Boutique Narrowboats
Boutique Narrowboats
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About
Boutique narrowboat hire for couples, through the stunning Leicestershire Grand Union Canal landscape. Year-round mini-breaks in luxury, with king-sized bed, central heating and pot-bellied stove. Novices most welcome, full training provided. We are based at Union Wharf Marina in Market Harborough.
Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
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5.0
100 reviews
Excellent
99
Very good
0
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Ben S.
London, UK2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
5days aboard a Narrowboat in late December wouldn’t be everyone’s cuppa, but…we booked it, turned up, dumped the car and threw the bags on board! Marbled White is one beautiful Narrowboat, the design, the finish and the handling of this 60footer is stunning…we have a little experience of the life and have been looking at Narrowboats for a while now…so to travel up the foxton flight and onto Welford in the cold, rain and windy weather aboard this beauty was a treat bestowed. The whole experience was stunning, the area, the sheer relaxation of being on the cut, even through our first tunnel…all was just magical…!!
Thank you Boutique Narrowboats, fabulous service and company..were be back for sure🤗🥰.
Ben&Shirley.
Thank you Boutique Narrowboats, fabulous service and company..were be back for sure🤗🥰.
Ben&Shirley.
Written 13 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a lovely review, thank you so much. You can't avoid the weather, but you can embrace it, and it sounds as if you did just that. Fabulous!
Written 22 January 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Phill N
Malaga, Spain34 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
Being only a couple we were looking for an upmarket canal boat experience and after much research Boutique Narrowboats seemed to tick all our boxes. We booked the boat called Marbled White, which is a 60ft boat, which as it was our first ever narrow boat experience did seem a little daunting at first! After around two hours of very informative instruction and having done all the recommended homework prior to arrival we headed off on our weeks vacation. The boat was as good as if not better than the pictures and videos we had seen and after a couple days we were cruising and mooring very happily. The route we took, South towards Crick was a very scenic and serene route. I wouldn't hesitate in recommending Boutique Narrowboats and will be
Written 10 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, Phil, we are so glad that you enjoyed your first time on a narrowboat. We love your description of the "serene" route - well said!
Written 13 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Edwina M
3 contributions
Nov 2022
I couldn't recommend Boutique Narrowboats highly enough; from the first enquiry to sadly returning the boat after the weekend the experience was fantastic.
A family weekend of grandparents, siblings and a very excited 6-year-old, we absolutely loved it and the boats are beautiful.
Thank you, for all the information in advance and thank you to Chris for a very calm and comprehensive training session, you are right, everything fell into place as you said it would.
I cannot wait to holiday with you again.
A family weekend of grandparents, siblings and a very excited 6-year-old, we absolutely loved it and the boats are beautiful.
Thank you, for all the information in advance and thank you to Chris for a very calm and comprehensive training session, you are right, everything fell into place as you said it would.
I cannot wait to holiday with you again.
Written 30 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a lovely review, thank you so much. Narrowboat holidays ARE a brilliant way to slow down for the weekend and of course you are welcome back any time. I will pass on your kind comments to Chris.
Written 1 December 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
mathew400
London2 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
It's over two months since we spent a weekend on Marbled White, which for one of us was the first narrowboat we'd driven for over 30 years, and whilst it took a little time to get used to it and its size, it was an amazing weekend which we recall with fondness. The boat is brilliantly appointed, and it was a joy to pootle along the canal, be guided up the staircase of locks at Foxton, through the tunnel of Husbands Bosworth and moor for quiet nights. Only a few awkward moments, but we found many barge owners happy to help us (either turning around or getting out of some tight spots). We think we were fortunate; it was the coronation weekend, with rainy start, and perhaps quieter than usual - wouldn't have been so confident on a busy canal (and a few barge owners, perhaps understandably, appear to resent 'day-trippers' given some comments we heard). Upon returning to Union Wharf, we realised that we should have refilled with water en route (we hired Marbled White for three nights), and that getting back to the Wharf in time to return the boat suggests mooring up the night before a little closer than we did (by Foxton village), as barges and small boats start sailing out from the basin from 9-ish making the canal a little crowded over the final kilometre. It was a wonderful experience, and we intend to book again some time in the future, but perhaps on a smaller boat.
Written 15 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for your review, Mathew. There is a lot to learn with narrowboating, but it sounds as if it all came back to you over the weekend!
Written 24 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Pammie
Norwich, UK29 contributions
Oct 2023 • Couples
WoW! Just returned from a one week holiday onboard Chalkhill Blue. What a beautiful narrow boat. The layout and finish of this boat is definitely superior.
We have done alternative luxury canal boat holidays over the previous 5 years and this one has exceeded all of our expectations.
1st class in every aspect of the holiday from booking through to completing the actual holiday.
Comprehensive, thorough and friendly collection of the boat and smooth, easy handover/ delivery back. What more do you want??
The planned routes on offer are well thought out and cater for all levels of experience without detracting from the enjoyment to be had whilst trying them!
We have been lucky with the weather aside from the first morning rising up the Foxton locks. Wet through to the skin! Hey, it’s the UK on a narrow boat. Part and parcel of the fun!
I can’t say enough great things about our holiday experience with Boutique Narrow Boats.
If you want some wonderful fresh air, a slow pace, great eateries, new places to explore all with lots of fun, I cannot recommend this more!
You will come home with at least one great memory if not memories from every day!
We have immediately booked again for 2024 on Marbled White! Want to try all the boats now!
We have done alternative luxury canal boat holidays over the previous 5 years and this one has exceeded all of our expectations.
1st class in every aspect of the holiday from booking through to completing the actual holiday.
Comprehensive, thorough and friendly collection of the boat and smooth, easy handover/ delivery back. What more do you want??
The planned routes on offer are well thought out and cater for all levels of experience without detracting from the enjoyment to be had whilst trying them!
We have been lucky with the weather aside from the first morning rising up the Foxton locks. Wet through to the skin! Hey, it’s the UK on a narrow boat. Part and parcel of the fun!
I can’t say enough great things about our holiday experience with Boutique Narrow Boats.
If you want some wonderful fresh air, a slow pace, great eateries, new places to explore all with lots of fun, I cannot recommend this more!
You will come home with at least one great memory if not memories from every day!
We have immediately booked again for 2024 on Marbled White! Want to try all the boats now!
Written 3 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
You sound totally relaxed and refreshed after your break. What a wonderful advert for spending time on our canals! Thank you for taking the time to write your review. We look forward to seeing you next year.
Written 13 October 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rungless
Burgess Hill, UK5 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
We have just had a week on Gosling and I can say we had a lovely time the kids loved the locks and tunnels! We had an issue when the toilets were full and there was nowhere to get a pump out but Andy came out and emptied both toilets and wouldnt take any payment for it, he even moored the boat up for us so we could eat in the resturant in the wharf. Five stars from us!
Written 7 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your comments. Boating is such a great activity for the different generations and it's great that you had such a good experience.
Written 24 August 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
SKP158
Christchurch, New Zealand2 contributions
Nov 2022
We stayed on Marbled White for a week and what a beautiful boat, spotlessly clean, very well equipped and a huge comfortable bed. We were there in November and experienced some rainy windy days but the boat was cosy and warm. There were thoughtful touches such as the raincoats which were most welcome. It was our first time on a narrowboat and the staff took their time to make sure we were happy handling the boat and how everything on board worked. They gave great advice on how far we would get in the time we had and places to visit. The area is lovely and peaceful and going through Foxton locks was a great experience. We would highly recommend Boutique Narrowboats to anyone
Written 17 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind words. We are always delighted when narrowboat novices tell us about their experiences, as our aim is to open up the canals to a whole new audience of travellers. Hopefully your holiday will inspire others to try something new, too!
Written 30 November 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Miss_Merlot
London60 contributions
Aug 2020
We have just got back from an amazing trip on the Lesley Ann. We chose Boutique Narrowboats after a LOT of research - we knew when we stumbled upon their website that this was exactly what we were after: a gorgeously kitted out boat for a long weekend made available by a reliable company with an informative website, but at reasonable prices too.
The Lesley Ann and the Boutique Narrowboats company lived up to expectations in every way - I can only emphasize what the other reviews said, especially the super comfortable bed!
We went to Foxton and right (not the lock flight way), which was very scenic and relaxing. We also stopped at the Black Horse Inn, which was a really nice pub and less busy than the Foxton Locks Inn. We also cooked on the boat, which had a really well equipped kitchen. Even the rainy day we had was fun, as we could cosy up and watch films on the TV with the log burner on.
The only thing that would have been nice would have been traditional rather than hamman (sp?) towels, though that's just personal taste. A later check out than 9.30am on the Monday would have been perfect, but I'm guessing this is due to it taking a lot longer to turn around a boat than a hotel room.
All in all, highly recommended!
The Lesley Ann and the Boutique Narrowboats company lived up to expectations in every way - I can only emphasize what the other reviews said, especially the super comfortable bed!
We went to Foxton and right (not the lock flight way), which was very scenic and relaxing. We also stopped at the Black Horse Inn, which was a really nice pub and less busy than the Foxton Locks Inn. We also cooked on the boat, which had a really well equipped kitchen. Even the rainy day we had was fun, as we could cosy up and watch films on the TV with the log burner on.
The only thing that would have been nice would have been traditional rather than hamman (sp?) towels, though that's just personal taste. A later check out than 9.30am on the Monday would have been perfect, but I'm guessing this is due to it taking a lot longer to turn around a boat than a hotel room.
All in all, highly recommended!
Written 31 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for taking the time to write your thoughts here, and I'm so glad Lesley Ann lived up to your expectations.
We'd love to offer a later checkout but unfortunately you are right - there is so much to do to prepare a boat for the next guests that it isn't an option. Cleaning inside and out and mechanical maintenance takes anywhere from 3 - 5 hours depending on any issues that arise.
The hammam towels dry quickly so that they do make life easier on a boat, but of course it's also a fashion thing. I'm completely biased as I love the way they look when they are all clean and folded :-)
Thanks again for your feedback, we hope to see you again!
Written 12 September 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Russ B
1 contribution
Sept 2021
This experience was better than I expected it was brilliant! We went for a long weekend but we would of loved to of stayed on the boat for longer. The instructor was so friendly and showed us the ropes and gave us lots of guidance and recommendations including going up the foxton locks which we did and it was an amazing experience. The interior of the boat was beautiful and the itinerary we followed was fantastic full of locks and lovely canal pubs and bridges and amazing views. The people that worked at the union were lovely and all the people we met along the way. Boat was stunning and we had the best time. Highly recommend and we have already planned two more trips for next year! So relaxing peaceful and for someone who has never been on a narrow boat before I can say you must do it! We picked it up quickly and enjoyed every bit
Written 6 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're so glad that you had such a brilliant time from start to finish! Thank you for your wonderful review, we look forward to seeing you again for your next trip! :-)
Written 7 September 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AU
1 contribution
Aug 2021
The boat (Gosling) had everything we could possibly need for the trip....the staff were very helpful and informative during booking and handover process on the day. We had a wonderful time and I would definitely recommend this to anyone who fancies an adventure on the canal waterways......it was great fun but you do need good weather!
Written 10 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We're glad we managed to fill you with all the information you needed to ensure you've had a relaxing adventure down the canal. Thank you for your review :-)
Written 23 August 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
No questions have been asked about this experience
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.