You can have a great time when you visit Essex. There is something here to suit every taste. You will find charming villages, beautiful countryside with rolling hills, historical monuments and much more. You can bicycle around quaint villages, such as Wivenhoe or plan a long walk along Essex Way. If you love history, you may be excited to tour Colchester — said to be Britain’s oldest city. In addition to this, Essex also has beautiful waterways such as Chelmer & Blackwater Navigation. Running through the gorgeous Essex countryside, you can spend a glorious day when you cruise along this waterway. You can also try other water-based activities, such as fishing, boating and more. If you are curious about Essex waterways, you may be excited to know that you can even stay on a houseboat here. Check out this list of the best Airbnb houseboats in Essex, UK.
We handpicked these listings carefully, considering (wherever possible) Superhost status, recent guest reviews, location, accommodation type, prices, availability of dates, decor, and amenities. The image galleries get refreshed with the latest updates regularly. They were last updated on October 29, 2024.
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1. Willow: "Cottage on the river", Ulting (from USD 182)
Moored in a gorgeous valley, this houseboat is a wide-beam barge. It is beautifully furnished, with oak floors, a spacious lounge, a kitchen and two bedrooms. A cosy wood-burning fireplace will keep you comfortable in chilly weather. On clear mornings, you can sit outside and enjoy the surrounding countryside along with your breakfast. There is plenty to do in the neighbourhood and you can explore activities such as birdwatching, angling and more.
Top guest reviews
Host:
the hosts have done a great job in making their boat a great place to staya delightful place everything spot on hosts very welcoming and helpfulgreat host great place to stay with perfect location to fish kayak and walkdiane was super-helpful fielding our stupid questions quickly and with good humourdiane and tim are amazing hosts that provide everything you could ask for and moreLocation:
plenty of logs for the gorgeous fire and central heating toowonderful couple of nights away in a perfect locationthis is a beautiful traditional narrow boat moored in a private quiet locationgreat location well thought out space clean and organised with great instructions on the boats facilitieswhat a brilliant and unique place to stay and a real treatRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
roomy comfortable and well equipped riverboat in a quiet and peaceful location
Superhost
2. Toosey Lass, Saint Osyth (from USD 123)
For a couple looking to explore Essex, Toosey Lass is a great choice. This boat is moored in the charming village of Saint Osyth. You have easy access to interesting activities, such as countryside walks, visiting seaside resorts and more. After your walk, you can relax in the sitting area, which is furnished with sofas.
When it is time to rest, you will find that the fully stocked bedroom boasts a double bed. There is a wood-burning fireplace on the boat, so you will be warm and cosy even in chilly weather.
Top guest reviews
Host:
teresa who checked us in was extremely accommodating and explained everything really wellstephen is very responsive the boat was beautiful found a very good indian restaurant up the roadLocation:
quirky place to stay in a secluded part of essex near to a number of great beaches and countrysideRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
there was no tv but not a problem for uswe had a great stay everything was as described and fully equipped for a comfortable escape away
3. The Hokey Cokey, Essex (from USD 175)
The Hokey Cokey is a great vacation accommodation for a small family or group of friends looking to explore Chelmsford and its surroundings. Both bedrooms are stocked with fresh linens, so you can rest well here. You can prepare all your meals in the lovely kitchen and then relax in the sitting area, which is fitted with a comfortable sofa and chairs. The boat is well stocked with board games, so you can all have fun inside.
Top guest reviews
Read more reviewsLocation:
the location was fantastic and great for local restaurants
Other nearby Airbnb houseboats
4. Freedom, Bath (from USD 84)
For a truly unique experience, solo travellers can consider this wide-beam houseboat. You will sleep in a hammock, which can be located inside or outside, so you can enjoy the snug interior pace or the starry skies at night. Guests will have access to common spaces in the boat, which are heated, as there is a wood-burning stove onboard.
It is easy to catch up on work or chat with friends and family back home as the boat has Wi-Fi connectivity.
Top guest reviews
Host:
david is a welcoming and excellent hostsuch a good host :)david is a wonderful respectful and talented hosthe is an excellent host and i had always a smile during my stay thereLocation:
the area is peaceful and good spots and shops in london are a stone's throw awayRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
good chats and an every day delicious breakfast completed the relaxed atmosphere on board
5. The Harpy, Greater London (from USD 1038)
For a luxurious yet unique stay in London, you can consider this vintage houseboat. From here, you will have awesome views of the majestic Tower Bridge. It is connected to mains water and electricity, so you will have all the comforts of home.
Antique accents, original artwork and a modern kitchen elevate the allure of this dream boat. With more than 1,850 sq. ft. (171.87 sq. m) of indoor space and 2,500 sq. ft. (232.26 sq m) of outdoor decks, it is easy to forget that you are on a boat.
Top guest reviews
Host:
let me be more specific:* the host has clearly taken this on as his passionmost of all andrew our wonderful host will be remembered for years to comeandrew is a consummate host ensuring everything was absolutely perfect throughout our stayandrew was an outstanding host from start to finish and made sure we had everything we neededandrew is a very good hostLocation:
relaxing accommodation close to everythingrestaurants and groceries nearby easy walk to the metrowhile within walking distance to whatever you could want the area was secure and quiet at nightthe location is amazing and really has a wow factorso this is an amazing place located at an amazing location with amazing views and an amazing hostCleanliness:
we came and left with clean clothes a nice change from most tripsandrew is a consummate host and the harpy itself is magnificent — clean spacious and perfectly appointedRead more reviewsAmenities & Room:
the views are superb as are the facilities on boardthe harpy was well equipped with a good kitchen fast internet sonos and skytvthe harpy was amazing clean comfortable with all the amenities that you would ever want or needthe cabins were very comfortable the living room area and kitchen were unmatched
Have a unique experience in Essex!
Essex is a beautiful county and you will love to explore its quaint villages, historic buildings and other places of interest. In addition, you can have a once-in-a-lifetime vacation experience when you stay in a houseboat in Essex. Why not take the plunge and book one from the above listing? You are surely going to enjoy it.
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