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The Sun

I live in a tiny floating house on a secret UK island home to famous rock stars, lagoons & even its own sauna

A WOMAN has shared an insight into her life living in a tiny floating house in the middle of a huge city. The island which was once home to famous children's authors and rockstars, is just 400 metres long. 5 5 5 Linda, who is originally from South Africa, purchased a house on Tagg's Island, a tiny island in the River Thames back in 2019. The floating home was originally built in the 1980s, but she knocked it down in 2024 and decided to completely rebuild it and turn it into a "tropical oasis". "I just felt like island living, like you see in the Caribbean, could be here in the UK", she told Into Their Space. Her driveway is packed with gorgeous tropical plants, immediately transporting you to an exotic haven, and the home has huge floor to ceiling windows that have a gorgeous view of the Thames. "Living on the lagoon is all about communing with nature and quieting down and going tech-free, so I was very keen that the lounge area would have a view on the lagoon", she said. She added the she loves to sit in her reading chair with her morning coffee, and watch swans or early morning rowers pass by. Despite only being 60m2, Linda has room to fit a king four-poster bed into the house and the place is even fitted with a sauna. "It's a beautiful little redwood sauna, the benefits are great!", she said. The floating home also has a huge flat roof, that Linda and her husband use to sunbathe on in the summer. "We love our rooftop. My husband is always up there, whiling away the hours stringing his guitar, reading a book or listening to YouTube videos", she said. We're being kicked out our Chelsea houseboat to make way for swanky 'mega' barge - fees cost MORE than property itself As well as living on the island, Linda also owns the two floating homes next to hers, and rents them out to guests. She decided to buy both homes because she was worried about somebody noisy moving in, and has now quit her 9-5 to focus on the guest accommodations, as well as working as a management accountant and a commercial director. Linda adores her life on Tagg's island, as she is able to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, whilst still being super close to the centre of London. "It's a different way of life, you just commune with nature, and you're just up the road from theatres and local amenities", she said. Pros and cons of living on a house boat Houseboats can be cheaper than buying a home on dry land but doesn't come without risks. You may be able to get a special type of mortgage for a boat, but it can be more difficult than getting a traditional home loan and have higher rates of interest. You won't pay stamp duty when buying a boat to live on, and you can move to a different location whenever you want without having to sell up. You might even be able to live in a location where you wouldn't be able to afford a bricks and mortar house. But space can be more limited, and the value of houseboats can generally go down over time, like a car or motorbike. A licence which you need from the canal and river trust can cost anywhere between £510 and £1,100 a year depending on the size of the boat. There are likely to be ongoing costs for maintenance and mooring as well as fuel, a boat safety certificate and, of course, insurance. There's always something that needs to be done on a boat – from engine servicing to treating rust spots, not to mention emptying the toilet and filling the water tank. Energy bills could be higher on the boat than a home as they are generally harder to insulate. If your boat is moored permanently, it will typically be in the lowest tax band, with single occupants benefiting from a 25% reduction. However, if you're happy to move every two weeks as a 'continuous cruiser,' you won't have to pay this Tagg's Island is home to 62 houseboats, some of which are three storeys high. Houses are not permitted to be built on the island, which is accessible by a single track road bridge. It's only half a mile upstream from Hampton Court Palace and you can get fantastic views from the island. The island is home to some of the Thames' most expensive houseboats, and has had a number of famous residents, including Peter Pan author J.M Barrie and the theatrical duo Gilbert & Sullivan. In 1986, Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour bought a houseboat named The Astoria on the island, and the band used it as a recording studio. 5 5