Londoners Are Taking to Canal Boats to Beat High Property Costs
Narrowboats can be had for a fraction of the cost of a London flat. With sky-high apartment prices prompting more people to take to the water, canal life is now becoming more costly.
Narrowboats moored in the Battlebridge Basin on Regents Canal. Kings Cross, London.
Photographer: Andrew Aitchison/In Pictures via Getty Images
In London, which suffers from one of the most expensive property markets in Europe, thousands have found alternative housing for less than the cost of a parking space — though it helps if you can repair an engine or plug a leaky hull.
Narrowboats, which aren’t much wider than a king-sized bed, have gained in popularity for those willing to sacrifice space and some creature comforts. Moorings on the city’s 100-mile canal network can be had for around 1,000 pounds ($1,284) a year. The waterways crisscross the metropolis, allowing boaters to live in posh areas such as Primrose Hill and St. John’s Wood at a fraction of the cost paid by their land-based neighbors.