Day Trips With Dogs London – The long-running ‘Dog Day’ featured on The Dogvine is a dog-friendly Go Boat London experience on Regent’s Canal, featured in April’s Dog Friendly Weekends in London.
We were invited to come and try it out earlier this year but due to a very busy (dog) calendar we only got around to it this month and we’re glad we finally did! In this post, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about this great experience for humans and hunters, so let’s dive in (not just literally)…
Day Trips With Dogs London
With Go Boat London you can hire a self-propelled electric boat to cruise Paddington, Little Venice and Regent’s Canal with up to 8 passengers (two-legged or four-legged), but not if your dog can sit on your lap. Do not count the total. It’s a truly unique experience and brilliant as it’s also dog friendly! After the huge success of Go Boat’s launch in Copenhagen, Go Boat arrived in London in 2017 and has proven to be a favorite on Londoners’ must-do lists, especially as it’s the only driverless boat experience in London!
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As well as a dog friendly ethos, Go Boat London also has a strong environmental ethos with 80% of the boats being made from recycled plastic and all the wood on the boats coming from environmentally friendly sources.
A few days before we left, we were given some helpful tips on what to do (or not do) on board, as well as a guide map so we could start planning ahead.
For our adventure there were seven of us on board, four humans and three dogs – Bellinha, Prudence and Little Bug ready for a two hour dog friendly Go Boat London experience. We only have one designated captain (you can have more) but that’s because no one else feels brave enough for the job!
On the big day, which was our only gray (and drizzly) weekend all summer, we were greeted by the very friendly staff at Go Boat London who gave us a safety briefing and (most importantly) boating instructions.
Dog Walking Along The Thames
We even got a caveless dog water bowl for the dogs to take with them! The staff all love dogs and told us how new Go Boat London employees are asked questions during job interviews to make sure they like dogs. Good advice, it definitely works!
Finally we left. Once our captain found his sea legs, it was relatively smooth sailing. I think relatively speaking we had a few missteps along the canal, but nothing serious! There are only a few places where the canal is narrow and care must be taken to give way to incoming boats, one of which is the tunnel which could be a little nerve wracking for beginners.
We immediately enjoyed the ride and could fully appreciate how beautiful and peaceful the London experience was from the perspective of the Regent’s Canal.
Other canal boat owners watched with amusement as the ‘dog boat’ passed and we passed a few other locals at Go Boat London, who were clearly enjoying a very immersive boat (or rather pirate) experience as well as other dogs on board!
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Passing by the colorful canal boats of Little Venice, the Feng Shang Princess floating restaurant and London Zoo, we finally arrived at Camden, our destination. We got there in less than an hour so we could enjoy a leisurely cruise home, stopping to take photos and experience London from a completely different perspective.
One positive thing about the Go Boat London boats is that they are silent thanks to the electric engines which not only reduce noise pollution but also dogs who can become anxious if they hear a lot of boat noise.
We have three very different puppy personalities. A lively and energetic little English bull terrier, Little Bug rescued Boston who had a rough start in life after being abandoned by a breeder as well as being deaf and short sighted and, most importantly, our Brazilian street dog Bellinha turned into a wandering Iron Man in London.
From Prudence’s point of view, she loved the experience and seemed to be smiling widely the entire time. Prudence human Anna (who hosts the BBC Barking Hour radio show) thought Prudence might try swimming in secret so Prudence would be prepared to wear her dog’s life jacket. Fortunately, Prudence hasn’t decided she wants to dive into the sea yet, so this is a very sensible precaution.
Flying With Pets In Cabin To The United Kingdom
Little Bug, still a puppy, takes it all in, including another Top Dog Model moment on the boat. Honestly, he was happy to be with Katie, his human, and as long as a hug (and a comfy blanket) was included, Bugs was very happy to be on the boat too.
Bellinha, however, was initially not so sure about the dog’s boating experience and was waiting for departure for a while. Since Belinha is definitely not a fan of water, at least I don’t have to worry about her overdoing it. With the bottom of the boat laid out for most of the trip, Belinha found plenty of room to stretch her sea legs and take it all in when she returned.
The seats on the boat can be very slippery for the dog’s feet (another no-no for the stomach), so it’s best to bring a blanket or towel for the dog to sit on.
Soon we were back in Merchant Square and agreed that we thought the dog friendly Go Boat London experience would be a great way to spend a few hours. Of course, this also applies to human-only boating adventures. In fact, it’s really good value when a group of friends get together (see below). So, three sets of claws from Prudence, Bugs and Bellinha!
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If your human wants a bite to eat after a busy boating adventure, Bellinha has found a dog-friendly option for you in and around Merchant Square…
A short stroll along the canal from Go Boat is the dog-friendly Australian restaurant and cafe, Bondi Green, part of the Daisy Green Collection. Aside from being a stunning venue with indoor/outdoor seating and delicious food, pups can find special dog treats on the menu…white lamingtons, anyone? Stylish dog beds and water bowls are also available, so we recommend visiting Bondi Green. Read our full review coming soon.
Heist Bank is very dog friendly and honestly serves the best pizza we’ve had in a long time (and we know our pizza). Bellinha was immediately offered a bowl of water and his protection dog regularly appears on the Heist Bank Insta. This would definitely be our recommendation for dog-friendly post-boat pizza.
Finally, if you and the kids still have energy, you can always go for a walk in Hyde Park which is only a 15 minute walk away.
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Although we received a free experience with Go Boat London, this does not affect this review as we give our sincere and honest opinions in all reviews.
Hi, I’m Teresa…the person behind The Dogvine, London’s favorite dog blog. Bringing you dog friendly London, London dog events and lifestyle products for dogs in the city. Just think of us as respite for dogs!
Privacy and Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you consent to its use. Want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, breathe in the fresh country air, while being less than 30 minutes from London (and not even having to move the car, if at all)? Then dog days in the Chilterns are the perfect answer. In this post, we tell you all about our recent dog-friendly day trip from London to Beaconsfield. Including a walk and a visit to England’s oldest (apparently dog-friendly) pub.
Last month some friends decided to take my husband and I on a surprise date. The caveat was that dogs had to be allowed, so they planned a completely dog-friendly experience (we were very impressed, considering they’re not dog lovers!) and chose the Chilters, just a few miles west of London, as their destination. A very rare experience where I didn’t have to worry about dog-friendly planning and supervision, but could instead sit back and relax.
Dog Friendly North Cascades National Park
Getting to the Chilterns is much more convenient and quick than you might expect. You’ll be surprised – as we were – that it’s only a 30 minute train ride from Marylebone Station (a nice old little station
