Floating Retreat: Glasgow's Hidden Gem - Urban Life Meet Canalside Tranquility

Photo gallery for Floating Retreat: Glasgow's Hidden Gem - Urban Life Meet Canalside Tranquility

A compact living space with a sofa, a dining table, and a kitchenette.
A cozy interior with a wood-burning stove, a desk with a computer, and a comfortable seating area.
A compact kitchen with a refrigerator, microwave, and stove. There is a dining area with a table set for two, and a window providing a view of the outside.
A large, multi-story building with a stone facade, a canal in the foreground, and several parked cars along the water's edge.
A kitchen with a round window, a sink, and cabinets.

Reviews

10 out of 10
Exceptional

Highlights

  • Top-rated comfy beds
    Guests liked the comfy beds here.
  • Wake up on the waves
    A rare find — sleep on the water in this unique houseboat stay.
  • Centrally-located
    You're never far from where you need to be with this convenient location.
  • Discover nearby landmarks
    Near Buchanan Street

Popular amenities

  • Patio
  • Toys
  • Barbecue grill
  • Refrigerator
  • Internet
  • Washing machine

Explore the area

View in a map
Glasgow, Select
  • Place, Great Western Road
    ‪9 min walk‬
  • Place, Sauchiehall Street
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Place, Buchanan Street
    ‪17 min walk‬
  • Airport, Glasgow (GLA-Glasgow Intl.)
    ‪15 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 3)

Captain's Quarters

1 Double Bed

Crew's Quarters

1 Single Bed

2 bathrooms

Family Bathroom

Soap · Towels provided · Bathtub or shower · Bathtub · Toilet · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Master Ensuite

Soap · Towels provided · Toilet · Shower only · Shampoo · Hair dryer

Spaces

Deck or patio
Kitchen
Dining area

Add dates for prices

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  • Washing machine
  • Dryer
  • Free Wi-Fi
10.0 out of 10, Exceptional, (23 reviews)
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About the area

Glasgow

Located in North West, a neighbourhood in Glasgow, this houseboat is in a rural area and on the waterfront. Travellers eager for a bit of culture can stop by OVO Hydro, while those who have shopping on the agenda may want to visit Buchanan Street and Merchant City. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre or Celtic Park. Discover the area's water adventures with kayaking, power boating and fishing nearby, or enjoy the great outdoors with cycling.
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Map
Glasgow, Select

What's nearby

  • Great Western Road - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
  • Sauchiehall Street - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
  • Buchanan Street - 17 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Glasgow Royal Concert Hall - 17 min walk - 1.4 km
  • Kings Theatre Glasgow - 19 min walk - 1.6 km

Getting around

  • Possilpark & Parkhouse Station - 3 min drive
  • Cowcaddens Station - 10 min walk
  • Glasgow International Airport (GLA) - 27 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Cask & Clyde - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Ristorante Pieno - ‬14 min walk
  • ‪Doubletree By Hilton Glasgow Central Executive Lounge - ‬13 min walk
  • ‪Jackson's Bar - ‬12 min walk
  • ‪Brisket - ‬14 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Floating Retreat: Glasgow's Hidden Gem - Urban Life Meet Canalside Tranquility pet-friendly?

Yes, this property allows dogs (limit 1 total) with a maximum weight of up to 25 kg per pet.

How much does it cost to stay at Floating Retreat: Glasgow's Hidden Gem - Urban Life Meet Canalside Tranquility?

As of 5 Nov 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Floating Retreat: Glasgow's Hidden Gem - Urban Life Meet Canalside Tranquility on 12 Jan 2027 start from £309, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.

How much is parking at Floating Retreat: Glasgow's Hidden Gem - Urban Life Meet Canalside Tranquility?

On-site parking is available at the property.

What time is check-in at Floating Retreat: Glasgow's Hidden Gem - Urban Life Meet Canalside Tranquility?

Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Floating Retreat: Glasgow's Hidden Gem - Urban Life Meet Canalside Tranquility?

Checkout is at 10:00 AM.

Where is Floating Retreat: Glasgow's Hidden Gem - Urban Life Meet Canalside Tranquility located?

Located in North West, this houseboat is within 1 mile (2 km) of Glasgow School of Art, Buchanan Street and George Square. OVO Hydro is 2.1 mi (3.4 km) away. Cowcaddens Station is 10 minutes by foot and St Georges Cross Station is 15 minutes.

Reviews

10

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 52 out of 54 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 2 out of 54 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 0 out of 54 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 0 out of 54 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 0 out of 54 reviews

10/10

Cleanliness

10/10

Check-in

10/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

10/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Such a lovely, serene location. City, yet peaceful. Great views! Close walk to shops. Spacious boat filled with pretty much everything you need. J & C are wonderful hosts. Would definitely stay again.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved staying on Gerda. The houseboat is exactly as pictured. The beds had great mattresses and we slept very well. We were amazed how big it felt and how homey. We especially enjoyed building a fire in the stove on the chilly nights. Jonathan welcomed us and got us settled and was very responsive for the remainder of our trip. We highly recommend Gerda!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay on Gerda, the canal boat. Jonathan was a great host, he was very quick to respond to questions and had great suggestions for sightseeing and shopping. The boat is a quirky fun change from a regular hotel or apartment. The common area is so cozy with the fire and the kitchen was well supplied. Also we slept great!! All around it was a great stay.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Absolutely loved our stay on Gerda, such a lovely boat. Great hosts very responsive to communications and providing useful tips. Boat was clean and had everything needed plus extra special little touches. Wish we were staying longer, highly recommend!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy
Wonderful respite after dealing with the chaos of the city traffic construction that even overwhelmed our GPS. Challenging entrance into road adjacent to Gerda, but worth it!
Stayed 2 nights in Apr 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Houseboat experience in a quiet location within easy walking distance to the city centre.
Stayed 2 nights in Oct 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Very welcomed by host. Excellent commjnication before we came and whilst we were there.
Stayed 4 nights in Jan 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Fabulous stay in Glasgow

Unique, comfortable, quiet in a part of town that day as very easy to get anywhere after a short walk to the nearby subway stop. Would happily stay again
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Canal home

We were immediately a peace and comfortable with this home. Wonderful stay.
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2025
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Scotland get away

Boat was great. Off street parking was a little bit hard for our big rental van but really enjoyed our stay
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 1 Oct 2023
It was lovely having Kandy to stay on the Gerda. She looked after the place beautifully and was a model guest.
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Just the most beautiful start in Glasgow. Super comfy beds, charming boat with everything you may need and clear instructions for everything. Beautiful weather allowed us to hang out on the DIC and walk along the canal. What a pleasure!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

A cosy stay

Loved our stay on board Gerda, everything that we needed and more! Loved the cosy evenings with the log burner. The location is a quiet haven near enough to the city to walk or use the subway. Jonathan met us on our arrival and was very attentive when we had questions about our stay. There is so much to see and do in Glasgow. Thank you for a great stay.
Stayed 4 nights in Sep 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Vacation on Gerda

Staying on Gerda was a lot of fun for a week! Had a very livable living room and sleeping quarters and full kitchen! The owners are very attentive, hospitable and wonderful people. The neighborhood is very quiet and allowed us to sleep in every day we were there. A little walk to the center of town (15-20 minutes) but very close to a couple great coffee shops, Ocho and C7, which we enjoyed during our stay.
Stayed 6 nights in Sep 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 26 Sept 2023
Justin, Thanks for such a lovely review. I am so glad you enjoyed your stay. We look forward to having you back sometime. Jonathan
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Great location close to amenities

It had everything we needed. The log fire was easy to use and made the boat very cosy. Double bed very comfortable and good quality bedding. Hosts on hand if we had any issues but we did not need them. We most definitely would love to visit again.
Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Gerda is the best!

What an adventure finding a barge in the middle of Glasgow. We had so much fun! My son loved looking for fish and feeding the ducks while my husband and I enjoyed a glass and listened to music. She is a treasure for sure :)
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

LOVED our stay on Gerda!

The Gerda houseboat is a truly unique and elegant place to stay in Glasgow. Jonathan and Chris have outfitted it with everything you could need, from Tupperware for leftovers, eco-friendly bath products, to travel guides and extra outlet converters. They even stocked the fridge with a few food essentials and have a whiskey tasting bar! In addition, there are lots of great restaurants within a 5-10 minute walk, a nearby subway stop, and a wonderful coffee shop right at the wharf. We can’t recommend Gerda or its hosts more highly.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Memorable Glasgow Stay

Thanks Jonathan, for our lovely stay on the gorgeous Gerda! Quiet, safe, clean and stocked with loads of comforts for adults and teens (WiFi works great, Netflix, games, kitchen). Surprisingly spacious, and the beds were really comfortable, delivering a restful night's sleep after full days exploring Scotland. Minutes from all the neighborhoods, and transportation stations, whether walking or taking a car service. And don't worry about warmth in the winter - the heaters and fireplace work great! A unique experience that we'll always treasure.
Stayed 4 nights in Feb 2024
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved Glasgow and Gerda! I'll admit I was a little apprehensive about living on a boat for 5 days, but I had nothing to worry about. Even with 4 people and our luggage and accumulated souvenirs, we had plenty of space. Gerda is very stable--you can hardly tell you're on the water, except that you can look out the portholes and see the beautiful canal and the seabirds wheeling in the sky. Jonathan was super responsive and easy to communicate with. We had a few questions about the water and waste systems, which were answered speedily. You do need to minimize your time in the shower, but it was no problem, even for our teenagers. Beds are very comfortable; kitchen has a sizable fridge and plenty of quality dishes, drinkware, and cutlery; one of the bathrooms even has a tub! This was a great place for all of us, but would be especially well suited for a family with younger kids--many thoughtful touches made it clear the hosts know how much a houseboat appeals to children. Glasgow has so much to do and see, and a scrappy energy that we found exhilarating. We're already talking about a return visit! Most things we wanted to see were a 15- to 20-min walk away from Gerda (closest subway stop is about 10-15 minutes' walk, so it doesn't save you too much time or steps), but we enjoyed getting exercise and seeing the city as locals would. When we needed a break from walking, it was easy to call a taxi to meet us at the wharf gates. Highly recommend this wonderful, welcoming property.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2025
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Loved everything about this ! Great host! Highly recommend this experience!
Stayed 1 night in Aug 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Lovely boat in a peaceful setting. Easy to access and great communication with host. Highly recommend.
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
We loved our stay on Gerda! We will definitely stay here again if we return. It was everything we hoped for.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful place!
Stayed 2 nights in May 2026
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Get thee to gorgeous Gerda!

Finding this unique gem was the highlight of our trip! In a fantastic location, the boat is beautifully restored and very comfortable - especially important for my older parents. The location was fantastic and the owners were incredibly kind and helpful, even bringing over a bottle of wine to toast our celebration! This was an unmatched experience!
Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2022
Verified review

8/10 Good

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy

Loved our Floating Cabin in Glasgow

The houseboat was so comfortable and nice for us during our stay. The wood burning fireplace was a huge help with the cold night and was a great nice end to each of our travel days. the access to the boat was a little difficult with the security barriers to the wharf but once we got used to it was ok.
Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2022
Verified review

10/10 Excellent

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

Glasgow escape

Brillant. Narrow boat , Claire the host was very helpful and nice . Loved it . Will def go back . Not far to walk into town either
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2022
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