2 weeks Ago By Evening Standard
Ah, the romance of living on a houseboat...
it’s a dream for many of us, especially if the houseboat is moored up and doesn’t actually require you to sail the thing. Well, if you share this dream then you will love this beautifully luxe four-bedroom houseboat called Labhnay in Putney. On the market for £1,450,000 , It comes with freehold mooring, and given s on the Thames have faced from their landlords, this is no small thing.
Situated at Prospect Quay, adjacent to Wandsworth Park and the Riverside Quarter Pier, it has the Thames Clipper services to the city close by, making it the prospect of a river commute very real indeed. Owner Vikki reinforces this idea that Lambhay is not just about the property itself, but the lifestyle that comes with it. “It’s the best of living, I promise.
Just being in nature by the water, lovely neighbours, we’re behind a security gate so everybody's quite relaxed. I have a little boat that I take upstream for the nice little access to the pubs at Hammersmith or Barnes. Then there’s the riverside path, I have a dog that's sitting next to me here, and you can walk down to the park without him being on the lead.
And we're near the Thames Clipper to go to the city. Or one of the best things is taking the Clipper to the . It really is brilliant.
” Vikki has owned the boat for 26 years and designed it with an architect. The place is permanently moored, there’s no engine, and facilities at the mooring include an underground car park, a gym and a swimming. But it’s inside that’s a knockout.
The bespoke design is all about ambience. The front entrance leads into a large, open-plan kitchen and dining area with wooden floors, giving the space warmth and character. The kitchen offers ample storage, built-in appliances, and a bright, airy atmosphere, leaving room for personal touches.
Beyond the kitchen is a generous reception room that is bathed in natural light thanks to expansive skylights and floor-to-ceiling windows. These offer uninterrupted views of the River Thames. Double doors open onto a rear terrace, perfect for a bistro set or bench seating, where you can enjoy the scenic river setting, with space for potted plants.
At the heart of the property is a striking oak staircase leading down to a cosy second sitting room, complete with a wood-burning stove for added comfort. On the lower deck, you'll find three bedrooms, a family bathroom, and a spacious principal bedroom with a large dressing room and en suite bathroom. Life here though is all about al fresco entertaining and enjoying the view down to the nearby Hurlingham Club, and their frequent firework displays.
“It is a very unique mooring in that it has a share of the freehold which from a property point of view, is what makes these different to anything else, because they're self determining,” says Vicky, “There is no l , and I don't know if you know about any of the other ones up and down the Thames, but some of them are having issues. Being self determining is amazing.” “My kids have been brought up on here,” she continues, “It was a different game when we started.
Houseboats weren't easy to come by, they weren't a sort of recognised thing. And the site here was quite industrial. Now though it’s come on.
People being able to get a ferry to work is good for their psyches. It’s a great place to live. It’s going to be hard to leave!”.
