Our guide to the waterways
of the UK in detail.
The River Thames.
The Thames in its total navigable length
of over 146 miles takes many different forms.
The upper Thames from Lechlade to Oxford.
Navigation on the River Thames begins at the junction with the
Thames and Severn canal just to the west of Lechlade. The river in this stretch
is narrow and often meanders extravagantly. It is very beautiful and quiet as
it travels its way through the country. Any settlement is rare. The nine locks
are spread out and all hand operated by their lock keepers. It can only be travelled
slowly because of the numerous very sharp bends. It is definitely a section
of river to unwind on.
This twenty-eight mile long stretch finishes when you arrive at
the outskirts of Oxford at King's lock just above which is the entrance to Duke's
cut which will take boats over the mile to connect with the Oxford canal.
Oxford.
After passing the entrance to Duke's cut across to the Oxford
canal for four miles the Thames runs parallel to but well separated from the
city of Oxford. At first very narrow then very broad but shallow at the edges.
Both locks on this stretch are at the upper end. As the river reaches the edge
of the built up area Sheepwash channel goes off to the East to connect with
the bottom of the Oxford canal.
The river now has housing on both banks, it passes under the very
low Osney Bridge and goes down Osney lock, it twist around under several bridges
before going under Folly bridge past moored pleasure steamers.
The final stretch through Oxford is once again broad and accompanied
by fields but it is rarely quiet. It is the home of the racing boats, everything
from a single up to racing eight's can be seen in this stretch above Ifley lock.
Oxford to Reading.
The river is now broad, we will usually stay breasted up for this
stretch. of thirty-seven miles and twelve well spread out keeper operated locks.
Several towns and villages are passed through, Abingdon, Dorchester, Wallingford
and Goring. We usually take the chance to have lunch on the move and to stop
at some of the towns for an hours visit ashore.
The river is surrounded by fields and woods for most of the stretch.
Only for the last three miles as we approach Reading itself does civilisation
return as housing closes in.
Reading to Weybridge.
This stretch in it's forty-three miles has seventeen locks. It
is well described as the Royal River passing through
- Henley on Thames, home of the famous Regatta.
- Marlow.
- Maidenhead.
- Windsor. Both the royal castle and the world famous public school of Eaton
are visible off the river.
- Staines.
As a result again we will have lunch on the move and stop for brief visits
to some of these attractions. If guests so wish we can also cruise before and
during Breakfast to make time for longer visits ashore.
Finally we arrive at Weybridge. Along the way are numerous rowing centres,
pleasure boats and steamers of all styles and sizes.
Weybridge to Teddington.
This eleven mile stretch of the lock is broad and developed. Along its banks
Londoners have developed houses to move out to. The grandest being Hampton Court
which has it's own moorings and we usually moor here for half a day to give
the chance of a visit.
There are just three locks on this stretch, the last being Teddington were
the tidal stretch of the Thames starts.
Tidal River.
There are two stretches travelled by canal boats. The first is from Teddington
five miles down to Brentford and the entrance to the bottom end of the Grand
Union canal. This stretch passes Ricnmond and alongside Kew gardens but we are
unable to stop of this tidal stretch as we need to navigate with the tidal as
directed by the keepers.
The second fifteen mile stretch goes from Brentfor right through the heart
of the city of London to come off the River Thames at Limehouse docks which
their connection to the Lee & Sort navigation or via Regents canal back
to the Grand Union canal. As this is tidal we are not able to stop on the passage
and again our timing will be controlled by the lock keepers as to when we start.
This can be a spectacular cruise through London. It is however busy with commercial
traffic and a tricky stretch of river. So if we offer it, it will be with a
pilot abroad to ensure our safety.
After Limehouse the Thames continues to grow as it heads towards the Thames
estuary out of the normal cruising area of canal boats. So we do not cruise
on the river down here.
Places to visit near the river.
N.B. Near means within a couple of miles, not all are
adjacent to the river.
General information. Oxford
City. / Visit
Oxford.
The Museums
of Oxford.
- The
Ashmolean Museum of Art and Archaeology was founded in 1683.
It is one of the oldest museums in the world and was the first museum
in Britain to be open to the public.
- The University
Museum of Natural History houses the University's scientific
collections of zoological, entomological, palaeontological and mineral
specimens.
- The Pitt
Rivers Museum is a world famous ethnographic museum, celebrating
human cultural creativity.
- The Museum
of the History of Science houses an unrivalled collection of
historic scientific instruments.
- The
Bate Collection of Musical Instruments includes historical woodwind,
brass and percussion instruments; over a dozen historical keyboard
instruments; and a complete bow-maker's workshop
- The University of Oxford
Botanic Garden is the oldest botanic garden in Britain, and
the most compact yet diverse collection of plants in the world.
- Founded in 1602, and with over 8 million volumes, the Bodleian
Library Exhibitions draw on the large number of manuscripts
and rare printed books.
There are 39 colleges which together make up the University
of Oxford . Listed below are five which I think are the finest and open
to the public at least in part. The site Visiting
the University lists all the colleges if you wish to visit a particular
college not listed here.
- Magdalen
College.
- Christ
Church College. Christ Church is a unique institution, one of
the largest colleges in the University of Oxford and, at the same
time, the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Oxford.
- New
College Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham, our historic
site is located in the centre of the city.
- Founded in 1517, Corpus
Christi is amongst Oxford’s oldest colleges. Its 16th and
18th century buildings are some of the most beautiful in Oxford,
and it enjoys an unrivalled position, overlooking gardens and meadows
yet within five minutes walk of the city centre and the Bodleian
Library.
- Mansfield
College. occupies one of the most attractive sites in Oxford.
The 1886 buildings, which house all the College's public rooms,
are regarded as amongst the finest work of the important Victorian
architect, Basil Champneys. It is the youngest and smallest of the
University's colleges,
In addition you can wander around Oxford soaking up the
atmosphere or you can
- Hire
a punt to experience the River from this traditional viewpoint.
- Sightseeing
Bus Hop On - Hop Off! 20 stops including, Christ Church College,
Sheldonian Theatre, Queen's College, Martyr's Memorial, Trinity
College and Oxford Tourist Information Centre.
- Go on a guided walking
tour. There are many, many on offer.
- Or go Ice Skating at the Oxford
Ice Ring.
There is so much to see along the river, most riverside towns
and villages are worth walking around. In particular.
- Abingdon Town. A place
of great history. Some of the buildings remain of its medieval abbey. A
number of other places to visit including Abingdon Museum. Alongside the
river.
- Abingdon
Museum is housed in the spectacular 17th century County Hall. It includes
displays about the history of Abingdon.
- Dorchester
Village. A charming village once a Celtic market centre, then a Roman
town, then a centre of Saxon Christianity and a medieval monastery. Now
a quiet village around a magnificent abbey. About 10 to 15 minutes walk
from the river.
- Dorchester
Abbey Museum The museum has displays in the Abbey, notable the newly
opened Cloister Gallery, and in the Old School Room in the adjoining Abbey
Guest House. The Cloister Gallery display, tells the story of the Abbey
through an interpreted collection of carved and moulded medieval stonework.
The displays and artefacts in the Abbey Guest House pick out special features
of the village of Dorchester-on-Thames and its environs, both past and present;
the area has been an important centre of civilisation since Neolithic times,
- Wallingford was a
walled Saxon Town on the Thames, and the remains of the town walls can still
be seen today. The remains of the medieval Castle can be seen from the Castle
Gardens. Today Wallingford is a thriving Market Town.
- Wallingford
Museum. Wallingford Museum is a colourful and delightfully intimate
local history museum, housed on two floors of this medieval oak-beamed building
in the heart of Wallingford. .
- The
Cholsey and Wallingford Railway is a preserved former Great Western
Railway branchline that links the national railway network at Cholsey, with
the historic market town of Wallingford, Oxfordshire. Trains run on selected
weekends and bank holidays throughout the year and, where available, are
steam hauled. A 15 minute walk from the River Thames at the town bridge
in Wallingford.
- Reading,
a large town where the River Kennet joins the River Thames.
- Reading
Museum.The Museum is full of fascinating exhibits about the history
and development of Reading, from the earliest Saxon settlements to our modern
industrial heritage. Featuring Britain's "Bayeaux" tapestry -
the only full size replica of the world's most famous embroidery, and the
Silchester Gallery, housing a varied a display of Roman artefacts found
at the nearby site at Calleva Atrebatum.
- Reading
Museum of Rural life. A national collection depicting farming crafts
and the countryside way of life over the past 150 years, The fascinating
and surprising exhibits will appeal to all ages.
- The
Ure Museum of Greek Archaeology at Reading is recognised as the fourth
largest collection of Greek ceramics in Britain. The collection primarily
consists of material from the Greek and Græco-Roman civilisations
of the Mediterranean.
- Didcot
Railway Centre, collection of Great Western Railway steam engines, coaches,
wagons, buildings and small relics and a recreation of Brunel's broad gauge
railway. A major railway centre about 20 minutes by Taxi to the South of
the river.
- Basildon
Park. A fine mansion built in the late 18th century and lovingly restored
in the 1950's. 30 minutes from the river. .
- Beale Park.. Wildlife Park and
Gardens alongside the Thames.
- River &
Rowing Museum at Henley.. A history of Britain's rowing heritage and vivid
details of the people, the wildlife and the culture through the ages along
the River Thames. Alongside the river.
- Greys
Court is a picturesque Tudor house with a magical series of walled gardens
nesting on a tranquil hillside on the edge of the Chilterns near to Henley.
- Lovibonds
Brewery is in the centre of Henley. Visitors are welcome on Saturdays
from 10:00-18:00.
- Bohun
Gallery in Henley-on-Thames specialises in contemporary British fine art.
- Windsor Castle.
The oldest and largest occupied castle in the world. Magnificent state apartments,
Queen Mary's Dolls' house, the drawings gallery, St. George's chapel and tours
of the castle precincts. About 20 minutes walk from the river.
- Legoland..
A theme park with over 50 interactive rides, live shows and attractions.
- Eton College. One of
the oldest schools in the country founded in 1440.
- Kingston
Museum. has three permanent galleries: Ancient Origins, Town of Kings
and Eadweard Muybridge, and there is an Art Gallery for temporary exhibitions.
- Hampton
Court Palace It is one of the world's finest royal palaces. Set in 60
acres of garden this magnificent palace was built to entertain and impress
royal visitors. It is alongside the river.
After Teddington we are on the tidal river and hence
unable to moor up so no more attractions are listed.
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Web
sites to find out more about this river and places near it.
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Join us on this river in 2008 during
cruises
17
and 21
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Some pictures of this river?
Teddington to Weybridge.
/ Reading to Oxford / Oxford
/ Oxford to Lechlade.
More information from Reed Boats about this
river.
A history of this river.
Find our information about other canals and
rivers on the canal index page.
If you have any questions then do ring us on 07977 229103
or email us at martinreed@reedboats.co.uk
