Boat Rental London

Boat rental in London, on the listings I compared, means GoBoat: a small electric boat you captain yourself, from $126, with no experience needed. There are three locations, one on Regent’s Canal at Paddington, one in the Docklands at Canary Wharf and one on the upper Thames at Kingston. For every kind of trip see my guide to boat tours in London. Prices are in US dollars, checked in October 2026, and the booking links are affiliate links, as I explain on my about page.

My pick for most visitors is the GoBoat at Paddington: 1 to 3 hours, rated 4.5 from 91 reviews, and the most central. For a calmer day on the Thames I’d take Kingston. I haven’t steered any of these boats, so I rely on the listings and review snippets.

London Boat Rentals

All three boat rentals in London come from GoBoat UK, which describes itself as an eco-friendly company that wants more people on the country’s waterways. Each boat seats up to eight passengers, and the listings say the electric motor is almost silent and runs at up to 4 mph. That is walking pace, so you choose the route and take your time rather than cover distance.

Rental	Operator	Price from	Duration	Rating	Cancellation
Paddington, Regent’s Canal	GoBoat UK	$126	1 to 3 hours	4.5 (91)	Free up to 24 hours
Kingston upon Thames	GoBoat UK	$126	1 to 4 hours	5.0 (26)	Free up to 24 hours
Canary Wharf, Docklands	GoBoat UK	$126	1 to 3 hours	4.3 (29)	Free up to 24 hours

GoBoat UK

GoBoat Rental for Regent's Canal & Paddington Basin

• ★ 4.5 (91 reviews)
• 1 - 3 hours
• Free cancellation

My pick: My pick for a first rental: $126, 1 to 3 hours on Regent's Canal, 4.5 from 91 reviews, child life jackets included.

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$126

Check availabilityRead my review

The Paddington rental uses Paddington Basin and Regent’s Canal, and the listing includes the boat, heated seats and a safety and driving tutorial from staff. Reviewers called it one of the most enjoyable things you can do in London and said the booking and staff were smooth. In a straight line, the GoBoat Paddington dock is 2.1 km from The Regent’s Park and 2.4 km from London Zoo, so a longer rental could reach both along the canal.

Boat Hire London

Boat hire in London is simple at GoBoat: pick a start time, bring a picnic and a designated captain, and the crew does the rest. The Kingston and Canary Wharf listings give the same list: a full safety briefing and driving tutorial for the captain, a map of the route, safety equipment in the boat, life jackets for all children (optional for adults), umbrellas for rain, heated seats or cushions, and food and drink that you bring yourself. The Paddington listing leaves out the umbrellas and says alcoholic drinks are not included, so check what you may take along.

GoBoat UK

GoBoat Rental in Kingston upon Thames

• ★ 5.0 (26 reviews)
• 1 - 4 hours
• Free cancellation

My pick: The top score and the calm option: $126, 1 to 4 hours on the non-tidal Thames at Kingston, rated 5.0 from 26 reviews.

from

$126

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Kingston is the longest rental, up to 4 hours, and the listing says its boats reach a non-tidal section of the Thames. Non-tidal means no tide to plan around, which suits families. Its 5.0 rating comes from only 26 reviews. A snippet from a group of eight said the team explained everything and called the location amazing. Kingston is far from the central landmarks, so it is a day out rather than sightseeing.

Boat Rental London Canal

The canal is the reason to choose a boat rental in London at Paddington. Regent’s Canal is narrow and quiet, and on a GoBoat there is no commentary and no timetable. If you want a guide and a lock demonstration instead, the Camden Lock boat is $31 for 90 minutes, and I compare it with The Music Boat on my canal cruise page. The canal is looked after by the Canal & River Trust, which publishes boating rules and notices.

GoBoat is not the only boat hire on the water: Google Maps also shows other operators, such as Capital Pleasure Boats, but I haven’t compared their prices or licence rules. Treat GoBoat as the one with data here.

Boat Rental London Uk

A boat rental in London, UK, is not the same as a yacht or powerboat charter, and the GoBoat listings say no previous experience is needed. The skills requirement for bigger vessels is different, and I haven’t compared any in this data. For the rules on the tidal river, the Port of London Authority is the official source, and GoBoat’s own briefing covers the water you will be on.

GoBoat UK

GoBoat Rental in Canary Wharf with London Docklands

• ★ 4.3 (29 reviews)
• 1 - 3 hours
• Free cancellation

My pick: The Docklands choice: $126, 1 to 3 hours near Canary Wharf, 4.3 from 29 reviews, best if you stay east.

from

$126

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The Canary Wharf rental gives access to a section of the London Docklands. A reviewer found the cruising area not huge and said two hours is plenty, though the three-hour option cost the same as two on the date they booked. Another said signs reading GoBoat from the tube station made the maze of Canary Wharf easy. This is my pick if you are already in the east.

Boat Hire London Prices

All three London boat rentals start at $126, and since a boat seats up to eight, I read that as a price for the boat. I can’t confirm the pricing basis from the listing, so check the booking page for how your hours and group size change the total. Compared with a per-person ticket like the $21 Eye cruise on my river cruise page, the hire only makes sense for a group.

What Comes With a GoBoat Rental

The listings give a clear picture of what the hire includes, so you know what to bring. The boat comes with a full safety briefing and a driving tutorial for the designated captain, a map of the route, safety equipment in the boat and life jackets for all children, which are optional for adults. At Kingston and Canary Wharf the lists also name umbrellas for rain and heated seats or cushions, and Paddington lists heated seats.

Food and drink are not included, and every listing recommends bringing your own. That makes a GoBoat a good picnic, and the main saving against a dinner cruise: you choose the menu. Paddington lists alcoholic drinks among the exclusions, so read the booking terms about what you may take on board. Dogs are welcome on the boats, and the listings describe the whole experience as child friendly.

Boats seat up to eight people including children, so a group of two shares the same boat as a group of eight. Either way, a longer slot does not always mean a better day: a Canary Wharf reviewer said two hours was plenty on the compact docklands area, while the Kingston listing offers up to 4 hours on a long river stretch. If you are choosing a boat rental in London for the first time, start with the shorter slot at the central dock.

Cancellation is generous. All three refund in full up to 24 hours before the start. The weather is the main risk, since the boats are open, so I would pick a dry-looking day and keep the 24-hour deadline in mind.

How I’d Choose a Boat Rental

For most visitors, the boat rental in London I’d pick is the Paddington boat on Regent’s Canal. For space and the best score, Kingston. If you are staying east and want modern views, Canary Wharf. All three refund in full up to 24 hours ahead. If you prefer a driver and a meal, my dinner cruise page and the hub page cover the crewed options, and the homepage lists other cities.