• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Moment With Franca

A Family, Lifestyle & Travel Blog

  • Home
  • About
    • About Me
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
  • Family
    • Family Events
    • Family Life
    • Family Days Out
    • Birthdays
  • Lifestyle
    • Home & Interiors
    • Bathrooms
    • Bedrooms
    • Garden
    • Kitchen
    • Health
  • Travel
    • Days Out
    • Things To Do In London
    • Holidays
    • Press Trips
  • Reviews
    • Toys & Games
    • Days Out
    • Fashion
    • Beauty
  • Seasonal
    • Christmas
    • Halloween
    • Mother’s Day
    • Father’s Day
    • Easter
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Giveaways
  • Show Search
Hide Search

GoBoat London: A Unique Way To Explore London

amomentwithfranca · 26 September 2020 · 20 Comments

During the summer we were kindly invited by GoBoat London for a super fun experience sailing London’s canals. We have never done this before even though it is so close to us, so we were super excited to do this as our first experience.⁣ After so many months stuck at home due to the lockdown, this was such a great opportunity to spend some fun time with my family and to explore London in a different way.

We had such a beautiful sunny day, perfect for an activity like this. We were so lucky because it was had 23°c. This made the whole experience even better because the views were so gorgeous.

Can you believe that I have lived in London for about 15 years and I have never known you were able to hire a boat and navigate through the canals of London?  This was such a lovely surprise.

We live so close to Paddington which is where you have to go to start your journey, so this was very handy. It took us about 15 minutes to go there by car. We parked under the Hilton Metropole hotel using “pay and display” via the ‘Park Right’ app. The basin is a short minute walk from the station.

GoBoat London

GoBoat is a self-drive, powered boating experience. You are the captain, you choose the route and there is no need for any boating experience at all!

You can currently experience GoBoat in the area of Merchant Square near London Paddington and London Kingston. The GoBoat concept was brought over to the UK from Copenhagen in 2017.

We walked to the basin in Merchant Square and saw the stand. Our slot was at 2:45 pm and we needed to arrive 15 minutes earlier, so at 2:30 pm. This is because you receive training before you start your slot.

After checking in, we went to the side to listen to our safety brief. This was very important as we were self-driving our boat. Nick was the chosen Capitan as I wanted to take pictures. The girls did try to sail it for a very short time as they were desperate to see how it worked. The requirement to be a Captain is that you are over 18 years old and remain sober during the journey.

Under 16s are given life jackets, so each of my girls got one. We also got a map so we knew what route to take, this way you cannot get lost. You should come back within your allotted time slot. Our session was 2 hours long. But you can also hire it for one hour or 3 hours. We thought 2 hours was the perfect time.

There are people in certain parts of the journey to help out if needed. ⁣This was very comforting know. Obviously, there is very little chance something could happen but it is, of course, worth knowing you are not alone during your journey.

Our GoBoat Boat

 

We then were taken to our boat that was completely wiped, cleaned and sanitized for us. They do this after every trip, so we felt safe when we were inside the boat.

The boat has a good size. It can fit up to 8 people. At the moment, you can set sail on the same boat if you are 8 people from the same household or support bubble (proof of address will be required) or 6 people from different households. For dog owners, I have great news, you can bring your furry friend because dogs are welcome on board too.

Loving my Captain Hat. You can buy one at their checking stand for £7.50

The boat is very quiet which is interesting compared to other boats. This is because these boats use electric engines which makes the whole journey even more peaceful.

Picnic On Board Of Our GoBoat Boat

The boat also has a table in the middle which is perfect for a picnic and they actually encourage you to bring one.

We brought 2 delicious Top Hill picnics (£35 each) which was kindly gifted by 144 On The Hill. We got the following items:

 

  • 2 Bagels (smoked salmon & dill cream cheese; and roasted vegetable medley, quinoa humous, rocket leaves)
  • 2 Homemade Sausage Rolls
  • 2 Homemade Quiches (Asparagus and edamame)
  • 2 Skewers (Prosciutto & Rock melon)
  • 1 Superfood Salad (Green leaves, cured tomato seeds, pomegranate, quinoa, radish, avocado oil)
  • 1 Crispy Duck Salad (Growing leaves, red chilli, toasted nuts, blackberries, pickled vegetables, melon
  • 2 Mini Frangipanes (Orage blossom)
  • 2 Red Smoothie (raspberry & hazelnut)
  • 2 Iced Teas

It was delicious and looked gorgeous. I brought a table cloth, flowers and napkins to make our picnic even more special.

There is also an M&S near the GoBoat reception if you would like to pick up something quick from there.

Our Journey Inside our GoBoat boat

We started our journey in Paddington. Then we headed through Little Venice, the 249 metre Maida Hill Tunnel, Regent’s Park, London Zoo and Camden Lock. The views were gorgeous. ⁣

On our way through Little Venice, we saw lots of multi-coloured houseboats. They were very pretty decorated.

The Regent’s canal continues through the Maida Hill Tunnel. Passing the Maida Hill Tunnel was fun because it is long and narrow, so the girls found it exciting as you have to wait for other boats to pass through and be clear before you can enter.

There were some beautiful houses to see along the canals. We then passed through London Zoo. It was fun to see some animals from the boat. London Zoo was on both sides of the Regent Canal.

Finally, we reached the Cumberland Basin where you can see a beautiful, floating Chinese Restaurant. At this point, we turned back towards Paddington basin.

Things To Know When You Book A Slot With GoBoat London

If you would like to try GoBoat too, the following will be useful to know: ⁣
⁣

My girls wearing their life jackets

  • Each boat can seat up to 8 people from the same household or support bubble (proof of address will be required)
  • Or 6 people from different households
  • Contactless payment only and booking in advance⁣
  • Life jacket available⁣
  • Every boat is sanitized in between each trip⁣
  • To hire GoBoat costs: 1 hr – £79 | 2hrs – £109 | 3 hrs – £139⁣
  • Limited alcohol and food are allowed on board⁣.
  • The captain must be over 18 and should not consume alcohol
  • All boats are wiped down and cleaned after each use as well as the life jackets (for under 16)⁣
  • You have a tutorial before you go to the boat. You get a map so you cannot get lost and there are people in certain parts of the journey to help out if needed. ⁣
  • Two locations: Paddington and Kingston⁣
  • GoBoat’s are not covered. If it rains you will get wet, so best to check the weather before you head over their basin and bring the appropriate clothing.
  • The boats are run off electric engines and are eco-friendly as they are made of 80% recycled plastic bottles
  • The top speed of the boat is around 4mph
  • There is no bathroom so better to go before you jump into the boat

Our Thoughts

This was such a lovely experience. We really enjoyed the 2 hours that we were on the boat. We would love to try this again perhaps during Spring or Autumn as the scenery would be even more colourful. This could be a cool birthday gift too.

We really enjoyed being left to sail the boat ourselves and to undertake our journey at our own pace. It was very relaxing. GoBoat is a fantastic way to spend family time together and it is a great way to see London from a different perspective. The girls had a lovely time and enjoyed every part of the journey

Check out our Instagram Highlight for more photos and videos we took on the day. For more information and to book check out Go Boat’s website HERE. 

We loved this experience. We highly recommend it!⁣⁣

Have you tried GoBoat London before?

*Disclosure: We were invited to review GoBoat for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks for stopping by,

Love you all ❤️

Franca

Related

Filed Under: Days Out, Family, Family Days Out, London, Review, Reviews, Travel

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lydia C. Lee says

    26 September 2020 at

    We’re going to Canberra and I’m hoping to get a GOBoat for around the lake…might bring a table cloth too! Looks so lovely! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  2. Carol Desjardins says

    27 September 2020 at

    Really looked amazing, what a lovely day out. The food looked lovely. Lovely sunny day for it.

    Reply
  3. Christy says

    27 September 2020 at

    How special is this! We love boats so would definitely do this if we were visiting London, and those picnics look absolutely amazing. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  4. Priyam says

    27 September 2020 at

    That looks amazing and what a fun way to spend the day. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  5. Shelley Whittaker (Wander & Luxe) says

    29 September 2020 at

    This looks so fantastic – I didn’t even realise you could do something like this in London. Love that you can also take a picnic and your dog! Something to keep in mind for next summer 🙂 #KCACOLS

    Reply
  6. T.U says

    29 September 2020 at

    Such a beautiful city. I wish I can visit London soon 🙂 #KCACOLS

    Reply
  7. Lisa says

    1 October 2020 at

    This was on our bucket list the last time we were in London, but the weather didn’t cooperate 🙁 Can’t wait until travel is allowed again so we can return to try again!

    Reply
  8. Dana, A Mamanista Life says

    3 October 2020 at

    Wow your trip looked like a true adventure and in the city! The food looks delish. Lovely photos too xx

    Reply
  9. Dana, A Mamanista Lufe says

    3 October 2020 at

    Sorry I forgot to tag #KCACOLS

    Reply
  10. Carly Crawford says

    3 October 2020 at

    Oh wow, that looks amazing. My girls would love it just as much as I would. Thanks for sharing. I’ll definitely keep this in mind for next summer. #KCACOLS

    Reply
  11. Maria says

    4 October 2020 at

    Looks like you’ve had a great day out! We have been on a GoBoat too and we had so much fun! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  12. Louise Reeks says

    4 October 2020 at

    Looks amazing, so does the picnic

    Reply
  13. Helen says

    4 October 2020 at

    Looks like you had an amazing time, Franca! #KCACOLS

    Reply
  14. Hannah says

    5 October 2020 at

    Beautiful photos – we also had a GoBoat experience in the summer but from Kingston – it was such a lovely family afternoon 🙂 xx #kcacols

    Reply
  15. Rosie Doal says

    5 October 2020 at

    What gorgeous photos. We’ve only ever done a boat ride down the Thames but this seems so much more personal. What an adventure x #KCACOLS

    Reply
  16. Katrina | ChatterFox says

    8 October 2020 at

    This looks like such a fun, relaxing way to spend an hour or two and that picnic looks delicious!

    Katrina x
    #KCACOLS

    Reply
  17. Denise Dunn says

    9 October 2020 at

    Fantastic boat trip!!

    Reply
  18. tracey bowden says

    9 October 2020 at

    This looks like so much fun what a great way to explore! and keep away from crowds lol #kcacols

    Reply
  19. Laura - MUMMY LAURETTA says

    11 October 2020 at

    What a lovely way to spend the day, I didn’t know you could do that and seeing the animals at the zoo must have been a bonus #KCACOLS

    Reply
  20. Milos Kamiński says

    29 October 2020 at

    Many years ago, I lived in London for some time. Now a lot has changed! But still, this is the perfect place for me! I plan to be there after quarantine! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

HI THERE, I’M FRANCA!

Hi, I'm Franca, a lawyer mum of 2 gorgeous girls married to my best friend, living in London. Award nominated parenting & lifestyle blogger. Read More…

Newsletter

    Built with ConvertKit

    Family Days Out

    • The Best Light Trails In London 2022
    • The London Transport Museum At Christmas
    • Monopoly Lifesized Review

    Collaborative Videos

    Popular Videos





    AWARDS

    BritMums



    BritMums

    Tots100

    Tutora Best Parent Insight Blog Award Shortlist

    RANKING

    Tots100
    Top 20 UK Parent Blog 2020

    Flea Network Top 20 UK Parent Blog 2018

    MEMBER

    LINKY

    Keep Calm and Carry On Linking Sunday
    ✨Happy Monday✨.Starting my week off on the r ✨Happy Monday✨.Starting my week off on the right foot with a delicious cappuccino and a few delightful treats. ☕️ .I’m feeling positive and ready to take on whatever this week throws at me 💪🏻. There's just something about these little moments of joy that make the start of a new week feel so promising. 💫🌟.How was your Monday? Are you looking forward to this new week? 🌸💖.Wishing you all a fantastic week ahead! 🌟💫.#butfirstcoffee #coffeedaily #coffeeshots #cappuccinotime #caffeinefix #coffeelove #coffeeloversunite #treatyourself #mondaymotivation💪🏻 #positivevibesalways #NewWeek
    ✨Discover the Magic of Charente-Maritime✨.Th ✨Discover the Magic of Charente-Maritime✨.Throwback to an unforgettable adventure! 📸✨ This amazing journey took place during a previous Press Trip with Charente-Maritime Tourist Board, where I had the pleasure of exploring the hidden gems of this beautiful French region alongside fellow travel bloggers 🌍💫 .Swipe left to explore the 8 Great Things you can do in this captivating region. 🌟😍🌊 .1️⃣Explore La Rochelle 🏰2️⃣ Embark on an adventure to Ile d'Aix ⛵️3️⃣ Witness a breathtaking sunset on a boat trip 🌅4️⃣ Visit the Baleines Lighthouse on Ile de Re 🗼5️⃣ Discover oyster farming at Ré Oyster Farm 🦪6️⃣ Delight in seafood at La Cabane du Fier 🍽️7️⃣ Try paddle boarding in Les Dauphins 🏄‍♂️8️⃣ Kayak through Marais Poitevin 🛶.For more incredible things to do in this area, check out the link in my bio for the full blog post. ✨✍️.✨Like, Save & Share if you are planning to visit or if someone you know would like to visit✨😍.Which activity would you love to try first? 🗺️.#CharenteMaritime #macharentemaritime #larochelle #larochelletourisme #francetourisme #france4dreams #europetravel #bucketlistadventures #PressTripMemories #placestovisit #beautifuldestinantionsaroundworld #TravelInspiration #travelguide #traveltips #beautifulviews
    ✨Family Birthday Brunch✨.We had a yummy Sund ✨Family Birthday Brunch✨.We had a yummy Sunday brunch at @balanslondon in Westfield last weekend celebrating my birthday! 🎉☕️🍳 It was a sunny and warm morning so it was nice to spend some time out with Nick and the girls.☀️😊. It was a perfect start to the day with delicious dishes and lovely company. ☀️😋 SWIPE LEFT to see what we ordered (each photo explained below ⬇️):.1️⃣ Sienna's delightful treat: A stack of fluffy American pancakes drizzled with syrup, crowned with bananas and a scoop of Banoffee ice cream. She couldn't resist! 🥞🍌🍨2️⃣ Nick's flavourful choice: Spicy scrambled Woodland Farm eggs, halloumi, crispy Balans potatoes, and spiced tomato wrapped in a breakfast burrito. Accompanied by an energising Americano. ☕️3️⃣ My scrumptious pick: Egg Florentine with poached Woodland Farm eggs, spinach on an English muffin, topped with homemade hollandaise. Paired with a heavenly cappuccino and refreshing apple juice. 😍4️⃣ Bella's current favourite: Two slices of sourdough toast topped with creamy avocado, perfectly paired with apple juice. Simple and satisfying. 🥑🍎.We had an incredible time together, and the food was fab. If you're in the area, I highly recommend paying them a visit! 😋 They also have four other locations across London, so more choices to visit📍🍽️.✨Like, save, and share if you're tempted to visit or know someone who'd enjoy this experience too! .What is your favourite go-to brunch dish? 😋🍳.#BalansLondon #pancakes #pancakeslover #brunchtime #brunchgoals #LondonEats #morningfood #londonfood #londonfoodie
    ✨ Turning 46✨.Grateful for a wonderful day s ✨ Turning 46✨.Grateful for a wonderful day spent with my family celebrating this milestone and feeling excited to embark on another year of my journey. 💫 .I’m ready to tackle new adventures, create lasting memories, and embrace new opportunities! 🎉🎂🥳🌟.What exciting plans or goals are you looking forward to in your next chapter? 🌟✨ .#happybirthdaytome🎉#46yearsold #NewChapterBegins #newchapterinlife #curlyhairdontcare #CoffeeTime #costacoffee#TreatYourself #over40 #over40blogger #overforty #over40andfabulous#over40mom
    ✨ Exploring the Wonders of Madeira✨.Swipe le ✨ Exploring the Wonders of Madeira✨.Swipe left to uncover the 8 Great Things you can't miss in this breathtaking destination🌴🌺.1️⃣ Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Funchal's Mercado dos Lavradores.2️⃣ Soar above the island with breathtaking views on the Monte Cable Car.3️⃣ Embark on a thrilling ride down the famous Carros De Cesto Do Monte (Monte Toboggan).4️⃣ Marvel at the jaw-dropping landscapes from the Cabo Girão Skywalk.5️⃣ Witness the majesty of marine life with an unforgettable Whale Watching excursion.6️⃣ Embark on a thrilling Jeep Safari Tour into the heart of Madeira's untamed landscapes.7️⃣ Delight your taste buds with the exquisite flavors of Madeiran Cuisine.8️⃣ Step back in time with a visit to a Traditional Madeira House..BONUS (last photo) 👉🏻 Don't forget to try the iconic Poncha—a traditional Madeiran drink that will transport you to Madeira's vibrant culture! 🍹.For more details and insider tips, check out the full blog post linked in my bio. 📖✨.✨Like, Save & Share if you are planning to visit or if someone you know would like to visit✨😍..Throwback experience from an unforgettable 5-days Press Trip that Nick and I were invited by Visit Madeira..Which of these 8 Great Things To Do in Madeira would be at the top of your list? 🌺🏞️.#madeira #MadeiraIsland #VisitMadeira #ILoveMadeira #placestovisit #beautifuldestinantionsaroundworld #TravelInspiration #travelguide #traveltips #beautifulviews #oceanviews
    ✨Life Is What You Make It✨.Loving this quote ✨Life Is What You Make It✨.Loving this quote from Charles R Swindoll👇🏻.“Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it” 😍.Life is a beautiful chaos, filled with unexpected twists and turns. It is so important to remember that it is not just about what happens to you, but how you choose to react to it! It’s the 90% of your response that shapes your journey! 💪.So, let’s try to face every challenge with resilience, every setback with determination, and every joy with gratitude! 💫✨ .How do you choose to react to life’s ups and downs? .#LifeIsWhatYouMakeIt #motivationalreels #springvibes🌸 #cherryblossoms #cherryblossomtree #blossoms #beautifulscenes
    Load More… Follow on Instagram
    Copyright © 2023 · A Moment With Franca · Privacy Policy