York Marina
BEST FOR
Adults only (18+)
ENTRY
from £90
WHERE
York
What it’s like
This is an adults-only boat hire spot on the River Ouse, self drive day boats for over-18s only, no under-3s at all.
This is a self drive boat hire outfit on the River Ouse, and it's strictly an adults' day out. You must be 18 or over to take the wheel, and because of insurance rules they cannot take children under 3 at all, so this isn't one to squeeze in around a toddler.
You hire a 6 seater, 8 seater or the 12 seater Enigma GT26, and staff give you handover tuition before you set off, no licence needed. Fuel, insurance and life jackets are all in the price, and buoyancy aids are free for non-swimmers. The cruising area runs from Naburn Lock, 15 minutes down river, up past York city centre 55 minutes the other way, to Linton Lock 3 hours upstream at the far end, so how far you get depends entirely on whether you've booked a morning, an afternoon or a full day.
Prices shift a fair bit by boat size, day of the week and session length. A 6 seater starts at £90 for a Monday to Friday morning and runs up to £235 for a full day at the weekend, while the 8 seater is £100 on a weekday morning up to £275 on a weekend full day. The 12 seater Enigma GT26 is £450 for a full day, self drive. Weekend and bank holiday rates cost noticeably more than weekdays, so if you can get away midweek it's worth doing.
There's a café on site if you'd rather watch the boats go by with a coffee, and you can bring your own picnic and drinks aboard too, just not alcohol while you're driving. Parking is free for the length of your hire. Wear flat, non-slip shoes, since high heels aren't allowed and some boats have steep steps that make boarding awkward if mobility is limited.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Is this OK to bring kids on?
You have to be 18 or over to hire and drive the boat, and they can't accommodate children under 3 for insurance reasons. Older children can come along as passengers with a free buoyancy aid.
Do I need a boating licence?
No licence needed. Staff give you handover tuition on the basics before you set off, you just need to be 18 or over.
How much does it cost?
A 6 seater starts at £90 for a weekday morning and goes up to £235 for a full weekend day. The 8 seater runs from £100 to £275 depending on the day and session length, and the 12 seater Enigma GT26 is £450 for a full day.
How far can we actually go?
Naburn Lock is a 30 minute round trip, York city centre and back is about 2 hours, and Linton Lock at the far end of the cruising area is 3 hours each way. Hire boats aren't allowed through the locks at either end.
Is parking included?
Parking is free for the whole time you've got the boat hired.
Can we drink on board?
The person driving can't drink at all, it's an offence under local bye-laws and voids the insurance. Passengers are fine to have a drink.
Can we smoke on the boat?
Smoking isn't allowed on board any of the hire boats.
What should we bring or wear?
Flat, non-slip shoes are a must, high heels aren't permitted, and sun cream is a good idea on hot days. You can bring your own picnic and drinks.
Is there anywhere to eat?
There's a café and restaurant on site if you'd rather eat there than pack a picnic.
Is it accessible if someone has limited mobility?
Worth thinking about, some of the boats have steep steps that make getting on board tricky if mobility is limited.
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