If you feel stuck for something to do in London, Skuna Boats is the perfect activity – relaxing, fun and something really different
Having lived in London for the best part of a decade I made it my mission when I first moved here to cross as many of the main tourist attractions off the list as possible.
It’s all too easy when you live in a city as amazing as London to take things for granted so after a feverish couple of years, I done all the big ones – St Paul’s, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace, the Royal Parks, you name it, I’d looked round it.
You may think this would leave me at a loss for fun activities to do each weekend and that’s where you’d be very wrong. Some of the very best attractions London has to offer are those that fly under the radar – and there’s one I’ve been eyeing up out of the window at work for as long as I can imagine.
Skuna Boats, based in Canary Wharf, offer a dazzling array of water-based activities. From an igloo boat, where you cosy and ensconced is a see-through igloo while you potter about the water ways of Canary Wharf, to the BBQ boat, which pretty much does what it says on the tin. But the one that really caught my eye was the hit tub boat. Imagine the fun, being in a hot tub ON the water.
One gloriously sunny Saturday afternoon four friends and I donned our swimming costumes and ventured out onto the water. We picked evening so we got the best of both worlds, making the most of the last of the sunshine and then floating around Canary Wharf, gazing at the glittering lights, as the sun went down as we sipped wine and giggled.
The first thing to mention is Skuna take safety very seriously. You delegate one of your party to be captain and alcohol is banned for them. You’re then given a very thorough safety talk and quiz so you’re ready to take to the water in the safest possible way.
After changing in the lovely on site changing rooms, where you can rent soft and fluffy robes and towels, we made our way down to the pier and our waiting boat.
After another very thorough run through of how to operate the boat – which once you get your head round everything being in the opposite direction to where you think it should be – it’s surprisingly easy. We were loaded up with our waterproof containers holding our phones, which I would highly recommend taking as the views are spectacular and our drinks and we were off.
It took a few minutes to get the hang of steering our sturdy vessel but this only added to the fun. The water in the hot tub, which is wood fired, was absolutely perfect and felt like such a luxurious way to see Canary Wharf from a very different angle.
As we wound our way along the route, one thing that really blew my mind was the number of people stopping to wave, smile and shout hello to us. I’m not a born and bred Londoner but I’ve been here for long enough to know if this amazing city has a downside, it’s that the people aren’t always the friendliest.
I thought I’d feel somewhat mortified being spotted in my cossie so close to where I work every day but everyone was so nice and we were having such an amazing time, I didn’t mind in the slightest.
Canary Wharf has always been a stunning part of London and the views from our little hot tub oasis were absolutely spectacular. What a way to see what can be an underrated part of the city.
After 75 minutes on the water, it was time for us to get out and sample the Skuna Sauna. If I was feeling relaxed by the time I got out of the hot tub, I was positively zen after leaving the sauna. A real piece of luxury and health right there on the quayside.
So, next time you’re feeling a bit stuck with what to do in London I cannot recommend Skuna Boats highly enough – I can’t wait to set sail again.
For more information and for a full list of prices, make sure to visit the Skuna website.