Now Nicola Sturgeon embraces London life as she relaxes on her friend's £150k houseboat... on the Grand UNION Canal!

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 11:53 EDT, 19 September 2026 | Updated: 11:58 EDT, 19 September 2026 As a lifelong agitator for independence from the UK, there was uproar and more than a few raised eyebrows when Nicola Sturgeon decided to quit her beloved Scotland to live in England...However, the former First Minister seems to have completely embraced a quintessentially traditionally English lifestyle by spending her spare time on a £150,000 houseboat.And rather ironically, the get-away-from-it-all boat which is owned by one of Ms Sturgeon’s close friends – is berthed on the historic Grand UNION Canal which links London and the Midlands!While her estranged spouse Peter Murrell adapts to life in jail and the political row over his embezzlement rumbles on, Ms Sturgeon has been posting pictures on social media enjoying an altogether more peaceful existence messing around on the canal.The narrowboat, which is owned by her friend Claire Mitchell KC, has been finished to a high standard and boasts an exquisite open-plan living area complete with modern fixtures and trendy furnishings and décor.As well as having a bedroom with a double bed, there is a sofa bed in the spacious living area, which also benefits from a cosy stove. Ms Sturgeon shared a selfie taken on the canal after she completed a run through the capital Ms Sturgeon and her friend Claire Mitchell KC attending an ABBA concert this yearThe boat is berthed in a desirable area of the capital and just a short walk from trendy bars and expensive restaurants.Ms Sturgeon, 56, first shared images from the boat on May 26 as the vessel trundled along the Grand Union Canal.Alongside the images, which included one of her smiling on deck with a life preserver round her neck, she wrote: ‘Some time spent on the water today, in glorious sunshine with good friends, was great fun and good for the soul.’The post came just hours after her estranged husband Murrell was convicted of embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP during his time as its chief executive.Later, in July, another outing in London saw her photographed drinking wine while dining alfresco, just days after Murrell was sentenced to more than five years for his crimes.On that occasion, Ms Sturgeon met leading human rights lawyer Ms Mitchell at Golborne Bistro in fashionable Notting Hill.At the start of this month, she shared yet another selfie taken on the quiet waterway.The photo was posted as the former SNP leader laid out a regime of going to the gym, lifting weights and running in preparation for a ‘half marathon’ next spring.She also shared pictures of other narrowboats on the canal, alongside a caption reading ‘the view’.On Tuesday, there was another slew of photos from the canal – including yet another selfie of Ms Sturgeon on the narrowboat.Decked out in running gear again, Ms Sturgeon explained in an accompanying message to her 140,000-odd followers that she had just been for a run.She wrote: ‘Keeping myself accountable on the half marathon training! Also…carrying my laptop in a backpack while running surely counts as weight training?! Now for a day at my laptop.’Ms Sturgeon’s outings in London have come amid a hectic 12-month period that she has travelled the length and breadth of the UK and Ireland promoting her memoir Frankly.Such is the nature of her new life and work that she has even signed up with London-based talent firm United Agents, which represents big-name stars such as Olivia Colman, Eddie Redmayne and comedian James Corden.