All Aboard Airbnb's Floating House

There it sat amongst some of the tallest of London's skyscrapers, the house that Airbnb built. Looking as odd amongst the steel and glass as it did floating on the water. Yep, that's right, floating. You can’t have missed it on the news: a twee two-up two-down, with ample garden to the rear, chugging past the Thameside icons of London, towards its final destination in Canary Wharf.

Not something you see everyday.


We were fortunate enough to be invited round for a nose + quick tour (they must have liked our travel guide!). Ducking beneath the painted cranes and railway bridges of the Docklands, we dodged the unseasonal showers and weaved in between suits, shoppers, and outdoor smokers, to find the littlest house in the Wharf tucked neatly along the quayside. 

The gravel path cracked beneath the guests’ feet, while the grass of the garden shone a fresh green from the recent rain. The whole thing rocked slightly to the rhythm of so many steps, and the gentle waves of a few passing vessels.

Bunches of purple wisteria hung above the bright red door and a warm welcome waited inside. Tea, coffee, cake, and miniature scones - who couldn’t feel at home here? Furnishings from Ikea, Habitat, and a "drizzle" of John Lewis (their words, not mine!). The only item out of place, a boat’s wheel protruding from the sideboard, between the sink, the kettle, and the toaster - a not so subtle reminder that this house was afloat.

Someone will be staying there this weekend. I wish them good weather - the garden will make an excellent sun trap, all it needs for completion is a barbecue. I bet they suffer from the classic disorientation when they wake-up though. Not a bad thing, a sign of a perfect night’s sleep; but a shock when they pull back the curtains and find water lapping at the windowsill and tourists taking photos from the shore.

I hope the boat doesn’t sail away for a final trip once it’s finished in London. Here’s to other folk getting a glimpse of it as it pop-ups in other towns and cities across the UK. You can discover more about the Airbnb Floating House here. And let us know if you’ve found any stranger places to stay! Nik.

 

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