Skuna Igloo Boats (The Floating Fondue Experience!) - Is it worth it?

First Impressions & Experience

I’ll describe further below how to get to Canary Wharf, but you’ll be happy to hear that getting around Canary Wharf isn’t difficult nor is finding the location of Skuna Boats. 

Skuna Boats is located on the West India Quay & the closest station to Skuna Boats in Canary Wharf is West India Quay DLR Station.

Other Nearby Stations:

• Canary Wharf DLR Station (about a 5-minute walk)
• Canary Wharf Underground Station (Jubilee Line, about a 10-minute walk)

If you're coming from central London, taking the Jubilee Line to Canary Wharf and then walking or switching to the DLR for West India Quay is the easiest route.

Make sure you’re there 10/15 minutes before your dedicated slot, and don’t be late.

This is a really popular activity in Canary Wharf and it gets booked up quickly, so if you are late, there is a good chance you will miss your slot, so be there on time! 

Upon arrival, you’ll check in with the staff and you’ll be offered a hot drink, or a cold drink, and a hot pretzel.

For us, we were offered hot chocolate, or fruit punch, and a cinnamon pretzel (which was massive!) 

We opted for the hot chocolate with cream, and I’ll tell you right now, it’s one of the best hot chocolates I’ve had. 

Off to a good start…

Afterwards, you’ll be introduced to your “captain” for the driven portion of the experience, and you’ll head to your igloo boat. 

Once settled, we waited a few minutes and then our cheese fondue arrived. 

You can opt for chocolate or cheese, and being the cheese nut I am, I naturally went for cheese. 

But I did catch a glimpse of the chocolate one and it looked so good! 

We had a vegetarian cheese fondue, which came with potatoes, salad, vegetables, bread pieces and bead sticks, all perfectly suitable for dipping into hot cheese ;)

If you’re not veggie, your fondue will also include things like salami, or chorizo. 

The igloo boat was decorated really nicely, and they alter the theme depending on the time of year.

For example, Christmas time will bring those cosy Christmas vibes, but we visited just after Valentines, and there were hearts dangling, and that general romantic vibe. Which was perfect. 

We had an extremely great day on the water, weather wise, when we visited, and the sun was shining on top of our igloo, which meant it wasn’t cold at all!

The sunshine gives a greenhouse effect, and it was lovely and toasty inside. 

However, if you’re worried it will get cold, the team at Skuna provide blankets and hot water bottles to keep you warm. 

After getting settled, we headed off on our little boat tour.

You don’t go very far, but it’s still a nice experience, and honestly a great chance to chat to the staff, who are great. 

After your tour you’ll moor up and have around an hour to simply relax and enjoy your fondue, take in the atmosphere, chat with your friends, listen to music (a speaker is provided), cheers to life, and just enjoy the experience. 

Since it was so sunny when we visited, Brad pretty much basked in the cosy sunshine and was truly loving life! 

You’ll be given a 10 minute warning as to when your time is up, then it’s simply a case of rounding up your belongings and exiting off your igloo boat. 

So…

Are the Skuna Igloo boats worth it? 

Yes! 

It’s really a one-of-a-kind unique activity to do in London and you’ll have a great experience. 

There’s a reason they have so many great reviews online, because it is genuinely good! 

And it really is the sort of activity that’s suitable for everyone. 

I recommend it for families (we saw a bunch!), couples looking for a unique date night, or celebrating a special occasion, or groups of friends just looking for a good time! 

OH, and fun fact, dogs are welcome on the igloos! 

Unfortunately I didn’t bring Phoebe on this occasion, because I was doing another activity that she couldn’t be involved in, and she’s not quite trained to be on her own yet….

BUT, if I was just spending the day in Canary Wharf, I’d 100% bring her with me! 

How do I get to Canary Wharf?

Luckily for Brad and I, we live a 30 minute drive from Canary Wharf, so we can just drive in and park (we have an EV). 

But most visitors to Canary Wharf are coming from central London, and there are a variety of ways to get there.

1. London Underground (Tube)

• Jubilee Line (Fastest option from Central London)
  
  • Canary Wharf Station is the main Underground stop.
  • Direct connections from Bond Street, Green Park, London Bridge, and Stratford.
  • Takes about 15 minutes from Central London.

2. Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

• Stations serving Canary Wharf:
  
  • Canary Wharf DLR Station
  • West India Quay DLR Station (Closest to Skuna Boats)
  • Heron Quays DLR Station
• Best for connections from Bank, Stratford, or Tower Gateway.
• Trains run every 2-3 minutes.

3. Elizabeth Line (Crossrail)

• Canary Wharf Station (Elizabeth Line)
• Fastest connection from West & Central London:
  
  • Paddington → Canary Wharf: 17 min
  • Tottenham Court Road → Canary Wharf: 12 min
  • Liverpool Street → Canary Wharf: 6 min
• Great for quick airport access (Heathrow to Canary Wharf in ~45 min).

4. Thames Clippers (Uber Boat)

• A scenic way to travel via the River Thames.
• Stops at Canary Wharf Pier.
• Good connections from:
  
  • London Eye (45 min)
  • Tower Pier (10 min)
  • Greenwich (5 min)
• Best for avoiding crowds & enjoying the views.

5. Bus Services

• Several bus routes serve Canary Wharf:
  
  • D3, D7, D8 (local routes)
  • 135, 277, 330 (connections to North & East London)
  • N550, N551 (Night buses)
• Slower than other options but useful for short journeys.

6. Cycling

• Santander Cycles (Boris Bikes) have docking stations in Canary Wharf.
• Cycle Superhighway CS3 runs from Tower Hill to Canary Wharf.
• Best if you want a scenic, cost-effective ride.

FAQ about the Skuna Igloo Boats 

How many people does a Skuna Igloo boat hold?

The igloo boats hold up to  9 guests, making them a really great option for a group of friends or a family day out. 

Brad and I visited as a 2, and whilst it does drive the price up, I think it’s still a great option for a special occasion, such as an anniversary, because it’s a really romantic vibe! Especially if you head off in the evening and you’ve got the lights of Canary Wharf surrounding you. 

It’s worth saying too that the igloo boats are completely private to your experience. 

Regardless of whether you're a two or a 9. 

You get the igloo for your group, so you won’t be sharing the experience with strangers. 

How much does it cost?

The cost is £45 per person (based on a minimum of 4 people in the igloo boat), and that includes your welcome drink, a snack, your fondue experience, and your 30 minutes tour. 

I actually think it’s a very good price point- especially for London! 

For 3 people, it works out £60 per person

and for 2 it's £180.

I.e the bigger the group, the better the value.

Can you bring your own drinks?

You can’t bring your own drinks on board, but you can purchase drinks at the on-site Skuna bar! 

Prices vary depending on what you’re getting, but soft drinks are £3.50, and wines and beers ect, start at £6. You can also buy bottles of wine, prosecco and cocktails. 

I mean, sure it’s not “cheap”, but I’d say the pricing is on par with a lot of London, and maybe even slightly cheaper than some other spots in Canary Wharf itself. 

Do the Igloo boats run all year round? 

No, currently the Igloo boats run until May 11, 2025. After that, the Igloo Boats will not be available during the summer season (May 12 - September 12, 2025). They will return on September 13, 2025. 

But, in the meantime, you can rent out a BBQ boat from Skuna, or try their hot tub experience. 

Where do I go to the toilet? 

I see this question SO much online, so I needed to include it…

They have toilets lol 

No, they're not on the igloo boat itself.

But you can go before you head off on your tour, then use the toilet as many times you like on your return, because you’re moored up. So you’re not going anywhere. 

So there you have it, my review of the Skuna Igloo boats!

A fairly new option on the water, and definitely one of the top things to do in London, and of the best attractions Canary Wharf has to offer. 

You can book your experience here.