This houseboat places you next to Thames River and within a 10-minute stroll of other popular attractions like Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Guestrooms at this houseboat include kitchens, refrigerators, and microwaves.
Enjoy stunning sunset panoramas on the tidal Thames from our beautiful, historic vessel. From her secluded garden mooring, Seacrest boasts magnificent views of Kew & Brentford Ait Nature Reserve. With fantastic transport links, she’s a riverside walk from many superb restaurants & pubs. This unique home is a comfortable, peaceful retreat, with all of Central London’s amenities at the doorstep.
There are a number of fantastic restaurants within walking distance, whether the Michelin Star Glasshouse in Kew Village, a host of cozy riverside pubs or a range of fantastic establishments in Chiswick and Richmond.
We're moored directly opposite the iconic Kew Bridge, whose arches contain a range of fantastic boutique businesses such from paddle boarding to gyms and spas. The Royal Botanic Gardens Kew across the river, whose boundary you can see from Seacreast's windows, isn't the only place to spot wildlife. Between the boat and the Botanic Gardens sits an island (Brentford Ait Nature Reserve) which was planted by Queen Victoria and provides refuge for our rarest river birds. Families of seals sometimes pass under the window, and every spring a new cluster of ducks, geese or swans nest on our garden mooring.
Kew Bridge station will take you direct to central London and is less than a 5 minute walk away, but you can also catch the river ferry from the other side of Kew Bridge, which, in spring and summer, travels downstream to Westminster or upstream to Hampton Court.
We look forward to welcoming you to our very special tidal home.
Guests can enjoy a TV and stay connected with free WiFi. Other standard amenities include a kitchen, a washing machine, and a refrigerator. Change of towels is available on request.
If you have requests for specific accessibility needs, please contact the property using the information on the reservation confirmation received after booking.
3 steps to reach entrance
Hardwood flooring in public areas
Thin carpet in public areas
Upper floors accessible by stairs only
Well-lit path to entrance
Smoking not allowed
Services and conveniences
Change of bedsheets (on request)
Change of towels on request
Safe
Location highlights
Near a health/beauty spa
Near a hospital
Near the marina
On a river
Things to do
Boat
Water park
Basketball nearby
Birdwatching nearby
Ecotours nearby
Fishing nearby
Golfing nearby
Hiking/biking trails nearby
Kayaking nearby
Motor boating nearby
Mountain biking nearby
Swimming nearby
Wildlife walks nearby
Safety features
Carbon monoxide detector (host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property)
Smoke detector (host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property)
First aid kit
Fire extinguisher
Deadbolt lock
General
At least 80% lighting from LEDs
Bed sheets changed on request
Composting
Electric car charging station
Garden
Property does not allow children
Towels (changed on request)
Unit size: 370 square feet
Water-efficient toilets
Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 5:00 PM
Minimum check-in age: 18
Check-out
Check-out before 11:00 AM
Special check-in instructions
You will receive an email from the host with check-in and check-out instructions
Check-out instructions
The host requires you complete the following before checking out:
Strip any used beds and gather used towels
Remove personal items
Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and return the keys
Text me when you leave.
Leave the Trash bagged in Black bags
Pets
This property doesn't allow pets
Children and extra beds
This property doesn't allow children
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card, or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock
This property is managed through our partner, Vrbo. You will receive an email from Vrbo with a link to a Vrbo account, where you can change or cancel your reservation
Check-in: 5:00 PM
Check-out: 11:00 AM
Minimum check-in age: 18
We should mention
Details about charges, deposits, or other important information:
This property is managed by a private host, not a professional engaged in trade or business.
Charges for extra guests may apply and vary depending on the property's policy.
A cash deposit, credit card, or debit card for incidental charges, as well as a government-issued photo ID, may be required at check-in.
Special requests are subject to availability at the time of check-in and can't be guaranteed. Certain requests may come with additional charges.
Onsite parties or group events are strictly prohibited.
Onsite safety features include a carbon monoxide detector, a fire extinguisher, a smoke detector, a first aid kit, and a deadbolt lock.
Additional information about polices, regulations, and more:
This houseboat in Brentford is within a 10-minute walk of Thames River and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. You'll also find Kensington High Street and Twickenham Stadium within a short drive.
Is there parking available at this houseboat?
Yes, there is electric car charging available.
Is this houseboat next to a casino?
No, this houseboat is not connected to a casino.
Will I find an indoor pool at this houseboat?
No, there is no indoor pool at this houseboat.
Is Charming Historic Boat Moored opposite Kew Gardens. a good place to stay for couples?
At this historic houseboat, amenities that appeal to couples include a kitchen, kitchens in some accommodations, as well as a garden.
Does Charming Historic Boat Moored opposite Kew Gardens. have a hot tub?
No, this houseboat doesn't have a spa tub.
Does this houseboat offer breakfast?
No, this houseboat doesn't offer breakfast.
Will this houseboat allow pets to stay for free?
No, pets aren't allowed at this houseboat.
Are there connecting rooms at this houseboat?
No, this houseboat doesn't feature connecting guestrooms.
Where is the closest airport to this houseboat?
The closest major airport to this houseboat is Heathrow Airport (LHR), which is 9.5 mi away (17 minutes by car). Another top airport is London City Airport (LCY), which is located 29.6 mi away (75-minute drive).
Are there rooms with balconies at Charming Historic Boat Moored opposite Kew Gardens.?
Yes, every accommodation at Charming Historic Boat Moored opposite Kew Gardens. comes with a porch with some featuring water views.
All reviews shown are from real guest experiences. Only travelers who have booked a stay with us can submit a review. We verify reviews according to our guidelines and publish all reviews, positive or negative.
Rating 10 - Excellent. 54 out of 86 reviews
10 - Excellent
54
Rating 8 - Good. 20 out of 86 reviews
8 - Good
20
Rating 6 - Okay. 7 out of 86 reviews
6 - Okay
7
Rating 4 - Poor. 2 out of 86 reviews
4 - Poor
2
Rating 2 - Terrible. 3 out of 86 reviews
2 - Terrible
3
8.0/10
Cleanliness
Reviews
8/10 Good
Rebecca B.
Jun 22, 2025
I’m on a boat!
Learning to navigate the idiosyncrasies of a boat was a unique experience for us. We enjoyed the pubs, scenery, birds and Kew Gardens. It is an easy walk to the train station with our favorite pub food right next to it. Mark was very welcoming and made sure that all our needs were met. Thanks
Rebecca B.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2025
10/10 Excellent
annie
Jun 16, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
What a delightful old boat in an idyllic setting! Seeing the 'old' craft of making a boat, the woodwork, thinking thru how to naximize use of space fascinated me. Loved my stay. Mark is charming, be sure to have him tell you the history of the boat! He stocked the fridge with brekkie, there was a bowl of perfect apples and charming bouquets of flowers all about. I loved being on the river opposite the nature reserve island and all the creatures living on it. So much to watch, I ended up not going to any of the nifty pubs about, in favor of sitting on 'my' boat and enjoying the surroundings.
annie
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2025
10/10 Excellent
Rene B.
Jun 1, 2025
Title
The location is very nice. Near the railway station. Easy to go to the City center. Shops and restaurants near the boat. Mark is a nice and helpful man. The onlydownside point;too many private stuff. Nog enough Spaces for 3 adults.
Rene B.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
8/10 Good
Jason E.
May 24, 2025
Disliked: Cleanliness
Unique & Fun Stay – But Not for Everyone
Unique & Fun Stay – But Not for EveryoneWe had a really fun time staying on this charming historic boat across from Kew Gardens. It's definitely a memorable and unique experience—something different from the typical hotel or rental flat. The owner was lovely and very accommodating, even allowing us to check in early, which we really appreciated.That said, this place won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. While it has a lot of character, it’s also quite cluttered and feels like it could use a deep clean and a bit of general maintenance. The outdoor area was messy, with a yard full of goose droppings, which made it less pleasant to enjoy the outside space.Inside, while cozy and full of quirky charm, things were a bit dirty and disorganized. If you're someone who prefers pristine, polished spaces, this may not be the right fit. But if you’re up for something a bit rustic and don’t mind a few rough edges, it’s a fun and memorable place to stay.Overall, we genuinely enjoyed the experience, but just go in with realistic expectations—this is a charming, lived-in boat, not a luxury hotel.
Jason E.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2025
10/10 Excellent
Craig C., Kalamazoo, Michigan USA
Apr 23, 2025
Hotels are boring next to Sea Crest
The Pros: Owner, Mark, is gracious, communicates well, provides a tour, and is generous with an attitude what his is yours to use. -You are entering Mark’s world and his play ground. He is nice enough to share his family retreat and now that he is retired & children are gone he shared it with us. I loved it!-there are his memories, journals, knickknacks, books, photos everywhere, yes it is a bit cluttered but has life. -it was fun to brag you are staying on a boat to others around the city and they are all eager to ask questions. -a time capsule -cast iron tub that is large and they must have built the boat around it 109 years ago, be sure to take a bath, lots of hot water. -the swans visit every day looking for an offering from you. -everything is different from the modern hotel but is highly usable. -compost toilet but does not stink-old school faucets with good water pressure -5 meter tide twice a day -bus stop is 100 yards away to everything and TUBE No reason to ever take a cab -very safe, of course you do have a moat around you with gate, and wall. -Cons: -Ceiling can be a head banger but you get use to where and when to duck quickly. Over 6’ tall and you will learn faster than others. -All Mark’s trinkets give the place a clutter feel. -Suck it up, you are in a time capsule, wonderful view, QUITE, SAFE, and everything works, just takes a bit of getting use to. -Beds are short as they all were in those days but comfort
Craig C.
Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025
10/10 Excellent
Kai L.
Apr 3, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Fun and unique
Great host and fun location. Great coffee shops and food options nearby.
Kai L.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025
10/10 Excellent
Jeb W.
Jan 4, 2025
Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful NYE/football trip based from Seacrest
Mark was incredibly accommodating with arrival and check out times! Gave many recommendations for the local area and was thorough in his informing us about the quirks and pleasantries of the Seacrest. We spent most of our time in London proper but breakfast and pubs were easy to find in Kew. Public transit made travel from the boat quite easy. Will be returning if we come back to London!
Jeb W.
Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024
8/10 Good
Lisa D.
Oct 31, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Cozy boat
The boat and location are lovely and quaint..moored across from a bird sanctuary within walking distance of Kew Gardens. It is a boat so be ready for the intimacy of the space. Mark was a very responsive host.
Lisa D.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
10/10 Excellent
Rick E.
Oct 27, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Classic Boat on the Thames
Mark provided everything we needed to have a great time on Seacrest. Plenty of food and coffee, guides, maps and books. There is plenty of room inside and wonderful views of wildlife out the panoramic windows. Overall we really enjoyed our stay.
Rick E.
Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024
4/10 Poor
Keith S.
Oct 15, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great experience
Wonderful stay, incredible location , friendly and accommodating host who was easy to reach
Keith S.
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024
4/10 Poor
Mary B.
Oct 12, 2024
Disliked: Cleanliness
Not as expected
The description of the boat was misleading. The sleeping cabins were difficult to get into, down a steep awkward ladder down below the galley. Nor did they mention that the composting toilet required each person to sit on it and it was not pleasant. Also the boat was not very clean and there were personal affects of the owner all over the kitchen and salon. The boat sits on mud when the tide is out. The gangplank to get on the boat was wobbly and dangerous.
The sheets were clean and we enjoyed the swans drifting by in the morning. The view was lovely. We left before the second night.
On it and was not pleasant. on the toilet and
Mary B.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024
10/10 Excellent
Jennifer D.
Sep 24, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great stay on Seacrest
We had a lovely stay on Seacrest and Mark is a very helpful and responsive host. We would absolutely stay there again.
Jennifer D.
Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024
10/10 Excellent
Amy B., puyallup, WA
Sep 14, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Charming boat
Very comfortable, peaceful, lovely location near Kew Gardens. Highly recommend.
Amy B.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
10/10 Excellent
Ellen-Jane B.
Sep 9, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
A little bit of paradise on the Thames
I had been looking forward to this stay , and I was not disappointed. Seacrest is a 109 year old motor boat moored on the Thames at Kew Bridge. It was but a five minute walk along the river bank from Kew Bridge Station to the find Seacrest hidden behind an imposing brick wall. Mark welcomed me and showed me around the boat and its workings. When he left I was confident I could make everything work and I had a sense of nearby places. The rooms were delightful and the top deck room provided a great view of the Kew Bridge, the wildlife, the rowers, swimmers and other boats. One did not really need to leave, but if you did there were lovely pubs, shops and cafes all within a 5-15 minute walk. The amazing thing, was the silence. On the other side of the path were multi story apartments, busy roads and the like, but my view was the river and all It entailed. For those looking for something different, something to put your feet up, or just a great base to explore this side of London, than Seacrest may be just what you need.
Ellen-Jane B.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024
10/10 Excellent
brent c.
Sep 6, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
3 night on MV Seacrest
Boats are novel and fun and be clear that spaces are tight, a little up and down, and you"ll be just great
brent c.
Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024
10/10 Excellent
Peter D.
Aug 21, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Tribute to the tidal Thames
Six nights in a brilliant location, watching the ever-changing Thames as the tides rise and fall, providing an array of incredible birdlife. The boat is a little quirky, but cosy and comfortable - a little agility is needed to move between decks, but nothing daunting.
Mark’s welcome and introduction left nothing wanting, and communication before and during our stay was first rate.
All up.. magical!! Thanks, Mark.
Peter D.
Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024
6/10 Okay
Dorothy M.
Aug 10, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
An experience.
While the boat is very old, and the scenery is gorgeous, we did find the beds very hard to sleep on. If you want total comfort, move along.
Glad we stayed there though. I was very close to trains, stores and pubs.
Dorothy M.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024
8/10 Good
Hazel L.
Jul 5, 2024
Quirky and different. A unique experience in the old boat.
Ease of entry on arrival super. Host amazingly accommodating and came out late at night to tell us about all the idiosyncracies of his beloved boat.
It was cosy and perfectly located on lovely view of river. Beds clean and comfortable although a little short. It really had everything we needed for a short stay.
Hazel L.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
6/10 Okay
Karen B.
Jun 28, 2024
Fantastic location
The location is great for ease of getting around . A few minutes walk to Kew Bridge station. Ideal for lovers of birds as opposite a nature reserve on The Thames.
The beds were clean and surprisingly comfortable. I did find it strange that the owner leaves so many personal belongings around the boat when renting out which made it feel cluttered.
Karen B.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024
10/10 Excellent
Mary K.
Jun 25, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Wonderful views
We loved it!
Mary K.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024
10/10 Excellent
Samantha N.
Jun 13, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Charming, Cozy, Unique, Lovely!
We absolutely loved our stay aboard MV Seacrest. Mark is a great host who was wonderful about communicating before and during our stay. He greeted us aboard on our first day, gave us a tour of the boat and explained some of the rules and things about our stay so check in was so easy. Seacrest is definitely a unique place to stay, but if you know going in that you’re staying on a 100+ year old ship and not a luxury cruise mega boat, you will have a fantastic stay. Yes, the boat is cozy and a little tight, but the location is fantastic, and the views are spectacular. Seeing the tide coming in and out, and the wildlife that came with it too was quite the site! And it was very easy to get around with public transit options galore nearby. There are several lovely pubs right nearby, as well as just about anything you might need with the shops in the area. We loved the Express Tavern and the Bell & Crown (just a short walk up the Thames Path toward Chiswick). After reading some of the more negative reviews when booking, I was the tiniest bit nervous. But after our stay - if you go in with the right mindset it will be a fantastic stay! And have zero concerns about the composting toilet - so simple. We really had a lovely time aboard Seacrest and it made our trip to London so special. I can’t wait to come back!
Samantha N.
Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024
10/10 Excellent
Elisabeth R.
Jun 5, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Great, fun stay
The boat was a great, fun stay in London. A few minutes walk from Kew bridge station and the buses to get around London, yet lovely and quiet. Perfect to be able to walk across the bridge into Kew. Delightful to wake up to see the birds on the river and watch the rowers practising. The rooms are snug, cosy and warm in winter but easy to open up windows to catch a breeze in summer. The beds are comfortable and the bathroom and shower are great. The kitchen is compact but all you need to make a meal. The owner leaves alot of bits and pieces too so there is always salt, oil, milk etc. completely recommend for an unusual and fun stay in London.
Elisabeth R.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023
2/10 Terrible
darrell d.
Jun 4, 2024
Disliked: Cleanliness
Unimpressed
Dirty unsafe houseboat. Houseboat rentals must be inspected for safety. This houseboat should not be rented.
The ramp rocked side to side when walking on it and at higher tides you had to duck powerless when boarding or exiting the boat.
The boat leaked in several places, the kitchen was cluttered with greasy condiments and containers, the smell of mold and diesel was prevalent throughout the boat and almost every surface was cluttered with too many personal items which left no space for visitors items, without mixing them up with the hosts. It felt like we were visiting an “eccentric” bachelor uncle
The only plus side was the great location.
darrell d.
Stayed 6 nights in May 2024
6/10 Okay
Adrian R.
May 6, 2024
great location
rustic accomadation , great location, easy walking to great pubs and restaurants.
Adrian R.
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024
10/10 Excellent
David J.
Apr 30, 2024
Liked: Cleanliness
Quirky
If your like me and love classic older timber boats with character and history this could be your thing. Great location, absolute waterfront of course, comfortable and cosy. Mark was a great, friendly host full of great info and history about ‘Seacrest’