I never got the pleasure of meeting Sam in person, but her email communication was so friendly and helpful, you can tell she is wonderful. Her partner Hatem met us for check in and he was so nice to wait for our late arrival due to a flight delay and traffic jam. He quickly and efficiently showed us how everything worked. It was our first houseboat experience and a little different than a hotel or flat, but pretty simple really.
The boat is very clean and nicely done. There are really good linens, a lot of charming decorative items, candles, some London guidebooks that I wish I'd had a chance to look over, and the fridge was stocked with some eggs, bread, butter, jam and milk--a very thoughtful touch. The portable toilet was interesting, but otherwise the bathroom really was luxurious. My kids loved taking a bath on a boat in the beautiful claw foot tub!
My husband and I are quite tall, and he especially had to duck down a bit, but for a couple of nights this was not a big deal. We stayed with our two small kids, ages 1 and 4, and they loved the idea of being on a boat, looking out the window at the ducks and swans, waving to passing boaters. Of course there wasn't a ton of room for them to run around, and we were there to see London, so we didn't spend too much time on board. Aside from the close quarters, it is a kid friendly space. The loft bed with a hiding place below was a highlight for them.
The location of the boat was good. Mostly a residential area, but it was nice to walk along the canal and explore a side of London that we might not have otherwise known about.
I definitely recommend staying here if you are looking for charming, unique accommodations with a luxury feel, off the beaten path!