Picnics afloat on the River Thames
What could be easier and more fun than drifting along the river while tucking in to a delicious hamper of treats? Pack up your own picnic and hire a small boat or why not get a hamper made up for you!
The following restaurants make hampers ordered in advance and offer boats perfect for picnics afloat:
The Beetle and Wedge Boathouse in Moulsford near Goring
This restaurant’s charming wooden launch can seat up to 10 people comfortably. Delicious picnic hampers can be ordered at the Beetle and Wedge to be eaten on board, or you could use the boat to enjoy a couple of pre-dinner drinks on the river. One hour boat hire costs £50 and four hours costs £150. Hampers ordered 48 hours in advance cost from £15 per person and include cheeses, salads, gravadlax, chutneys, baguettes, melon and strawberries. See here for more information.
The Swan at Streatley
For just £20 per hour (£25 at the weekend) you can hire one of The Swan's electric motor launches and spend an afternoon afloat, quietly drifting along the river. The Swan will provide picnic hampers ordered in advance so you can enjoy your meal on the river. See here for more information.
The Compleat Angler in Marlow
Cruise the River Thames in style with The Compleat Angler’s Edwardian-style electric launch, available for up to six people for £85/95 per hour and £75/85 per hour after. A picnic platter for four people consisting of poached salmon, sandwiches, salads, scones, cheese and biscuits and strawberries and cream costs £36 and must be ordered 24 hours in advance. Smaller picnics can ordered for £25. See here for more information.
Runnymede Hotel & Spa
Enjoy a lazy day cruising in this hotel’s private electric six-seater boat, available for £40 an hour, £75 for two hours, £110 for three hours and so on. Picnic boxes complete with tablecloth, napkins and cutlery are available for £14.50 per person if ordered the day before. Choose from sandwiches, salads, light snacks and drinks. See here for more information.
Day boats for hire –bring your own picnic
If you want to pack your own hamper then try out one of these hire boat businesses with boats ranging from motor boats and electric boats to punts and rowing boats.
Cotswold Boat Hire offers a wide selection of boats for hire including small covered motor boat, open top electric boats and rowing boats – all perfect for picnics! The motor boats seat up to five people and cost from £80 for four hours, the electric boats £25 per hour and the rowing boats £15 per hour. Cotswold Boat Hire is based in Lechlade next to St John’s Lock at the Trout Inn. See www.cotswoldboat.co.uk.
Oxford River Cruises offers a wide selection of luxury boats for hire including electric motor boats and rowing boats seating four people and punts seating six. Electric boats cost £35 per hour, punts £20 and rowing boats £15. See www.oxfordrivercruises.com.
Henley Sales and Charter has a delightful new electric day boat based at Bourne End near Cookham called 'Ratty n Mole' which sits eight. Cruise along this beautiful stretch of river with your picnic for £150 for four hours or £250 for a full day. Call 0781 391 7730 to book. See here for more information.
Kris Cruisers based in Datchet near Windsor offers a selection of covered electric boats, perfect for all weather, seating between six and ten people and costing between £24 and £38 per hour. See www.kriscruisers.co.uk.
Hobbs of Henley based in Henley town centre offers a four-seater motor boat at £25 per hour, a six-seater electric boat at £47.50 per hour and three/five-seater rowing boats at £15/20 per hour. See www.hobbsofhenley.com.
For those of you who prefer to stay on land see here for a full list of riverside picnic spots perfect for outside eating this summer.