We have supported clients all across the canal network – but here we look at living in and around London…
One of our former clients spent three years living aboard two of our boats, and they still can’t shake the experience. Even five years after returning to solid ground, they’ll catch themselves setting down a cup of tea and instinctively checking it won’t slide with the motion of the water. That’s the thing about living on a narrowboat. A canal boat holiday might leave memories, but living aboard leaves an imprint — a way of moving through and noticing the world that stays with you long after you step ashore.
They commuted daily to the office, but the rise of working-from-home flexibility has made the boating experience even easier for working professionals. The canals in and around London stretch for miles, and while they are popular with holiday canal boats, they’re equally shaped by those holding down jobs in the city. You might see a few narrowboat holiday hires passing through, but you’re more likely to meet fellow boaters who appear in the same places, follow the same routines and commutes, and gradually build lifelong friendships.
Some people choose to live aboard in London to experience a level of nature that you simply can’t find in the city, with quiet towpaths and hidden stretches that make it feel miles away from urban life. But one of the biggest misconceptions about narrowboat living in London is that you’re somehow “outside” the city. Often, it’s the opposite. Your front door might be a three-minute walk from major stations like Paddington or King’s Cross — places where studio flats go for eye-watering money and outdoor space is a luxury. Other weeks, you might be moored quietly between Shoreditch and Victoria Park, waking up surrounded by trees, joggers and dogs, yet still firmly inside Zone 2. Further afield, you’ll roam further West and North along the River Lee too, exploring new neighbourhoods from the tranquility of the waterside.
That’s the real trade-off: not square footage, but extraordinary access. Instead of paying a premium for a small, fixed box, you get a compact, efficient home that moves through some of the most desirable postcodes in the capital. You learn them intimately. You’ll forever feel like you’ve lived everywhere in London. Experienced huge areas that most Londoners barely venture to.
Your “garden” changes every fortnight. Sometimes every week in popular spots. Your commute might be a towpath walk. Your neighbours range from city professionals to artists, freelancers and families who’ve all chosen flexibility over floor space.
For many continuous cruisers, that balance — less room inside, far more city outside — is exactly the point. It’s not about having everything; it’s about being where you want to be, without being tied down. It’s about Escaping the Rat Race.
Our offering includes continuous cruising narrow boats as well as Broadbeams that offer much more space! On our Widebeams, you can take an end or a whole boat. All our boats are free to roam anywhere across the network, are properly insured and licensed.
If you’re thinking about making a change and want to try living aboard we would love to hear from you. We welcome beginners and the experienced alike, and have a dedicate and experienced team standing ready to support!
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