A gorgeous narrowboat has come up for sale on New Islington Marina in Manchester, and it’s a fraction of the price of a flat or house in the city centre. At £35,000, the narrowboat, named ‘Hedgehog’, is an absolute steal, where you could be paying upwards of £500k for decent digs in town, if you manage to get on the property ladder in the first place.
The Manchester house boat is advertised on Rightmove as “ready to be your floating home or weekend retreat”, and is a one-bed property, perfect for a trendy couple. The floorplan is modest, as you would expect, with a dining room/kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom, all totalling no more than 13m by 4.5m – perfect for someone wanting the simple life.
The narrowboat has a fresh and modern interior, with sleek wooden and white finishes and industrial-style accessories to compliment, as well as a rainfall overhead shower and wood-burning fire for that extra level of luxury. Storage isn’t as much of a problem as you might think, with every opportunity taken to add cupboards and drawers, including under the elevated double bed – and every chance for folding furniture and savvy solutions have been taken, from the folding dining table to the flexible kitchen worktop.
The narrowboat has been recently fitted with a brand-new boiler and is fully insulated for ultimate comfort. The listing on Rightmove by Purple Bricks also highlights: “first time buyers and investors welcome; fantastic transport links & local amenities; school catchment area; highly sought – after location.”
The Ancoats area is truly a sought-after location, with regular markets in Cutting Room Square, a thriving cafe culture, and a real community feel. Of course, as a narrowboat owner will know, the New Islington Marina area is extremely popular for walks, picnics, and entertaining pups alike, so you can be sure that life in this part of Manchester would be a splash – literally.
If you’ve got £35k to burn, or just fancy having a nosy, you can find more information about Hedgehog the narrowboat here.