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About this property

Historic Setting: Inner Dowsing Lightship is a recently renovated boat housed in a historic building in Rochester. The property offers a private entrance and parquet floors, creating a unique and charming atmosphere. Modern Amenities: Guests enjoy free WiFi, a sun terrace, and free on-site parking. The boat features a private bathroom with a bath, shower, and free toiletries. Additional amenities include a kitchenette, dining area, and outdoor furniture. Local Attractions: Rochester Castle is 3.1 km away, Chatham Train Station 4.2 km, and Historic Chatham Dockyard 4.8 km. London City Airport is 48 km from the property. Guests appreciate the breakfast provided by the host, sailing, and boating opportunities.

Couples particularly like the location — they rated it 9.2 for a two-person trip.

Distance in property description is calculated using © OpenStreetMap

Property highlights

Perfect for a 3-night stay!

  • Top location: Highly rated by recent guests (9.2)

  • Top pick by families with children

  • Free parking available on-site


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Availability

Prices converted to USD
We have no availability on our site for this property between Sun 19 Oct 2025 and Wed 22 Oct 2025

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Room type
Number of guests
Price
1 extra-large double bed
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1 extra-large double bed
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Bedroom
1 double bed
and
1 sofa bed
Living room
1 sofa bed
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Limited supply in Rochester for your dates: 1 boat like this is already unavailable on our site

Guest reviews

Categories:

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Facilities
Cleanliness
Comfort
Value for money
Location
Free WiFi

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Guests who stayed here loved

  • Helen
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Very unusual location which totally fitted in with preconceptions of the Medway, the river etc.
  • Annette
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Was a fun and unique experience staying on a boat Cosy room with a bath Interesting changing views
  • Budd
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    On a sunny day, the stay was excellent. Lovely to wake up to a stunning view of the river with Rochester castle and cathedral in the background. Having a coffee on the deck, in the sun was bliss. Very clean, comfortable bed, kettle, tea, bath...
  • Sally
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    We stole one night away from London and were rewarded with the most breathtaking views from our floating cabin on the Medway. From the deck, we looked straight across to the spire of Rochester Cathedral and the turrets of the Castle - a magical...
  • Melvin
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Fabulous location , beautifully finished , would recommend to others
  • Kim
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    I liked the cabin it was comfy . The bathroom was good , nice shower
  • Elaine
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Beautiful setting with a gorgeous view, very nicely done inside and the bed was really comfortable. Highly recommend.
  • Neil
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Amazing location Quite an adventure for us staying on a lovely old lightship
  • Tom
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    This is a wonderful place to stay. The guest room was finished to a very high standard but the character of the vessel and its location on the river was my main attraction and it delivered in spades. Sat out on deck in the sunshine overlooking the...
  • Naomi
    United Kingdom United Kingdom
    Warm welcome, fresh clean room and beautiful view. Peaceful environment and great to see a bath

Host Information

9.7
Host review score
Inner Dowsing is an historic wooden lightship, built in 1840. Since moving onboard in early 2023, we have refurbished the whole ship, including fitting out the two guest cabins to a high standard. Each cabin affords wonderful views of the Medway river and valley beyond, as well as Rochester Cathedral and Castle, which are only a 30 min walk away along the river. There are two convenience stores in Borstal village, a 10-min walk away, as well as a pub which serves great food. There are also a number of takeaways. For even more choice, head to the picturesque high street in Rochester, where you will find a huge selection of restaurants, including Italian, Indian, Turkish and Spanish.
Our location in the marina offers a tranquil place to kick back and relax within the peaceful surroundings. Our family live on the houseboat, so we are always available, should you need any assistance, or suggestions for things to do in the area.
Picturesque Rochester High Street is just 1.5 miles away from our houseboat, where you will find a wealth of independent shops and cafes. You can visit the grounds of Rochester Castle, a Norman structure built in 1087, with the tallest Norman keep in England. Just across from the castle is Rochester Cathedral, which has been a place of Christian worship since AD604. Throughout the year, the town plays host to a variety of festivals including the Dickens Festival and Sweeps Festival.
Languages spoken: English,Korean

Property surroundings

House rules

Inner Dowsing Lightship takes special requests - add in the next step!
Check-in
From 15:00 to 22:00
You'll need to let the property know in advance what time you'll arrive.
Check-out
Until 11:00
Cancellation/ prepayment
Cancellation and prepayment policies vary according to accommodation type. Please check what conditions may apply to each option when making your selection.
Children and beds

Child policies

Children of any age are welcome.

Children 16 years and above will be charged as adults at this property.

To see correct prices and occupancy information, please add the number of children in your group and their ages to your search.

Cot and extra bed policies

The number of cots allowed is dependent on the option you choose. Please check your selected option for more information.

There are no extra beds available at this property.

All cots are subject to availability.

Age restriction
The minimum age for check-in is 18
Pets
Pets are not allowed.
Payments by Booking.com
Booking.com takes your payment on behalf of the property for this reservation.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed.
Parties
Parties/events are not allowed
Quiet hours
Guests must be quiet between 22:00 and 08:00.

The fine print

Need-to-know information for guests at this property

Please inform Inner Dowsing Lightship in advance of your expected arrival time. You can use the Special Requests box when booking, or contact the property directly with the contact details provided in your confirmation.

This property will not accommodate hen, stag or similar parties.

Quiet hours are between 22:00:00 and 08:00:00.