GoBoat Kingston Boat Hire: Self-Drive Electric Boat on the Thames Towards Hampton Court
Quick answer
GoBoat Kingston boat hire costs $126 per boat of up to 8 people for 1 to 4 hours, and you steer a silent electric boat on the Thames.
It leaves from Riverside Walk beside Kingston Bridge, allows limited drinks, and GetYourGuide rates it 5.0/5 from 26+ reviews.
GoBoat Kingston boat hire is a rental where your group of up to 8 captains a quiet electric boat on the non-tidal Thames from Riverside Walk, beside Kingston Bridge, and GetYourGuide sells it from $126 per boat. It is the open-river GoBoat site, with Hampton Court Palace on the sailing map.
The detail that changes the decision is distance from the centre. Kingston upon Thames is outside the central piers, so this is a half-day out rather than a quick add-on to a sightseeing day, and the listing price is per boat.
| Operator | GoBoat UK (sold on GetYourGuide) |
|---|---|
| Boat | Electric picnic boat for up to 8, about 5 knots (6 mph); some boats have canopies, chosen when booking on the operator's site |
| Price | $126 per boat of up to 8 (about GBP 94.49); the listing does not say which length the price shows |
| Duration | 1 to 4 hours on GetYourGuide; the operator's Kingston page prices 1, 2 and 3 hours |
| Departure times | Daily from 9:30 until sunset, per the operator; slots show after you pick a date |
| Start point | Riverside Walk, Kingston (KT1 1QN) |
| Route | Upstream and downstream from Kingston Bridge, past Thames Ditton and towards Hampton Court Palace and Teddington Lock |
| Food and drinks | Bring food; limited alcohol allowed; pre-order drinks and Cote food with the operator |
| Languages | English |
| Cancellation | Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on GetYourGuide; the operator says amendments up to 48 hours before |
| Rating | 5.0/5 from 26+ reviews on GetYourGuide |
What is GoBoat Kingston boat hire and what do you get?
You rent a whole boat, not a seat: one adult is the captain, up to seven others sit around the table, and the motor is electric and quiet. The operator briefs the captain at the kiosk and hands over a route map.
- Capacity: 8 people including children, and the operator says dogs are welcome.
- Briefing: a safety talk and driving tutorial for the captain, who must be 18 or older.
- Kit: life jackets for babies and children, umbrellas, and the route map, which also sits on the boat's table.
- Canopy: some boats have one; the operator lets you pick it when you book directly.
There is no commentary. For a talking guide, the London river cruises do that.
Where does it start and how do you get to Kingston?
The pontoon is at Riverside Walk, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1QN, right by Kingston Bridge. The operator says Kingston rail and bus stations are both within a 10-minute walk, and OpenStreetMap foot routing gives 8 minutes to the rail station.
| From | Distance | Walk | Route |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kingston station | 635 m | 8 min | Walking route |
| Pontoon itself | - | - | Riverside Walk on Google Maps |
| Kingston Bridge | - | - | Kingston Bridge on Google Maps |
I have not copied journey times from central London, because neither the listing nor the operator gives them. Use the Transport for London journey planner and build in the operator's request to arrive 15 minutes before your slot.
What do you pass on the river?
You sail from Kingston Bridge along a non-tidal stretch of the Thames, with Hampton Court Palace as the best-known sight. The operator lists seven things to look for on its Kingston map.
- Kingston Bridge: the start, next to the pontoon.
- Raven's Ait: on the operator's map list.
- Thames Ditton: on the operator's map list.
- Steven's Eyot: on the operator's map list.
- Trowlock Island: on the operator's map list.
- Teddington Lock: on the operator's map list.
- Hampton Court Palace: the palace, seen from the water.
Hampton Court Palace on Google Maps · Teddington Lock on Google Maps · Raven's Ait on Google Maps
The listing does not give timings for each stop, so ask staff at the briefing how far you can go in the hours you booked and when to turn round.
How much does it cost and what is included?
The $126 price is per boat, so the cost per head drops as you fill the seats. The operator lists higher "from" prices in pounds for 2 and 3 hours, so check what duration the marketplace price covers at checkout.
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| GetYourGuide boat price | $126 (GBP 94.49) | per boat, up to 8, duration chosen at checkout |
| Per person at 8 aboard | $15.75 (GBP 11.81) | computed |
| Per person at 4 aboard | $31.50 (GBP 23.62) | computed |
| Operator, 1 hour from | GBP 65 | operator's Kingston page |
| Operator, 2 hours from | GBP 105 | operator's Kingston page |
| Operator, 3 hours from | GBP 145 | operator's Kingston page |
- Included: boat, safety briefing, route map, safety equipment, umbrellas and heated seats, per the listing.
- Not included: food and drink; the listing suggests bringing your own.
- Extras: the operator sells Cote food and pre-ordered alcohol; food orders need 24 hours' notice.
- Four-hour option: the listing says 1 to 4 hours, but the operator's page shows three prices, so ask before counting on four.
What is the drinks rule at Kingston?
Drinks are allowed in moderation, which makes Kingston the GoBoat site for a picnic with wine. The operator caps it at two beers or cans, or half a bottle of wine, per person.
The GoBoat site in Paddington bans alcohol entirely, so group plans that rely on drinks should not be moved there. See the Paddington GoBoat for that difference.
How does it compare with the other GoBoat hires and Thames cruises?
Kingston is the quiet, outer-London choice, while the cruises leave from central piers. The table lines up the options by water, speed and price.
| Option | Water | Price | Drinks |
|---|---|---|---|
| GoBoat Kingston (this page) | Non-tidal Thames, 6 mph | $126 per boat of 8 | Limited alcohol |
| GoBoat Paddington | Regent's Canal, 3.5 mph | $126 per boat of 8 | No alcohol |
| GoBoat Canary Wharf | Docklands water | $126 per boat of 8 | See listing |
| Flexible one-way Thames cruise | Central Thames, crewed | $18 per person | Licensed bar on board |
Is GoBoat Kingston boat hire worth it versus a Thames cruise?
It is worth it for a group of 5 to 8 that wants hours on the water and a picnic, and not worth it for a quick landmark tour. A cruise ticket shows Parliament and Tower Bridge; this shows riverbank, islands and a palace.
- 5 to 8 people: $15.75 to $25.20 each for a private boat.
- 2 to 4 people: $31.50 to $63 each, close to a few cruise tickets.
- Time: the hire needs a half-day once travel to Kingston is counted.
- Sights: a quiet river, not London's famous skyline.
5 knots is the speed the operator quotes for a Kingston GoBoat, which it puts at 6 mph, almost twice the Paddington speed.
When is the best time to go?
June to August gives the warmest days, but the real limit is daylight because the operator closes at sunset. The tables use 2025 central London weather and 2026 sunset times, so treat Kingston as a few degrees different.
| Month | 2025 avg high | 2015-2024 avg high | Rain days 2025 | What it means for this trip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6.6°C | 7.8°C | 13 | Cold; heated seats help, book 1 hour |
| Feb | 7.8°C | 9.2°C | 10 | Cold and wet; wrap up |
| Mar | 12.7°C | 11.0°C | 3 | Mild and dry; quiet river |
| Apr | 17.5°C | 13.8°C | 3 | Fresh and dry; bring a jacket |
| May | 20.0°C | 17.4°C | 8 | Warm, few rain days; a strong pick |
| Jun | 24.5°C | 20.9°C | 8 | Warmest; bring a hat, shade is limited |
| Jul | 24.4°C | 22.6°C | 9 | Warm; water and sun cream |
| Aug | 23.5°C | 22.4°C | 7 | Warm; busy weekends, book early |
| Sep | 18.8°C | 19.7°C | 11 | Pleasant, more rain than August |
| Oct | 14.9°C | 15.5°C | 9 | Cooler; take layers |
| Nov | 11.7°C | 11.0°C | 16 | Wettest month in 2025; umbrellas on board |
| Dec | 9.7°C | 9.3°C | 10 | Cold; light is gone by 16:00 |
| Month | Sunset |
|---|---|
| Jan | 16:22 |
| Feb | 17:16 |
| Mar | 18:06 |
| Apr | 19:58 |
| May | 20:47 |
| Jun | 21:21 |
| Jul | 21:13 |
| Aug | 20:25 |
| Sep | 19:17 |
| Oct | 18:09 |
| Nov | 16:13 |
| Dec | 15:53 |
With sunset at 15:53 in December, even a 2-hour slot has to start before 13:30. Check the booking system for the actual last start. Nager.Date lists Christmas Day (25 December 2026) as the next public holiday, and the listing does not state opening on holidays.
What do renters say about GoBoat Kingston?
Only two review snippets are readable, both positive, so the sample is thin. The rating is 5.0/5 from 26+ reviews, with a 5.0 for guide, 5.0 for transport and 4.6 for value.
- Group fun: one renter took all 8 of the group out for 2 hours and recommends it.
- Staff: friendly, with a clear explanation on arrival.
- Setting: the location is praised as amazing.
- Value: the weakest sub-score, again a per-boat price effect.
Who should skip this hire?
Skip it if you have one afternoon in central London or want a guide. The London boat tours page lists central options with commentary.
- Short stays: getting to and from Kingston eats the time.
- Landmark chasers: no skyline here.
- Couples: $63 each is steep against a cruise ticket.
- Big drinkers: the alcohol cap is two cans or half a bottle each.
Other cities we cover are on the Harbour Advisor home page, and more self-drive options are in the boat rental in London list.
How do you book GoBoat Kingston boat hire?
GoBoat Kingston boat hire is $126 per boat for up to 8 people: you get the electric boat, a briefing, a route map and heated seats, and you bring your own food.
Check availabilityI earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions about GoBoat Kingston
Do you need a licence for GoBoat Kingston boat hire?
No. The operator says no boating licence or experience is needed, and the captain gets a briefing and a driving tutorial. The captain must be 18 or older.
Can you drink alcohol on the Kingston GoBoat?
Yes, in moderation: the operator allows up to two beers or cans, or half a bottle of wine, per person. The captain must stay sober.
How many people fit on a Kingston GoBoat?
Up to 8, including children. The operator also welcomes dogs and supplies life jackets for babies and children.
How long can you hire the boat for?
GetYourGuide says 1 to 4 hours, while the operator prices 1, 2 and 3 hours. Ask before assuming a four-hour slot is available.
Where is the GoBoat Kingston pontoon?
On Riverside Walk, Kingston upon Thames, KT1 1QN, next to Kingston Bridge. Kingston station is an 8-minute walk by OpenStreetMap routing.
Can you reach Hampton Court Palace by GoBoat from Kingston?
The operator lists Hampton Court Palace among the sights on its Kingston sailing map. The listing gives no timings, so ask staff how far your booked hours allow.
What time does GoBoat Kingston open?
The operator says 9:30 every day until sunset. Exact slots appear once you choose a date.
What happens if it rains?
The listing says it runs in rain or shine and provides umbrellas. Unsafe conditions can lead to short-notice cancellation.
Is there commentary on board?
No. You captain the boat yourself and follow the route map on the table.
Can you cancel a GoBoat Kingston booking?
GetYourGuide offers a full refund when you cancel up to 24 hours ahead. The operator says amendments are possible up to 48 hours before, so check which terms apply to your booking.
Sources: GoBoat UK, Kingston page; GetYourGuide listing and reviews; Transport for London; Open-Meteo archive, Frankfurter (ECB rates), sunrise-sunset.org, OSRM foot routing and Nager.Date, all fetched 2026-10-17.
