Outside of the usual ways to experience London, a cruise on the water can afford a great deal of insight into the city from a completely different angle. When most people think of London, they think of roads, double decker buses and taxis. They don’t think about a relaxing river cruise – but they are there if you seek them out.
Paddington itself is home to miles of waterways, connecting with other London canals that spider throughout the whole capital. If you’re looking for a unique, unforgettable way to see London whilst based at The Chilworth London Paddington, a waterway cruise could be just the thing.
London Waterbus Company
Providing a service that has been running for years now, the London Waterbus Company is a fabulous way to explore the waterways of London.
Picking up from Little Venice – a ten-minute walk from The Chilworth London Paddington – you will be taken on a comprehensive tour of the local waterways. You’ll wend your way, at a nice, leisurely pace, from Paddington and past Regents Park and then passing inside London Zoo. If you then want to visit the zoo itself, entry is included in the tour ticket price and you can skip the queues at the main gate – happy days!
If you’re more pressed for time, you can skip that and just stay on board for the return journey. Once you’re done, you can indulge in some great food at one of the many restaurants near Paddington station, which are all within easy walking distance from the Little Venice drop off point.
GoBoat London
Quickly establishing itself as a London institution, GoBoat gives you the chance to captain your own boat and take to the water.
It’s London’s only self-drive, powered boating experience and it is wildly popular. Picking your own route along the canals of Paddington and further afield, each boat has an on-board table and can accommodate up to eight people. This makes it easy to put together a nice picnic and hit the waves – well, the sedate waterways of Little Venice, but you get the idea.
You can hire a boat for one, two or three hours and the longer option is advised for weekend boat trips due to increased traffic. Even better, it’s only a short journey from The Chilworth London Paddington, so you don’t have far to go for this awesome experience.
Canal and River Cruises Ltd.
Operated by the Canal & River Trust, this tour departs from nearby Little Venice, so you can treat yourself to a Montcalm spa near Paddington before heading out.
The tour caters from private parties of 1 to 12 people, and you’ll be setting sail aboard the ‘Lady A’, a lovely little boat to spend the day on. The tour generally takes 2-3 hours and moves through the swanky Maida Vale, Lisson Grove and then Regents Park. If you fancy it, you can always jump off at Camden for a few drinks or some food. If not, you get to enjoy the return journey of this very relaxing, enjoyable canal tour.
FAQs
List of Water Tours in London.
A: Here is the list of Boat Tours of London you can experience:
- GoBoat, Paddington Basin
- Hottug, Angel
- London Shell Co, Paddington Basin
- Moo Canoes, Lea Valley
- Hidden Depth, Kings Cross
- Thames Rockets, River Thames
- Predator Adventures, Royal Victoria Dock
- City Cruises, Thames
- White Water Rafting, Lee valley
55 Westbourne Terrace, Paddington, London W2 3UY
