LONDON & THAMES HOUSEBOAT CENTRE 020 3287 2977

Where do you want to BE??
It may be your job determines the area you need to live in, or a need to be near family or friends. If so you know what area you should live in and even if you choose a Residential Cruiser, you will need a secure mooring within travelling distance of that area
But if you are retired, or can work from anywhere (maybe you work over the internet, or as an artist in studio, or you are regularly travelling all over the country to clients. ) Then you can consider a life of freedom, using the many moorings provided free on the waterways.
You can choose to be a 'Continuous Cruiser” all year round as I have
for years.
Sometimes for a particular contract, or family reasons, choosing a suitable Marina to stay in for a few months.
I love the freedom of the river. It is kind and friendly if you treat it with proper respect, no tides to worry about, being inland there are very few harsh gales.
It feels so civilised to be able to cruise gently up to a nice Restaurant mooring, tie up and saunter in for a drink or a meal.You may well, like me, love to see grass and trees, they are always in view on the River.
Go through any town in Europe by train, you will see the worst views, go any where by boat and you will see the best views, partly because for hundreds of years, many people with the means have bought riverside land for its beauty and often made the effort to enhance that beauty with landscaping and architecture )

( extract from The Houseboat Book by D Greenaway. If you want to read the full text click here. )

If you are new to living afloat, And have any dependents, I strongly recommend you to buy your new home already on an established residential mooring. This means the mooring has planning permission for residential use and you have official residents status at that address, essential for bank accounts, driving licence, benefits etc.
If you are continuously cruising or on a mooring that doesn't have residential planning permission, there may be many others living on the same mooring and it is worth asking their advice as to the local situation and how things happen in that area. If you have family
responsibilities, a mooring with residential planning permission has to be favourite.



( extract from The Houseboat Book by D Greenaway. If you want to read the full text click here. )

Please call, email or add a comment to this blog if you have any constructive criticism or maybe just want to say "thank you" for good service - it helps as much to know when we have got it right as to hear what you would like us to improve.

In any case, those of you who have visited or done business with The Houseboat Centre might have a modest request from me to know how you felt about our service and whether there is anything more we could do for you.
(just so you won't be surprised to get the SMS, email, text or phone call from me)

Meanwhile, have a look at the homepage and look for the free offers, we are considering charging soon, so don't leave it too long.
In any case, you can leave comments here now, just click "comments" below.