Features

Strictly For Water Babies: Our Dreamiest ‘Floating’ Holidays

16 July 2024

There’s something so irresistibly calming about a holiday spent by water… even if you’ve got no intention of going for a swim!

And while you could opt for the abundant coastal charms of a beach house or seaside haven, true water babies might prefer a retreat that’s sublimely located ON the glistening lake, sea, pond, or river itself.

Watch your cares drift clean away on the water’s soothing ripples, as you pour a glass of wine, open a good book… or simply get lost in giddy conversation with the one(s) you love.

Our rollcall of ‘floating’ retreats are each exquisite and beautiful in its own right, whether it’s an boat or floatel, a pod-on-water, or a sanctuary that’s gently elevated over a shimmering space.

You’ll even find some that come with additional luxuries – such as a hammock suspended right over the water, wild swimming or kayaking, a stargazing hot tub, or on-site dining facilities that mean you can enjoy the serene atmosphere and beautiful views without lifting so much as a finger.

(Weather not so good? All the better for snuggling up with a hot chocolate and watching the raindrops make little splashes on the water… pure bliss).

Come and be inspired with our list havens-on-water – we’re willing to bet that even if you’re not a water baby yet, you soon will be!

Author: Nina Jervis
Main image: Gilling West Flotel | Yorkshire

Boat Hotel de Barge

Brugge, West Flanders
Fine dining and charming cabins, all aboard a unique floating barge-hotel on the picturesque Bruges-Ghent canal, just 20 minutes' walk from the Market Square.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 1-2
From
£95 / night

Duke of Portland

Pooley Bridge, Cumbria, England
Experience a captivating Lake District hideaway for two, with a private balcony secluded over the picturesque shores of Ullswater.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£354 / night

Isla Kalua

Kalua, Islas del Rosario, Colombia
'Bienvenido' to Isla Kalua: a heady Colombian island paradise for sublime group stays, with breath-taking Caribbean Sea views, a private chef, and a chauffeured boat for sightseeing.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 14
From
£1,999 /night

Boutique Barges

London, England
Leave your cares far away on dry land in a relaxing and stylish river retreat, perfectly moored in the vibrant heart of Central London.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 4-5 per boat
From
£460 / 2 nts

Rusty Boathouse

Llanarth, Ceredigion, Wales
A lavish single-storey lakeside pod, complete with a stargazing hot tub and its own private decking and jetty, beautifully secluded amongst the idyllic rural landscape of mid-Wales.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£504 (2 nts)

Cabanes des Grands Reflets

Joncherey, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, France
A breathtaking eco-resort, set in the soothing heart of French forest land that's also close to Switzerland and Germany.
Bedrooms: Varies
Sleeps: 2-6 per cabin
From
£155 / night

The Adrianto

Pin Mill, Suffolk, England
A vintage Dutch barge, elegantly styled with authentic mid-century pieces and moored in a beautiful Suffolk coastal hamlet, with soothing views over the River Orwell.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£110 /night

Camillia Boatel

Edinburgh, Scotland
A sustainable, bespoke-crafted lime-green haven, rich in hotel-suite comfort and permanently docked just minutes away from Edinburgh's iconic Royal Mile.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 8
From
£350 / night

The Float House River Kwai

Kanchanaburi, Thailand
Welcome or 'sawasdee' to a paradise-like floating retreat in history-steeped southern Thailand, surrounded by lush jungle greenery and serene, shimmering river views.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 3 (+1)
From
£110 / night

HT Houseboats

Mielno, Koszalin, Poland
Discover luxurious retreats on Poland's shimmering Lake Jamno, complete with a floating sauna, a seasonal pool, and a motorboat for exploring.
Bedrooms: 1-2
Sleeps: 1-4
From
£130 / night

Leannan Boathouse

Kingennie, Dundee, Angus, Scotland
When only the very best will do for that romantic break away, escape to the Leannan Boathouse - a beautifully converted former boathouse in the Angus countryside.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£190 / night

Gra Houseboat

Limehouse Marina, London, England
Step aboard a luxury 70-foot vessel with high-end fixtures and fittings, moored in the beating heart of London for tranquil river views and close proximity to city hotspots.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£280/ night

Tattenhall Marina Floating Pods

Chester, Cheshire, England
Watch your cares sail away from the comfort of a luxurious pod in the heart of rural Cheshire, with on-site facilities and a wealth of scenic waterways to explore.
Bedrooms: 1 per pod
Sleeps: 4 per pod
From
£99 / night

Secret Water

Beccles, Suffolk, England
Escape to Suffolk's beautiful Waveney Valley, in a unique floating glamping pod positioned on the shimmering Southern Broads.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£914 (7 nights)

Floatels by Tŷ Milford Waterfront

Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, Wales
A serene quartet of luxury floating havens for two, set on the glistening doorstep of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
Bedrooms: 1 per cabin
Sleeps: 2 per cabin (4 cabins)
From
£80 / night

LV14 SULA Lightship

Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
Escape to the water and enjoy a unique and scenic adult-only stay aboard a historic British Lightship, beautifully restored and enchantingly moored in the Gloucester Docks, in the Cotswolds.
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£166 night

Classic Yacht Nadine

Poole, Dorset, England
Live like a millionaire, aboard a 60ft luxury motorboat that’s styled for pure holiday opulence (complete with a jacuzzi hot tub!) beautifully based at Cobbs Quay Marina in Poole, Dorset
Bedrooms: 2
Sleeps: 4
From
£380 /night

The Magic Rat

Broughton, Hampshire, England
A dreamy vintage narrowboat, rich in rural romance and gently nestled on a peaceful glamping site in Hampshire.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£125 / night

Manshausen

Manshausen, Leinesfjord, Steigen, Norway
Start your Nordic adventure story on this breathtaking island resort, where the sea and the mountains combine in a spectacular backdrop for relaxation, contemplation and activity alike.
Bedrooms: 2 per cabin
Sleeps: 4
From
£459 /night

The Waterside

Halling, Kent, England
A luxurious floating lodge with private hot tub, mesmerisingly secluded at St Andrews Lakes, where you'll be surrounded by aqua-adventures and blissful relaxation alike!
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 4
From
£659 (7 nights)

Lilypod

Lewdown, Devon, England
Romantic and restorative eco-retreats, lovingly hand-crafted and nestled on a shimmering Devon farm lake, with an on-site vineyard and hammocks suspended over the water for the ultimate in digital-free luxury
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£220/night

Gilling West Floatel

Gilling West, Yorkshire, England
This stylish boathouse is nestled on its own floating jetty, and peacefully secluded within a private country estate on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£754 /week

Blackbird

Blagdon Water, Devon, England
Let your cares sail dreamily away, aboard a romantic ‘floating suite' secluded on a freshwater lake (ideal for trout fishing) in North Devon, close to the moors and beaches.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: 2
From
£400/ 4 nts

The Harpy Houseboat

Tower Bridge, London, England
Welcome aboard London's oldest houseboat, The Harpy, with unrivalled majestic views of Tower Bridge.
Bedrooms: 4
Sleeps: 10
From
£800 /night

Faithful

Brixham, Devon, England
Enjoy an authentic seafaring stay aboard a sleek 52ft trawler, beautifully converted and mesmerisingly situated on the scenic English Riviera, in the bustling harbour town of Brixham.
Bedrooms: 3
Sleeps: 4
From
£150 / night

Hotel Palafitte

Lake Neuchatel, Neuchatel
Unique and luxurious Swiss pavilions, nestled on the shore or directly on the shimmering Lake Neuchâtel itself, for magnificent views of the surrounding Alps.
Bedrooms: 1
Sleeps: Up to 3
From
£275 / night

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