Charming Historic Boat Moored opposite Kew Gardens.

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House boat

Overview
Amenities
Policies
Location
Host

Excellent

2 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 3370 sq ft

Popular amenities

Parking available
Air conditioning
Washer
Barbecue grill
Outdoor space
Kitchen

Explore the area

Brentford

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
‪9 min walk‬
Syon Park
‪4 min drive‬
Westfield London Shopping Centre
‪10 min drive‬
London (LHR-Heathrow)
‪17 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

2 bedrooms (sleeps 3)

Double Cabin

1 Double Bed

Single Cabin

1 Single Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Porch or lanai

Kitchen

Garden

Dining area

About this property

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.

Property manager

Mark Scorer

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen

Washer

Free WiFi

Air conditioning

Outdoor space

Water view

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Pet-friendly
Air conditioning

House Rules

Check in after 5:00 PM

Minimum age to rent: 18

Check out before 11:00 AM

Children

Adults only

Events

No events allowed

Pets

No pets allowed

Smoking

Smoking is not permitted

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

On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited

Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property

Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property

Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock

We should mention

This property does not have any lifts

A car is not required for transport to and from this property

About the area

Brentford

Located in Brentford, this houseboat is on a river. Royal Albert Hall and Natural History Museum are cultural highlights, and some of the area's popular attractions include Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew and London Eye. Looking to enjoy an event or a game? See what's going on at Wembley Stadium or Twickenham Stadium. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.

Brentford

What's nearby

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - 9 min walk - 0.8 km
Syon Park - 4 min drive - 2.3 km
Twickenham Stadium - 9 min drive - 6.2 km
Westfield London Shopping Centre - 10 min drive - 7.3 km
Wembley Stadium - 11 min drive - 9.6 km

Getting around

Kew Bridge Station - 4 min walk
Gunnersbury Underground Station - 17 min walk
Heathrow Airport (LHR) - 17 min drive

Restaurants

‪McDonald's - ‬9 min walk
‪The Orangery - ‬13 min walk
‪Costa Coffee - ‬3 min walk
‪Kew Roastery - ‬4 min walk
‪City Barge Chiswick - ‬12 min walk

Frequently asked questions

Is Charming Historic Boat Moored opposite Kew Gardens. pet-friendly?

No, pets are not allowed at this property.

What time is check-in at Charming Historic Boat Moored opposite Kew Gardens.?

Check-in begins at 5:00 PM.

What time is check-out at Charming Historic Boat Moored opposite Kew Gardens.?

Checkout is at 11:00 AM.

Where is Charming Historic Boat Moored opposite Kew Gardens. located?

Situated on a river, this houseboat is within a 10-minute walk of Thames River and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Syon Park and Ealing Broadway Shopping Center are also within 3 miles (5 km). Kew Bridge Station is only a 4-minute walk and Gunnersbury Underground Station is 17 minutes.

8.8

Excellent

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.

Learn more

8.0/10

Cleanliness

9.6/10

Check-in

9.6/10

Communication

9.8/10

Location

9.2/10

Listing accuracy

10/10 Excellent

Craig C.

23 Apr, 2025

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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

General quite view. Loved it. A hotel seems boring now

Stayed 7 nights in Apr 2025

10/10 Excellent

Kai L.

3 Apr, 2025

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

Fun and unique

Great host and fun location. Great coffee shops and food options nearby.

Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Jeb W.

4 Jan, 2025

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

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!

Stayed 4 nights in Dec 2024

8/10 Good

Lisa D.

31 Oct, 2024

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

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.

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

10/10 Excellent

Rick E.

27 Oct, 2024

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

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.

Stayed 4 nights in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Keith S.

15 Oct, 2024

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

Great experience

Wonderful stay, incredible location , friendly and accommodating host who was easy to reach

Stayed 3 nights in Oct 2024

4/10 Poor

Mary B.

12 Oct, 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication

Disliked: Cleanliness, listing accuracy

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

Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer D.

24 Sept, 2024

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

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.

Stayed 5 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Amy B.

14 Sept, 2024

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

Charming boat

Very comfortable, peaceful, lovely location near Kew Gardens. Highly recommend.

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Ellen-Jane B.

9 Sept, 2024

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

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.

Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

brent c.

6 Sept, 2024

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

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

Stayed 3 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter D.

21 Aug, 2024

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

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.

Stayed 6 nights in Aug 2024

6/10 Okay

Dorothy M.

10 Aug, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

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.

Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Hazel L.

5 Jul, 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

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.

Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

8/10 Good

Claire S.

2 Jul, 2024

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location

Hébergement atypique et expérimental.

Compter quand même environ 50 minutes par les transports en commun pour arriver au centre de Londres. Le cadre est plutôt agréable, naturel et calme,en profitant des marées de la Tamise ( et oui !) et des oiseaux, canards , aigrettes aux marches du Seacrest. Belle expérience ! Notre hôte, Mark, n'est pas avare d'explications. Petite precision pour vivre à bord : ne pas être très grand ni gros ni....handicapé , l'escalier pour accéder aux chambres et sanitaires est étroit et bas ( attention aux têtes !!! Sinon expérience que nous ne regrettons pas.

Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2024

6/10 Okay

Karen B.

28 Jun, 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

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.

Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mary K.

25 Jun, 2024

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

Wonderful views

We loved it!

Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Samantha N.

13 Jun, 2024

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

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!

Stayed 6 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Elisabeth R.

5 Jun, 2024

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

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.

Stayed 5 nights in Nov 2023

2/10 Terrible

darrell d.

4 Jun, 2024

Disliked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, listing accuracy

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.

Stayed 6 nights in May 2024

6/10 Okay

Sandrine R.

15 May, 2024

Liked: Check-in, location, listing accuracy

Disliked: Cleanliness

Séjour bateau Kew Bridge

Bel emplacement, au calme, loin du bruit du centre de Londres.Station de bus à 5 mn à pied. Attention il faut compter 1 heure en transport en commun pour atteindre les quartiers emblématiques. Propriétaires sympathiques et disponibles.Cet hébergement sur l'eau est insolite, il nous offre un cadre reposant avec une magnifique vue sur la Tamise. Par ailleurs, le bateau mériterait un petit coup de neuf et de propreté, mais nous avons passé un bon séjour.

Stayed 4 nights in May 2024

6/10 Okay

Adrian R.

6 May, 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy

great location

rustic accomadation , great location, easy walking to great pubs and restaurants.

Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

David J.

30 Apr, 2024

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

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’

Stayed 3 nights in Apr 2024

6/10 Okay

Susan M.

16 Apr, 2024

Liked: Check-in, communication, location

Disliked: Listing accuracy

Do your research

This property is very small with ceilings under 5’10, we could not stay there at all. My husband is 6’2 and could not stand up straight without getting a concussion. The property owner was a lovely man, but I was ver disappointed with the description of the houseboat as a lot of information was absent and we could not get a refund. It was a sad start to our vacation.

Stayed 9 nights in Apr 2024

10/10 Excellent

Tara H., Lantzville BC

9 Jan, 2024

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

Mom with adult daughters

We really enjoyed the boat and the area, was a peaceful and quiet space, especially after spending time in Central London. Transit made it very easy to go anywhere. Close to Kew Gardens, can walk to the Elizabeth Gate. A boat may not be for everyone, but we loved how unique it was and all the birds nearby. Mark was very helpful and accommodating as well.

Stayed 3 nights in Dec 2023

About the host

Hosted by Mark Scorer

We are experienced, highly rated hosts who are committed to providing great stays for guests. Anita and I are passionate environmentalists with a keen interest in philosophy and a love of life on water. I've gravitated from seafaring all around the world to ending up on what I consider to be the best spot on the river Thames. We love to make the most of having London on our doorstep and attend the theatre, art exhibitions and concerts as often as we can. It would be our pleasure to share this idyllic backwater with you.

Anita's background is in theatre and she is well equipped to recommend all the best shows and art exhibitions in town (along with her favourite boutique shops and restaurants). I am a Financial Adviser who loves yoga, sailing, philosophy and the great outdoors.

Why they chose this property

Seacrest is truly unique. If you'd like a sneak preview, you can even see it, moored in its present location in the background shot of the Beatles' film A Hard Day's Night (with Ringo idling in the foreground).

A Historic vessel in beautiful condition, Seacrest has probably been lived on since the second world war. Builts of beautiful, well kept teak, she is furnished with cozy cabins, porthole windows and a full sized bathroom below. Above you can enjoy watching the birds on the nature reserve at the galley sink, and unbelievable sunrises and sunsets at the dining table.

The location is superb, connecting you to everything London has to offer whilst also providing the most peaceful, beautiful stay, enveloped in natural surroundings.

What makes this property unique

Everything about this home is unique, very few people have the opportunity to stay on the tidal Thames and experience the gentle rise and fall of the 20 feet tides, and the ebb and flow of this glorious river, with ducks, swans, geese and sometimes even seals peering in at the window.