When life really is one big adventure

WRITER SWAPS LONDON RENT PRICES FOR A NARROWBOAT

- By MOLLY POWELL, PA

A TEESSIDE woman who swapped London renting for narrowboat life with her dog said she has found “freedom”, despite trials such as the engine exploding and the boat catching on fire.

Kyrie Morris, a 33-year-old freelance writer from Middlesbrough, bought a £21,000 rundown narrowboat in April 2022 using inheritance from her granddad, after struggling with £1,600 monthly costs in London.

At first, her boat had no running water or electricity, resembling a “floating shed” but over time, she made it liveable with a kitchen cupboard, toilet and fold-down sofa bed.

Single and living with her Labrador Snoop, Kyrie spent 15 months cruising London's waterways while bartending and finishing her Master's degree.

After the sudden death of a close friend and a failed attempt to get on Big Brother, in July 2023, she set off on a 357-mile journey to Leeds.

Since moving onto the boat, Kyrie has spent around £12,000 on renovations and now spends around roughly £800 a month, sharing her journey with 19,500 followers on TikTok.

Kyrie said: "I would describe it as you get these extreme lows, but the highs are extreme as well and there's a feeling of freedom and adrenaline I've never personally found anywhere else, and I absolutely love it."

While studying for a Master's degree in International Music Marketing in London, Kyrie was working at The Blues Kitchen in Camden to help make ends meet and make music industry connections.

Her rent and bills for her one-bed flat in London came to £1,300 a month. She would often sit by the canals and think, “wow, what a life”, and gradually began looking into the canal boat lifestyle.

When it came time to renew her tenancy, Kyrie knew she wanted to stay in London, but without paying so much, living with others, or giving up a place that accepted dogs.