The Arts Barge

• Sleeps: 4
• Bedrooms: 2
• Bathroom: 1
• Minimum stay: 2 nights

The Arts Barge is owned by an art director, hence both its name and the wonderful sense of style throughout. Indeed, stepping aboard feels like walking into the pages of a high-end interior design magazine.

You’ll find this elegant vessel moored on East London’s picturesque River Lea, close to the vibrant Lower Clapton area of Hackney, yet with a glorious sense of wildlife-steeped riverside calm.

Up to four guests can be accommodated on board, with the barge also suitable for pets and children (close supervision will be needed due to the surrounding open water). Self-contained, eco-friendly facilities mean you’ll have everything you need to feel perfectly at home.

Simply step through the double doors and down to the exquisite kitchen, living and dining quarters. The sleek, gleaming kitchen is well-equipped for light meals and snacks, with a microwave, an air fryer – and that all-important espresso machine, to charge lazy mornings chatting with your loved ones.

Break bread together in the dining area, with its beautiful green marble-topped table bordered by lush plant life, for a touch of pure holiday elegance. When you’ve finished, carry your digestifs into the cosy saloon, where layered ambient lighting offers an addictively soothing atmosphere.

Furnished with designer pieces, books-and-curio-strewn shelves and well-chosen local art, there’s also a Netflix-enabled TV for entertainment, and an irresistibly soft sofa to sink into – in fact, you could find it hard to leave this beautiful space, even at bedtime!

Yet when evening finally turns to night, you’ll have a choice of two sleeping cabins to retire to. One boasts a raised double bed in a cosy, cocoon-like nook, complete with a fun porthole window. The second cabin is tucked away at the back of the barge; a serene space with a queensize bed and a wardrobe for storage.

At a glance

• An exquisitely-styled boutique barge, peacefully moored on the River Lea, close to the creative centre of Lower Clapton in Hackney.
• The pet-and-child-friendly barge sleeps up to four guests in two cosy double cabins.
• Eco-friendly facilities include a well-equipped kitchen and a bathroom with a shower and compost loo.
• There is a food-serving pub just next-door, while riverside paths offer routes into East London’s vibrant communities and picnic-friendly parks.
• Excellent bus and train connections mean this is the perfect retreat from which to explore wider London.

Features

• Dog Friendly
• Family Friendly
• Off-Grid

More information

After a sound night of snoozing on the water, freshen up in the bathroom: home to an invigorating shower and an eco-friendly compost loo.

If you’re in the mood for a riverside stroll or bike-ride, the scenic path just outside will lead you to Lower Clapton’s tempting independent shops, cafés and galleries. Or pack a picnic and find a favourite spot in the leafy parks nearby. For those who don’t want to stray too far, The Princess of Wales is a locally-loved, food-serving pub that’s practically next-door.

There are excellent bus and train connections into wider London, too, making The Arts Barge a perfect base from which to explore and relax in equal – blissful – measure.

Things to note

Pets and children must be supervised at all times. Please note that the kitchen does not include a cooker or hob and is designed for light cooking only.