quite quickly and it had to be topped up.
• Sarah (10/5): Superb accommodation- a little different than the normal B&b which made our weekend even more special! -
• Lacey (10/5): Exceptional - Light Bulbs missing out of the bathroom lights Cob webs were found throughout certain areas of the boat Heating facilities weren't the best There were no chocolates or nuts provided from the drinks/bar menu as they were missing No wardrobe space and only 2 clothes hangers provided Most certainly wasn't value for money As the above
• Lacey (7/5): Good - Location was good the outside Area was clean and well maintained Cob webs in the boat Heating wasnt very warm Toilet facilities were a challenge at times Water pump was noisy therefore had to be turned on only when using water
• Grewal (9/5): Truly unique & beautiful place to stay in London, would be even more fun when weather was warmer. - Beautifully boat in a great location, layout & design style were just what we were hoping for. Check in was smooth and easy. Holiday lighting added to the charm. Excellent transport links, wide choice of nice restaurants in all price ranges nearby - Tesco Express just around the corner. Overnight stay so didn’t get to enjoy the deck or use the bikes (or boat in season). Would definitely stay again. Nothing - slight glitch with managing heating (temps had dropped quickly) but we able to resolve via quick phone call
• Joey (8/5): Very good -
• Giacomo (2/5): Nightmare experience - Na I arrived with my family (with a 3 years old daughter and a 7 years old son) on December 21st and the boat was very cold inside since the Company did not switch on the heating system. They forgot it, as it wasn't December...We had to wait more than one hour to make it warm enough. In ad dition the wc, the sink and the bathtub did not flash at all. Every time we used the sink in the toilet, dirt came up from the pipe.
• Jake (6/5): Quirky w/ lots of character - read the fine print. - Great location. Unique property - it felt a bit 'worn in' and generally just OK, especially given the price tag. I was certainly grateful to have my own space, however, it would have been helpful to know a bit more about the property in advance... everything worked (more or less) though it wasn't the sanctuary/escape I was hoping for (especially when the park deputies come to pump the water out or whatever they do at 7:00AM ON A TUESDAY... Oy...). Will I go back? Prob not for an overnight, though great venue for a daytime affair. Things were a bit worn down - lights broken or missing, the 'fireplace' is essentially a follie (and a potential toe-stubber). Water pressure and temp was actually quite good, though the toilet was a bit of a chore to use effectively (as was the tub - 30 mins to fill up and another 30 mins to drain/pump out) ... bathroom floor is freezing... bedroom was way too warm... I figured it out tho, so, at least I slept on the last day.
• Claire (10/5): Exceptional -
• Maureen (10/5): Exceptional -
• Michael (7/5): Good -
• James (10/5): Central London bliss on the water - Very difficult to actually convey how exemplary and unique this hotel boat is! It truly is a luxury retreat in a fantastic location perfect to self cater or dine out with every possible eatery and supermarket literally on your doorstep You feel so elevated and special in this location with a massive private pontoon area in the evening The interiors are immaculate with a full service kitchen and luxury bathroom This place really needs to be experienced at least once Normally ready for home after a short break but saddened to leave this beautiful resort Cara and the management team are so proactive and available to help anytime Nothing everything was faultless
• Guy (9/5): Superb -
• Jemma (10/5): Wonderful stay, just wished we’d booked for more nights! - Location was perfect, just a short walk from Paddington station along the canal. M&S food hall, greggs and Tesco all very close by. Several good places to eat without having to travel, but sometimes you had to book first. Romantic and special! An area with a good community feel with big screens around that people could meet up in. Boat very comfortable and special, so much more than just a hotel room. Downsides, it’s a boat and as such has limited storage, so little space to hang clothes if you were staying for more than a few nights, also nowhere to plug hairdryer in near a mirror, so I used my iPad. However, these are very small flaws in an otherwise a perfect place to stay!
• Gavin (10/5): Exceptional -
• Owen (3/5): Very poor experience - Clean and looked nice First off the amount of people staring into the boat was disturbing. Constantly having to tell people it’s a private property. Second the projector was all out of charge so had to wait 1 hour for it to charge up. The main shower didn’t work so had to use the mini shower. The bed is right next to an air vent so basically slept outside. Had to tell people to get off the top of the boat. And lastly do not use any of the water bottles as they charge you. Overall a very painful stay.
• Derek (7/5): Pleasant, comfortable, and a novelty. -
• Daniel (10/5): We’ll be back! - Brilliant experience Sofa bed a bit uncomfortable
• Debbie (10/5): Exceptional -
• Jess (10/5): Exceptional - Everything. Lovely stay- Really cosy & great location.
• Wagstaff (9/5): Superb - Excellent location. Plush and beautifully presented. All amenities needed and close to tube stations. Fantastic stay for family, exciting and different Bathroom facilities took a little getting used to 😊 but to be expected staying on a boat.
• Donna (10/5): Exceptional - Perfect accommodation and location
• David (9/5): Fabulous, well appointed boat in a great location - Breakfast was not as stated, but we had some freebies, so all good. Location was great and the boat was wonderful Maybe more chairs (4) for the table and a box of tissues
• Stefan (10/5): Great location, Lots of nice places to eat in area - Great location, very quiet at night, boat was very well equipped Hopefully will be booking again after Christmas Oat milk would’ve preferred skimmed milk
• Jamie (10/5): Special - Location decor No tele
• Jerry (9/5): Fab, quirky property right in the heart of Paddington Basin - Luxury, location and quirky
• Kelly (9/5): Unique stay in London - Great location, lovely boat wilts great facilities Was a bit cold the log burner wasn’t working and we had an issue with the door not closing
• Rebecca (10/5): We loved our time on the boat, it was absolutely stunning, so comfortable & cosy, we didn't want to leave. - Unique, Stylish, Cosy, very comfortable, great location, Nothing
• M (8/5): Very good -
• Elisabeth (9/5): Superb - The Boathouse is situated near Tube Edgware Road-its easy to go from there in any direction, it is very stylish and clean ab the stuff is nice I travelled with my daughter, my sister and my nice at the age of fourteen-and for four adults is the second bed very small- for a family with small children would it be fineFor a very special stay
• Katie (10/5): Quirky, fun and original ….. a must for a different experience. - It was quirky, fun but really clean and well equipped. Loved the terrace on the top. The boat is really central in a very public area and we felt quite exposed initially but soon got used to it by our second night.
• Winni (9/5): Nice boat house in a convenient location. - The environment and atmosphere made us really relaxing. The water pressure but understandable that’s a boathouse.
• Sara (10/5): A fantastic city break with a twist! - Spacious, modern, clean, fun! Staff there to welcome us and show us around the boat. A great selection of books. Really cozy vibe in the evening. We lovely sitting on the top for breakfast 😊 The bed is sooo comfy! Nothing
• Helen (6/5): Central location but very exposed - It was a unique place to stay in a very central location. Due to the location, it is very overlooked and we resorted to keeping the blinds shut to avoid people peering in. It also put us off utilising the upper deck. We also found the shower unusable as it was scolding hot. If there is a knack to it, we didn’t find it.
• Steve (9/5): Superb - Ran out of water late at night and Cara helped us out real quick ! Thx 🙏 Although its a closed area, first night some kids where running on deck of the boat. After turning on some lights they went away.
• Mia (10/5): Exceptional -
• Maria (10/5): Made a special occasion truly memorable - Everything from the communication before the stay, right up to checkout was great.
• Sian (7/5): Novel experience but a bit dated, minor updates and attention to detail needed for 5 star rating - Loved the location and the novelty of staying on a boat. The bed and bedding was exceptionally comfy although the pull out couch felt like it was going to fall apart. Loved the upper deck sitting area and the amenities in the bathroom (hair straightener and products). The boat definitely needs better 'Private' signage, twice we had to kick people off that just boarded for a photo op. Could also put a lock on the outer deck door. The directions were also not very clear on how to reach the boat, we thought it was the dining boat closer to Paddington, also called the Boathouse. Please update directions to include the Floating Pocket Park at the far east end of the canal as a foot bridge blocks the view of the actual boat and we had trouble locating it. The boat also needs many minor updates as the wear and tear of the years are evident (counter edges falling apart, black out curtains not functioning due to missing velcro and broken pull string attachments, pull out couch sagging and collapsing, mismatched wine glasses - total of 3 due to breakage?). The bathroom also needs a bathmat and face cloths, and dishes need to be inspected for cleanliness. Breakfast amenities were ok, but it said milk was provided but this was only a small sample for coffee, not enough for the cereal provided.
• Daniel (7/5): Good - Very cool design, great location, lots of light and an unusual quirky stay. Cleanliness could have been better, sofa bed, kettle, and bar stools at breakfast bar all need work as they were damaged when we arrived.
• Bobbi-jo (10/5): had an amazing unique trip. staff friendly and very helpful - absolutely stunning. nothing at all!
• Gemma (7/5): Fine for a 1 night stay for couples... - It was a really different stay and the location was great, near the tube and restaurants nearby. The boat was very insta worthy, but think it would be better suited for a couple than a group of friends. It felt a bit style over substance- no WiFi, couldn't get the projector or hob to work and (most importantly!) the shower was either scalding or freezing so we gave up! We were glad we were only staying 1 night. There was a user manual but it didn't seem to match up e.g for the hob there was no switch where it said there should be, and for the projector there were meant to be instructions in the box and there weren't.
• Thomas (10/5): Quirky fun stay in London - The boathouse completely exceeded our expectations and was such a quirky place to stay whilst in London. The rooms were fabulous and the bathroom on this boat exceeded most hotel bathrooms I’ve been to. Wouldn’t even say no to a trip to this place in winter, it was that cosy. The only negative would be that the boat was situated in the middle of high rise flats which all looked onto you, as well as a lot of people walking past which sometimes felt like you were a zoo animal (but nothing the blinds couldn’t sort out). I wasn’t informed of security gates closing off the complex meaning that there was no access we could find, one of our friends stayed out late and had to jump the gate in order to get in.
• Paul (10/5): Exceptional -
• Adrian (9/5): Superb - The location, the accommodation, and the professional staff. The weather!!! No complaints, absolutely lovely stay
• Fimacd (10/5): Wonderful experience. Highly recommend - The boat itself is stunning - very beautifully decorated and has great facilities. We also really liked the location.
• Anonymous (10/5): Amazing. Would 100% recommend - Everything from start to finish was amazing. Friendly lady met us on arrival and showed us around the boat. Complimentary breakfast hamper with cereal, coffee pods, hot chocolate, milk was a lovely touch. Shampoo, bath wash etc we’re amazing. The boat itself had the most relaxing, luxurious feel to it. The decor was phenomenal and in the perfect area. We will most definitely be back. Nothing
• Jenni (9/5): Superb - Beautifully decorated and kitted out. Unique location and experience. We felt like stars, everyone wanted to look at the boat and was intrigued about how we were staying there. The bathroom is beautiful and I understand the concept, bit not particularly private when staying with family members.
• Leo (10/5): Exceptional -
• Dominic (8/5): Very good - great location, comfortable and warm water in shower was too hot and uncontrollable.
• Felicity (7/5): we all really loved being on the boat, probably wouldn’t stay again due to not great shower and a little but out the way - love the boat really well planned out accommodation and decor, would be lovely in the summer sitting outside too and the bikes and rowing boat a great touch although we didn’t use them. some things a bit tired, broken tiles in bathroom, knobs missing in shower, chipped table and counters in kitchen. Shower and loo not great functionality at all but I guess that is just boat life! Also anyone can get right outside the boat on the floating park and peer through the windows so blinds needed to be constantly closed for privacy.
• Stefano (9/5): Superb -
• Byrne (8/5): Unique accomodation - Unique accomodation, in a nice location, very close to Paddington station. Friendly host. Not able to use the stove, which would have been a nice touch. Projector wouldnt connect and had issues with the water. No ironing board.
• Neah (9/5): Superb -
• Christine (5/5): We wouldn’t stay again unless security issues were addressed - The boat is absolutely gorgeous and the bed is very comfortable. Unfortunately a group of drunk people gained access to the top of the boat at 3am, partying on the seating area and trying to open the boat door. We had been told there was security 24/7 to stop this & didn’t feel overly safe. We contacted the company immediately after but haven’t received a response.
• Silviu (10/5): Unique accommodation in London, well designed, cozy and pleasant, also great for hosting. - Decided to try something different then a regular hotel room and was a great pick, the boat is very nice, well decorated has a cozy feeling, fully equipped kitchen, separate bed room and open sofa in the living room, the boat roof is balcony with seating area. Works great if your planning to stay more in, like in raining days or if your hosting friends over, there are some restaurants around walking distance and also a Tesco and M&S is a near by, the tube station is also a short walk, fine even with luggage. The neigerbood feels relatively safe, the boat itself sets inside a residential area with security around. As mentioned before, the boat attracts the curiosity and people are peeking in, we didn't really mind saying hello from time to time, but if you do there are curtains and you can get full privacy. Location wise, little Venice is in walking distance and north part of Hyde park, all the rest would probably requires tube/transportation.
• Graham (8/5): Very good - It was a good location , so much better than a hotel
• Nadejda (10/5): Enjoyable and romantic place !!! - Excellent idea for everything Bravo! Seul bémol- the water for the bath wasn’t hot enough and it goes out really slowly Maybe it is expensive a bit . I could stay 2-3 days if the price was less costly Helas
• Clare (8/5): thoroughly enjoyed our stay. fabulous staff. special thanks to Cara - fabulous location. very comfortable a little bit overlooked
• Oliver (9/5): Superb -
• Nur (10/5): it was a comfortable and cosy stay. will definitely repeat - the boat is so spacious and the owner was so generous with equipments the entrance
• Wendy (10/5): Exceptional -

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