Exploring London’s Canals with Go Boat

Last updated: 23 June 2023

An ingenious concept that’s been spotted on the canals of Copenhagen for some time but is relatively new on the London scene is Go Boat.   A self-drive electric boat made from 80% recycled bottles to take you and seven of your closest besties around the canals of north London.  

Do the names Little Venice, Limehouse Cut, Lee Navigation sound familiar? You might not be aware that London has a series of canal waterways, some of which are serviced by Go Boat.   All trips with Go Boat start and end in Merchant Square in Paddington, with multiple routes available to seafarers.  

The minimum hire with Go Boat is an hour which will enable a quick cruise around the canals near Paddington but not much more.   If you’re seeking a more comprehensive experience, 2 to 3 hours will enable punters to navigate their way up Regent’s Canal, past London Zoo, all the way up to Camden Lock. For the eager, you can hire the boats all day to explore further afield.  Interested to see a mural made from litter or Kensal Green, the original garden-style cemetery and the first of the Magnificent Seven? These are all possibilities with Go Boat.

Boats are charged per boat not per person meaning the cost is fixed. You can navigate your way up Regent’s Canal, past London Zoo, all the way up to Camden Lock if time permits. 

With a max speed of about 4mi/hr (3.5knots) you won’t get anywhere quickly.  But that’s not the point.  Casually cruise the canals at a leisurely pace taking in the London scenery… and, of course,  a selfie or two!  

To captain a Go Boat, you must be sober and over 18.  You don’t need a driver or a guide, no licence or experience needed and all the training you need will be provided by the Go Boat crew before you depart.   Don’t worry about getting lost, it’s almost impossible to do so and plus you have a laminated map on board and the boats are equipped with GPS so they can find you in an emergency, this is independent travel at it’s best.

Before setting off, boaters are supplied with a thorough tutorial of boat operations, a safety briefing and instructions for unblocking the leaves and gunk from the motor if required.  Also included is a handy map of the canals and attractions each beholds. What might be better is if you’ve got a local Londoner in your group to tell you what’s what.  After all this, we had a little practice around the Go Boat marshalling area before setting off.

Ready To Go Boating?

Our group of 8 were adequately prepared for our boating adventure, although we could have certainly dressed for the part.  A few nautical striped shirts was the best we could manage!  Armed with picnics, we boarded, comfortably sitting around the table strategically placed in the middle.

We had our Go Boat for 2 hours, enough time to cruise up to Camden Lock and back. That was assuming we had an experienced boating captain on board. Alas, we did not.  There were a lot of laughs and a few bumps along the way, numerous squeals as we went under a blackberry bush, lots of giggles from canal-side pedestrians we made it as far as the Cumberland Basin Turn before u-turning to return back to base.

Tips For The Best Boating Experience & What To Bring?

Nominate one or two people capable of driving the boat.  Sure let everyone have a go if they want to, but those lacking experience and reverse coordination might steer you into concrete walls or head first into bushes.  That being said, everyone’s gotta learn sometime!

The London summer weather can be a tricky one to predict.  Pack a hat and a mac to be on the safer end of both sides.

If it’s a hot day, take a cooler bag to keep drinks cold.  Especially if you’re exploring for more than an hour or two. No one likes warm bubbles!  We were well equipped with a range of snacks from M&S, Emily vegetable/fruit crisps, cakes and fresh fruit, plus some tasty beverages from Fentimans.  You can certainly stop along the way for supplies and emergency loo breaks but this is obviously going to chew into your boating time. Come prepared and punt for longer.  

There’s plenty of entertainment along the canal although a portable speaker would be a good addition and provide some background music to your day out.  

Perfect for a whole family outing, with children and puppies are permitted on-board. Life vests for children and babies are provided however no life vests for dogs are available so BYO is best.  

The Essentials | Go Boat London

• Where: Merchant Square, London, Paddington, W2 1JZ
• When: Open 7 days a week, 10am until dusk (around 9:30pm).
• Cost: Prices start at £55 for 1 hour, £85 for two and £115 for three hours – you can hire for up to 6 hours
• Nearest Tube: Paddington and Edgware Road
• Alcohol: Alcohol limits apply, i.e. one 750ml bottle per 4 people
• Ready to book? Go Boat

Disclaimer: Our Go Boat outing was kindly provided by Go Boat in conjunction with Love Popups London in return for an honest review.  We were not financially compensated for this post.

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