Review: GoBoat with kids – London day out

When the sun is shining, there are few better ways to explore London than by boat – but it’s not just the sightseeing cruises on the Thames that are perfect for families, as we discovered when we tried out GoBoat with kids.

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You can hire one of the fleet of electric boats from several different locations around the city – for our GoBoat review, we headed to Paddington Basin, but there’s also the option of starting from Kingston and from Canary Wharf.

Because while you might think that the Thames is the only option in London, there’s more than one waterway running through the capital, and even after decades living in the city, a cruise along the canals gave me a completely different viewpoint to enjoy.

GoBoat Paddington review

With two hours behind the wheel – or rather, with our hands on the tiller – we headed to the Grand Union Canal to discover just how easy it is to explore by boat.

The short answer? Very easy! I delegated the actual driving/captaining to my husband, who very efficiently steered us from the Grand Union canal to the Regent’s canal, around barges, under bridges, through tunnels and all the way to the edges of Regent’s Park and London Zoo.

Meanwhile, I nominated myself official first mate and navigator for our boating experience.

As there’s only one route you can take, one (quiet) water roundabout to negotiate and one stretch where you have to cross to the opposite side of the river ahead of a tunnel, that meant I mostly got to sit back, soak up the spring sunshine and enjoy a whole new view of my home city.

Because while I’ve visited Paddington, Little Venice and Regent’s Park more times than I can count, not to mention London Zoo, I’ve never cruised along that whole stretch aboard my own little boat.

Top speed is around 3-4mph, so you’ll find yourself being overtaken by joggers on the towpath. But half the fun is slowing down, taking a deep breath and soaking up all the sights without feeling like you’ve got to rush.

And there are more than a few to spot along the way. Passing the Puppet Theatre Barge, we had a taste of Little Venice – supposedly named by the poet Robert Browning, the banks are lined with narrowboats and flanked by some impressive houses.

As you sail, keep your eyes open to spy a plaque to the home of the second Lord’s cricket ground, as well as some truly jaw-dropping mansions as you get closer to Regent’s Park.

First, though, comes the 249 metre long Maida Hill tunnel: wide enough for a single craft to sail through, it takes several minutes to get from one side through the darkness to the light on the other side.

Plenty of time to test the echoes and jump at the occasional drop of water dripping down your neck!

Once you reach Regent’s Park, you’ll also find yourself sailing between two sections of London Zoo. While the painted dogs on one side of the canal were keeping a low profile, we had a great view of Monkey Valley, one of the zoo’s newest areas.

Home to colobus monkeys, we saw half a dozen of these lovely black and white creatures swinging through the enclosure and calling to each other.

The habitat stretches 80ft up, with climbing sections covered by the netting, and the monkeys all but flying through the air to get from one side to another – or finding a quiet spot in a tree to settle back.

Unlike the water buses which cruise on past to Camden, having our own self-drive boat meant we could stop to watch for a little while – not the only ones to have that idea, with a group of kayakers and a small crowd on the path as well.

If you do want to get the best view and head inside, buy tickets for London Zoo here

But a trip on GoBoat with kids isn’t about ticking off sights and landmarks, it’s about sitting back and having fun as a family, watching out for the little things – a mandarin duck at one point, a coot building its nest at another.

Bring a picnic or some snacks with you – there’s a handy little table in the centre of the boat – and you can graze as you go. If you’re heading out for longer or looking for an even more memorable boating experience, you could even bring a mini afternoon tea to have on board.

There’s no alcohol allowed for the Paddington boats though (and the captain has to stay sober at the other locations).

It’s well worth bringing something comfy to sit on though, or choosing one of the upgrades – Cosy Boat comes with snuggly blankets (plus some snacks and handwarmers), or there are seat-warmer cushions available at Paddington – as my bum was going distinctly numb towards the end of our two-hour session. Even with plenty of padding…

There’s plenty to see around Paddington as well, if you’re looking to spend longer in the area before or after your GoBoat trip.

For starters, it’s one of the best places to spot Paddington in London, including a couple of statues along the canalside as well as inside the station.

Save some time to check out the Floating Pocket Park too, a series of mini green spaces which bob on the water, as well as Paddington’s unusual bridges.

The rolling bridge is both sculpture and moveable bridge, which curls up into an octagon shape, usually on Wednesday and Friday at noon and 2pm on Saturdays.

Not far away, the Fan Bridge also lifts, looking like a traditional fan at midday on Wednesdays and Fridays.

You’ll also find a string of places to eat and drink around Paddington Basin, from quirky bars on converted barges to some chain restaurants and cafes.

GoBoat with kids: need to know

If you’re planning to test out GoBoat with kids, it’s a lot of fun – but as you are out on sometimes busy waterways with children, here’s how GoBoat works and what you need to know first.

How safe is GoBoat?

Life jackets are provided for children, including baby versions, and must be worn on board.

There are also adult lifejackets available in the boat itself but these aren’t mandatory. It’s very easy to get the hang of steering, it’s definitely more of a precaution than a necessity.

How easy is it to operate?

You should arrive 15 minutes in advance for a safety briefing explaining how everything works – you can also watch the video beforehand. It’s worth knowing there are no toilets at the dock (or on the boat!) so visit those, and pick up any food and drink you want before you get there.

Then there’s a short test drive from the GoBoat dock – in the case of Paddington, this goes up towards the floating park, before turning back again to head out along the main canal, so if there’s anything you’re uncertain of, you can stop on your way past.

There’s a map provided and staff will give you advice on where to turn around in order to get back in time for the end of your slot.

How long do I need?

Our two-hour session gave us long enough to get from Paddington to London Zoo before having to head back. You can’t moor up along the way and boats have to be returned to the start point.

Boats can be booked for one hour, two hours or three hours (and four hours from Kingston).

Rates vary but start from £65 for one hour, from £89 for two – it’s worth booking the longer session, especially as you may not be able to extend it at busy times, if you decide you want more time on the day. You can also book for three hours if you want longer to explore.

Book your GoBoat self-drive boating experience here

What if my plans change?

You can rearrange the booking or cancel to receive a voucher up to 48 hours ahead of your sail out time. After that point, there’s no option to rearrange.

Don’t expect sailings to be cancelled if it rains either: unless there’s low visibility or other dangerous weather conditions, everything will go ahead rain, shine or snow!

You can also book via GetYourGuide, which has free cancellation up to 24 hours beforehand

How many kids can I bring?

The boats have space for 8 on board and they’re dog-friendly too. There’s no minimum age either so it’s fine for the whole family – we saw another group cruising past who’d even managed to get their baby’s buggy on board!

However, the captain driving the boat must be aged 18+. You can also hire up to three boats in one booking, if you fancy heading out as part of a big family group.

What shall I bring with me?

Any food and drink or snacks that you want (although no alcohol at the Paddington location, limited amounts for passengers and none for the captain elsewhere).

It’s well worth having something comfy to sit on, as well as anything you need for the weather conditions – there’s no shade, so SPF, hat and sunglasses if it’s a sunny day, raincoats/umbrella if it’s rainy, and something to wrap up in if it’s cool as there’s often a breeze on the water.

You may be able to borrow ponchos and umbrellas for free from GoBoat if the weather changes unexpectedly.

There’s nowhere to leave possessions when you pick the boat up, although there is space in the boat itself. If you’re a big group, bear in mind that will be limited so don’t try to bring too much on board though.

You can also bring decorations (although you do have to remove them before you leave) but no speakers are allowed on board, in case you were planning a boating soundtrack.

And no, you can’t go swimming from the boat, so leave your towels at home!

What if we have problems once we set off?

If you do run into trouble, help is at hand: there’s a phone number to call on the map with GoBoat’s version of the AA cruising along the same stretch of water at higher speed, so they can head over to help any of the GoBoats that need them.

We ended up with some pond weed tangled around the propeller – not a major issue but it was slowing us down, and around 5-10 minutes after calling, our rescuer appeared to untangle it in moments and send us on our way.

For more unusual things to do in London with kids, including a string of other less well-known family activities, check out my top picks

Disclosure: My trip was courtesy of GoBoat London for the purposes of review – all opinions about trying GoBoat with kids are my own. This post contains affiliate links – any purchases you make are unaffected but I may receive a small commission

Images copyright MummyTravels

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