Thinking of a River Thames Boating holiday this year? Wise choice. At least we at Breakfree Holidays think so! We’ve done a thorough search for you to get the most up-to-date info on our cruisers and luxury boats for hire on the River Thames.
According to our partners at Le Boat, River Thames boating holidays are the number one family choice, so be sure to plan a stop off at Windsor to make a trip to Legoland! Cruise down the River Thames to admire the beautiful architecture in the historic university town of Oxford, the charming town of Marlow, or the glamour of Hampton Court Palace. You can even take your Thames cruise through west London and central London – wherever the Thames flows!
Your self-drive boating holiday enables you to discover some of South England’s greatest treasures from the truly unique vantage point of your canal boat. It’s sure to be a holiday you won’t forget! Here are our top 4 picks for boating holidays on the River Thames.
Boating Holidays: Thames & Beyond
1. Chertsey Return
Location: Penton Hook Marina, Chertsey, Surrey
Best for: London and Hampton Court Palace
Sightseeing opportunities abound on this Thames boating route which offers great ease to explore London, its surrounding attractions, towns and villages. With its nearby waterside pubs, shops and restaurants, Chertsey is a fantastic base from which to start your River Thames holidays.
Witness where King Henry VIII lived and breathed in his famous summer abode, Hampton Court Palace, just three hours along the Thames from your starting point, with Kingston and connections to London just half an hour away after that. Pack a lunch, and enjoy a picnic in the Royal Gardens after witnessing the wonder of the royal residence to make the most of the Southern sunshine. Cast off in the direction of Windsor Castle, and appreciate the magnificent countryside landscape surrounding Eton from your well-equipped canal boat.
Facilities: The boat hire options are vast from luxury cruisers with ‘Premier’ to ‘Comfort Plus & Comfort’ cruisers to suit a range of budgets. If you’re felling hungry the base at Chertsey has a Leftbank restaurant on hand to serve its hungry sailors and also provides toilets, showers and laundry facilities. Fishing is allowed with a license but, just so you know, the close of the season is 15th March until the 16th June. A typical boat, be it budget or premier, sleeps four people with two cabins, often with a convertible settee or fold-down bunk to sleep another guest. Lock access is also included with the boat hire.
2. Benson Return
Location: Benson Waterfront, Benson, Oxon
Best for: Oxford and Abingdon
Set the dial to cruise control, because on this side of the River Thames, you can take advantage of some quality cruising hours alongside the beautiful towns and villages. Take in the stunning country views on your way to visit the famous hallowed halls of Oxford or head east to Henley-on-Thames in 6 hours; with Royal Windsor, it is 12 hours along the river from Benson. See what it’s like to live like royalty.
Stop off in the ancient market town of Abingdon on your way west and visit the 7th Century Abingdon Abbey and Abingdon County Hall Museum before stopping off in the Abbey meadow for a picnic.
Make the most of your excellent starting point location and really explore all that Oxford has to offer. Search for a one-off find in an antique shop, have a drink at quaint riverside pubs and treat yourself to a spot of shopping. Then, at the end of the day, retreat to your self-drive boat to plan where you’ll go next.
Facilities: With a vast range of boats available for hire, equipped with comfortable cabins, showers, fully equipped kitchens and capacity for 4-10 passengers this break is perfect for a family or a large group looking for a fantastic Thames boating holiday. Benson also has great nearby watering holes if you’re in the mood for a meal out, such as The George Hotel, the Three Horseshoes, and Stoney’s all offering up great food and drinks for hungry holidaymakers. There are also nearby shops and a greengrocer with toilets, showers, and Wifi at Benson base.
3. Benson to Chertsey
Location: Benson Waterfront, Benson, Oxon
Best for: Henley-on-Thames and Marlow
You won’t have to search far for things to do with so many great places to stop your cruiser at on the way from Benson to Chertsey: Beale Park, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow, Cliveden House, Windsor Castle – you’re spoilt for choice!
There’s fun to be had for all the family at Beale Wildlife Park which has an exciting array of exotic animals, birds and farm animals with play areas for the kids.
Famous for the Henley Regatta, Henley-on-Thames is the heritage town of rowing and known for being voted one of the most beautiful towns in England; so much so that Midsomer Murders is often seen filming here. Dock your cruiser and take a walk along the Thames en route to visit the river and rowing museum, then head into town for a delicious meal out in one of its historic pubs.
Facilities: Benson has nearby restaurants, shops and also hotels should you want to link up with others on your boating holidays. There’s the Three Horseshoes, The Crown Inn and The George Hotel. Included in your boat hire fee (and this is across the board with Le Boat) are towels and linen for all passengers, a boat handling demonstration before departure, passage through locks and technical support, onboard maps and visitor information. From Benson, it’s 22 locks to Le Boats’ base in Chertsey.
4. Chertsey to Benson
Location: Le Boat Chertsey, Penton Hook Marina, Chertsey
Best for: Thorpe Park and Windsor Castle.
Start off your River Thames boat holiday by visiting Hampton Court to see how the other half lived hundreds of years ago. If you dock in Kingston you’ll have access to London city should you wish to do any more sightseeing before cruising west in your canal boat. Alternatively, take a luxury cruise to Windsor Castle to explore the Royal family’s most frequented abode, passing Thorpe park on the way for any adrenaline seekers amongst you!
Cruise further down the Thames and you’ll discover Cliveden house, known for being where Bridgerton filmed many of its scenes. Pack a picnic and enjoy the National Trust park and gardens, or have some coffee and cake in the Conservatory cafe. Stop off in Marlow for a meal you won’t forget at The Hand & Flowers, the first Gastropub to get 2 Michelin stars, and have a beer brewed locally by the award-winning Rebellion Beer Company.
Facilities: With so many great cruisers to choose from you just can’t go amiss with the boating holidays on offer here. The Premier range has the newest luxury models available, the Comfort & Comfort Plus offers well-equipped, quality boats of various ages and the Budget range has older, much-loved options. Head over to the Le Boat website to look at individual models to get a better idea of the boats for hire and what features they have.
From River Thames Boat Hire to Distant Shores
Want to book a boat hire in Holland? Cruise down the Caledonian Canal in Scotland? With lots of great holidays on offer internationally, Breakfree Holidays has everything you need to book your best holiday yet! Head over to our website or, if you want to do some more research on what a boating holiday entails, check out our new to boating article here.