70ft James Bond-esque houseboat made for a retired couple

This stunning houseboat will make a ship-shape home for anyone looking to don their deck shoes and live on the water. With its sleek black exterior and ten-seater fitted sofas, Walhalla looks like something out of a James Bond film, but inside the impressive oak-clad houseboat is stylish and cosy.

This stunning houseboat will make a ship-shape home for anyone looking to don their deck shoes and live on the water.

With its sleek black exterior and ten-seater fitted sofas, Walhalla looks like something out of a James Bond film, but inside the impressive oak-clad houseboat is stylish and cosy.

It was built in 2012 and designed by retired couple Alan and Jo Mason, who wanted something in which they could travel Europe's waterways in style. They sadly had to sell up after Alan, 76, was diagnosed with cancer.

The houseboat, which is currently moored at Tingdene Marina, Walton-On-Thames in Surrey, is on the market for a guide price of £229,000.

The 70ft by 11ft boat has everything one could need and is more luxurious and spacious than many houses in the same price range.

It is not being sold with the mooring so the new buyer can find their own mooring anywhere in the country or travel in comfort like the Masons have.

With its sleek black exterior and ten-seater fitted sofas, Walhalla looks like something out of a James Bond film, but inside the impressive oak-clad houseboat is stylish and cosy. It was built in 2012 and designed by retired couple Alan and Jo Mason, who wanted something in which they could travel the waterways in style

With its sleek black exterior and ten-seater fitted sofas, Walhalla looks like something out of a James Bond film, but inside the impressive oak-clad houseboat is stylish and cosy. It was built in 2012 and designed by retired couple Alan and Jo Mason, who wanted something in which they could travel the waterways in style

The houseboat, which is currently moored at Tingdene Marina, Walton-On-Thames in Surrey, is on the market for a guide price of £229,000. The interior is stylish and comfortable, with huge fabric sofas and a black and silver coffee table. The 70ft by 11ft boat is more luxurious and spacious than many houses in the same price range

The houseboat, which is currently moored at Tingdene Marina, Walton-On-Thames in Surrey, is on the market for a guide price of £229,000. The interior is stylish and comfortable, with huge fabric sofas and a black and silver coffee table. The 70ft by 11ft boat is more luxurious and spacious than many houses in the same price range

Jo and Alan Mason enjoying themselves on the deck of the Walhalla. Mrs Mason explained their reasons for selling up: 'We intended to go across the Channel and travel in Europe in it but Alan got cancer, we wouldn't be selling otherwise. We wanted to have easier access to hospital and decided to sell the boat so we can use the money to work on our bucket list'

Jo and Alan Mason enjoying themselves on the deck of the Walhalla. Mrs Mason explained their reasons for selling up: 'We intended to go across the Channel and travel in Europe in it but Alan got cancer, we wouldn't be selling otherwise. We wanted to have easier access to hospital and decided to sell the boat so we can use the money to work on our bucket list'

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Share The couple decided to travel the British waterways when they retired and have lived on the water for the last 14 years. For the first seven years they lived on a narrowboat but then decided to design something bigger with more space and Walhalla was built in 2012. Their 'Cottage of the Water' is pictured here cruising near Walton-On-Thames

The couple decided to travel the British waterways when they retired and have lived on the water for the last 14 years. For the first seven years they lived on a narrowboat but then decided to design something bigger with more space and Walhalla was built in 2012. Their 'Cottage of the Water' is pictured here cruising near Walton-On-Thames

The boat has a 150hp diesel engine and two 400-litre fuel tanks. Inside, there is a fully fitted galley, a lounge area with ten-seater fitted sofas, a dining and study area, a master bedroom and two bathrooms. The black parquet floor is kept toasty with underfloor heating and there is a Sigmar diesel stove in the central living area

The boat has a 150hp diesel engine and two 400-litre fuel tanks. Inside, there is a fully fitted galley, a lounge area with ten-seater fitted sofas, a dining and study area, a master bedroom and two bathrooms. The black parquet floor is kept toasty with underfloor heating and there is a Sigmar diesel stove in the central living area

The Walhalla has all the appliances one would expect to find in a modern home including fridge, freezer, microwave, full-size oven and five burner hob, washing machine, TV, DVD player, four synchronised radios and 16 speakers. Adam Burlison from Knight Frank said: 'It's a very unusual property, it attracts a lot of attention and has been photographed a lot'

The Walhalla has all the appliances one would expect to find in a modern home including fridge, freezer, microwave, full-size oven and five burner hob, washing machine, TV, DVD player, four synchronised radios and 16 speakers. Adam Burlison from Knight Frank said: 'It's a very unusual property, it attracts a lot of attention and has been photographed a lot'

Mr Burlison added: 'The boat has a very stealth-looking design but the colour can easily be changed if someone didn't want the matte black. Because it was their home it has got everything in it you would need. The spec is extraordinarily high for a boat of that type.' Pictured: The wood-lined interior near the steering wheel 

Mr Burlison added: 'The boat has a very stealth-looking design but the colour can easily be changed if someone didn't want the matte black. Because it was their home it has got everything in it you would need. The spec is extraordinarily high for a boat of that type.' Pictured: The wood-lined interior near the steering wheel 

The boat has a very homely interior, including two wood-lined lavatories on either side of the main corridor. Jo Mason, 66, a former corporate communications manager for a bank, said she and her husband designed the Walhalla after 14 years of living on the water. She said: 'We decided we would carry on living on the water but design something wider with more space and a nice bed - on the narrowboat we had to keep putting the bed up and down'

The boat has a very homely interior, including two wood-lined lavatories on either side of the main corridor. Jo Mason, 66, a former corporate communications manager for a bank, said she and her husband designed the Walhalla after 14 years of living on the water. She said: 'We decided we would carry on living on the water but design something wider with more space and a nice bed - on the narrowboat we had to keep putting the bed up and down'

Mrs Mason said the boat, including the main bedroom in this picture, has more storage space than the Devon holiday cottage that they own. She added: 'The boat is very unique in the way we have designed it. It would make a lovely home and lots of people would buy it just to have as a houseboat and that's fine too. Although it would be nice to think of it achieving our ambition of going abroad'

Mrs Mason said the boat, including the main bedroom in this picture, has more storage space than the Devon holiday cottage that they own. She added: 'The boat is very unique in the way we have designed it. It would make a lovely home and lots of people would buy it just to have as a houseboat and that's fine too. Although it would be nice to think of it achieving our ambition of going abroad'

Mrs Mason, pictured, said summer felt like 'one long holiday' in the Walhalla The Walhalla cruising along the canal

Mrs Mason, pictured left, said summer felt like 'one long holiday' in the Walhalla, right. She said: 'We have had a lovely time on it, summer is one long holiday. We'd be travelling from April to November, mooring wherever we like. It will travel in some of the wider canals too but we tended to spend most of our time on the Thames'

 Mrs Mason said thrusters and hydraulics mean the boat is easy to drive despite its size. She added: 'Lots of people who retire buy a camper van but we thought this was better - we have far more space than a campervan, better joinery and no traffic. It has thrusters and hydraulics so it's easy to drive and manoeuvre despite its size. It's like a floating cottage really'

 Mrs Mason said thrusters and hydraulics mean the boat is easy to drive despite its size. She added: 'Lots of people who retire buy a camper van but we thought this was better - we have far more space than a campervan, better joinery and no traffic. It has thrusters and hydraulics so it's easy to drive and manoeuvre despite its size. It's like a floating cottage really'

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