10-day and two week breaks on the River Thames
Cookham and back (133 miles, 46 locks, 50 hours)
Starting from our Oxford base, cruise along the River Thames towards Oxford. You’ll pass Wytham Great Wood before reaching King’s Lock. Next you’ll reach Godstow, where you’ll see the ruins of Godstow Priory next to the lock. You can moor up here and walk over to The Trout Inn, made famous by Inspector Morse. On reaching Oxford, you can moor close to Osney Bridge or Isis Lock close to the city centre. This world famous city offers so many places to visit, including the Ashmolean Museum, Bodleian Library, Carfax Tower, Natural History Museum and Oxford Castle. Continue on along the River Thames past woods and meadows before reaching Abingdon Lock. Soon after the lock, you’ll reach moorings alongside meadowlands and close to the riverside Nag’s Head pub. The historic market town of Abingdon has historic sites to explore, including the Abbey Gardens and St Helen’s Church and plenty of places to eat. Continue heading east along the River Thames from Abingdon, to the historic town Wallingford. Agatha Christie lived there and many episodes of Midsomer Murders have been filmed there. The town also has plenty of pubs, cafés and restaurants, including The Old Post Office and Shellfish Cow restaurants. Places to visit include the Wallingford Museum, Wallingford Castle Gardens and there’s a Midsomer Murder Trail to follow. Next you’ll reach Goring with a heritage trail to follow and a choice of places to eat, including Pierreponts café and Masooms Tandoori Restaurant. Continue on past Beale Park Wildlife Park to Pangbourne with its riverside Swan pub. After passing through Mapleduram, you’ll reach Reading, with its Oracle shopping centre and Reading Museum, home to half a million objects, crossing archaeology, art, natural history, social history and world cultures, including Britain’s Bayeux Tapestry. Next you’ll reach the village of Sonning with its riverside Coppa Club and impressive St Andrew’s Church and historic Bull Inn next door. Soon after you’ll arrive in Henley-on-Thames, with its riverside River & Rowing Museum and excellent choice of independent shops, restaurants and cafes, including the Shellfish Cow Restaurant. Next you’ll reach Hurley, with its pretty high street and choice of pubs, including The Sun and The Olde Bell. It also has a village shop. Next you’ll cruise through the Georgian town of Marlow with its pretty high street, choice of restaurants, including the Michelin starred Compleat Angler, Vanilla Pod and Hand & Flowers. You’ll pass through Bourne End next, with its riverside restaurant at Bourne End Marina and Bounty pub. A little further along, moor up at Cookham Bridge to visit Cookham and its Stanley Spencer gallery. Places to eat on Cookham high street, not far from the river, include Bel & The Dragon, The King’s Arms, The Teapot Cafe and Malik’s Indian Restaurant.
Windsor and back (149 miles, 52 locks, 58 hours)
Continue heading east on along the River Thames from Cookham. You’ll cruise past the woodlands of the National Trust’s Cliveden, with views of the historic house up on the hill above. You’ll go through Boulter’s Lock with its popular riverside pub in Maidenhead. Then on through Bray with its two Michelin starred restaurants – The Waterside and The Fat Duck. There’s also a choice of pubs – The Crown and The Hinds Head. Continue meandering through the Berkshire countryside and you’ll soon reach Royal Windsor and Eton. You can moor up to explore Windsor Castle and St George’s Chapel, one of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in England and where 11 monachs are buried, including Queen Elizabeth II and Henry VII.
