We Drove Our Own Houseboat Down the River Thames for 3 Nights
📩 Get our “Train Snacks” newsletter (quirky travel tips, stories & little discoveries) → https://mailchi.mp/25e3e496c267/trainsnacks I’d been dreaming about this trip for years — a slow, storybook adventure down the River Thames with my parents. But instead of a calm cruise… we somehow ended up driving our very own houseboat through one of the busiest rivers in England. 🚤🇬🇧 Within an hour we were tackling self-service locks we didn’t know how to use, watching boats crash side-to-side like bumper cars, and desperately trying to remember our two-hour “boating lecture” from earlier that day. It was chaotic, hilarious, beautiful — and somehow, one of the most special family trips we’ve ever had. 💛 This was our very first time doing a self-drive boating holiday — learning how to moor, tie ropes, steer, and sleep aboard a little floating home. We travelled from Datchet to Windsor, Maidenhead, and Marlow — finding cosy pubs, peaceful mooring spots, and discovering just how fun (and unpredictable) life on the water can be. 👉 We booked our 3-night River Thames boating holiday with Kris Cruisers — highly recommend for first-timers! https://www.kriscruisers.co.uk/ This video includes: • Our full 3-night River Thames route & itinerary — perfect for beginners! 🗺️ • Learning how to drive, steer, and moor our own boat (with a few hilarious fails) ⚓ • Surviving our first ever self-service lock — chaos and teamwork included 😂 • Exploring Windsor, Maidenhead & Marlow — our few pretty riverside stops 🏰 • Cosy nights onboard: cooking dinner, tiny-home living, and peaceful sleeps by the river 🌙 • Family moments that made us laugh, panic, and fall in love with slow travel all over again 💕 • What to expect from a Thames boating holiday — from mooring rules to riverside pubs and every awkward bit in between 🍻 ✨ NEXT UP: We take Norway’s most scenic train — to catch a coastal ferry! 🇳🇴 #RiverThames #BoatingHoliday #EnglandByBoat ------------------------------------ 🚂 Train Snacks Starter Pack → https://trainsnacks.lemonsqueezy.com Everything I actually pack for overnight train travel. My very first digital product. 💛 Join our free newsletter Little travel stories, quirky moments and behind-the-scenes from our adventures: https://mailchi.mp/25e3e496c267/trainsnacks 🚂 Come Behind the Scenes on Patreon → https://patreon.com/chloeandludvig Early access, ad-free videos, real trip budgets, behind-the-scenes stories and plenty of extras that never make it to YouTube. ❤️ 📸 Filming gear: iPhone 15 Pro Max (no link but it's cool) • Insta360 X5 → https://www.insta360.com/sal/x5?utm_source=AffiliateCenter&utm_medium=copylink&utm_term=CHLOE360 - Insta360 GO Ultra → https://www.insta360.com/sal/go-ultra?utm_source=AffiliateCenter&utm_medium=copylink&utm_term=CHLOE360 🎵 Like the music? Find my playlist with the music I've used here: https://www.epidemicsound.com/community/playlist/?_us=Referral&_usx=52dthl&utm_source=ref_program&utm_medium=referralprogram&utm_campaign=52dthl&playlist=cim0jy8e7cyao5th4ssu1dl3edgeglsh 🏨 Need a Hotel? Hotels.com → https://www.hotels.com/affiliate/IqQzOLg 😎 Hang Out With Us Online • Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/chloeandludvig --------------------------------------- Hej hej from the rails (and boats)! I’m Chloé — a Kiwi travel creator exploring the world one awkward train moment at a time. My husband Ludvig (dry humour, Swedish passport) joins when he can. Together, we seek out the quirkiest journeys, comfiest cabins, and always squeeze in a touch of luxury when we can (okay, that part’s mostly my idea 😅). We’re all about making travel fun, relatable, and a little bit weird — with a side of scenic magic.💛 Some links are affiliate, which means we might earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). It helps keep the adventures going — and pays for coffee when the train café runs out of it. And honestly? Every time you use one, it triggers a little happy dance on my end. 🕺 So thank you!