Messing About on the River Thames

The simplest way to explore the river is a rowing boat, or if you are looking for an adventure why not hire a boat for the week or a few days and create some great family memories. Have a go at canoeing with Henley Canoe Hire. Many train stations are within walking distance of the Thames Path so leave the car at home and make a day of it with a walk along the River!

• Hobbs of Henley provides rowing boats and a variety of other self-drive options available for hire by the hour or by the day including diesel, outboard and electric launches. Take a picnic and enjoy a lazy summer's day boating. For a special family occasion book an Edwardian launch for up to12.
• Salters Steamers offers a different type of boating experience. As well as electric motorboats and diesel day boats, Salters hires punts. Punting remains one of the most enjoyable summer activities and a quintessential pastime for Oxonians.

Also hire self-drive electric boats from Kris Cruisers at Datchet, near Windsor or Pure Boating at Wallingford

If you want to be more active try canoeing:

• Henley Canoe Hire are based in Henley-on-Thames but will meet you at various stations along the river outside of London. Choose from day hire, weekend or ‘Whole of Thames Challenge’ 6 days Lechlade to Teddingon.

If you want to take a more leisurely option and have time to view the interesting sights, join a public river cruise with Hobbs of Henley, French Brothers at Windsor, Salters Steamers at various points between Oxford and Windsor, Thames Rivercruise at Caversham or City Cruises in London, provided on all-weather boats.

• French Brothers offers a variety of cruise options and at this time of year the most popular one is the 40 minute trip from Windsor travelling upstream to Boveney Lock. The view of the castle from the river is undoubtedly the finest there is and the trip is a good length for children. Home Park is close by providing excellent playground and picnic facilities. The wildlife of the River Thames is well known for providing the inspiration for Kenneth Grahame’s ‘The Wind in the Willows’. Join a voyage of discovery with the Chilterns Conservation Board to spot the hidden nature along the Thames and is ideal for families.
• If you’re in London City Cruises offers the Family River Red a great value sightseeing ticket (24 hr pass) from just £18.45 per adult and £12 per child. The River Red Rover is all-day hop on, hop off Thames river pass offering unlimited access to the river for 24 hours. You can hop on and hop off at any one of four piers, with open passage on any City Cruises sightseeing boats for a full day spent exploring the sights of the Thames. Family Ticket (2A + 3C) £37.50
•  Or why not try City Cruises Thamesjet! A full-on, adrenaline-fueled ride of your life on the only jet boat fleet on the river (well apart from police and military boats which patrol the Thames).

Or try one of the themed cruises:

• Salters Steamers - Alice in Wonderland Cruise -2.5 hour round trip taking in views of Iffley Lock passing through Osney Lock into Port Meadow with its abundance of wildlife.
• Hobbs of Henley – Wildlife Cruise – 24^th July 7^th, 14^th, 21^st, 28^th August
• French Brothers – Historic Steamboat Cruise - A cruise on a genuine steam vessel and a journey that takes you through the back garden of Windsor Castle and history unfolds.
• Take a river cruise with Thames Rivercruise through Wind in the Willows County to Beale Wildlife Park and enjoy exploring the Wildlife Park set in 30 acres of gardens. For the children there’s also a Little Tikes Outdoor Village and miniature train.

Check out the full programme of themed cruises

For something not on the water:

Cliveden National Trust gardens are glorious gardens overlooking the River Thames. The impressive gardens and majestic woodlands capture the grandeur of a bygone age. For younger visitors, the Storybook Play Den encourages imaginations to run wild as you play amongst wooden carvings of favourite storybook characters whilst the 500 metres of winding paths in the Cliveden Maze make it a challenge for all ages to find the centre.

• Summer of colour children’s trail Explore all things colourful In cliveden’s grounds, before making your very own take-home craft.
• Tree Climbing Enjoy views from above the estate and then zip line your way back down.
• Outdoor Theatre: A selection of different outdoor theatre events

Hampton Court Palace
Discover the value for money family ticket at Hampton Court Palace; includes access to the palace, maze and gardens, plus a multi-language audio guide, costumed guided tours, children's activity trails, new Magic Garden play area, the Tudor Kitchens, the Young Henry VIII exhibition and much more. Family trails are the perfect way to explore Hampton Court Palace and a ghostly children’s trail is available to help you track down our ghosts...

Savill Garden
The Savill Garden offers beautiful gardens with buggy-friendly paths - consider combining a trip to the nearby Obelisk Lawn play area with an afternoon in The Savill Garden for a fun family day out. It’s free for children under 6 to visit The Savill Garden, and there are excellent offers for families and children under 16.

Stonor Park

For children up to 15 Wonder Woods at Stonor - provides hours of entertainment including swinging, jumping, sliding and learning.For little ones there’s super-soft sand and pumping water or a playhouse. Older children can climb the Wonder Wood pile and twisty rope tangle and there’s the 50 metre zip wire. Includes a picnic area.

Big Tree Climb, 9th August

The Great Big Tree Climbing Co.returns, so try your hand at climbing one of our biggest trees.

Museums are fun places these days and great for rainy days

The River & Rowing Museum, Henley shows what a great time can be had in a museum. Why not visit on one of the Family Days which offer extra activities for your admission price. There are a range of holiday activities to choose from, this summer from 20 Jul to 20 Sep includes:

• Pirates, pants and wellyphants - Nick Sharratt, the man behind the instantly recognisable illustrations for Jacqueline Wilson’s Tracy Beaker books, is the subject of this colourful, humorous and hands-on exhibition. Families can have a go at drawing a selection of his characters using a light box. Have a go at dressing up in a selection of whacky costumes.
• Yo Ho Ho 31^st July 10.30- 12.30 Make a pirate’s chest containing secret treasures. See some real treasure and discover Nick Sharratt’s swashbuckling tales! 4 – 7yrs
• Taylor Tugs Holiday Happenings  1^st August 10.30-12.00. Creative summer fun, with song, craft and games. 18 months – 5yrs
• Clay Carnival 2 Aug 10.30am – 12.30pm Make a clay pot and decorate it with relief models inspired by the characters in Pirates, Pants and Wellyphants.  7 – 11yrs
• Anchors Away! 8 Aug 10.30am – 12.30pm Investigate how boats move and float, then make your own elastic band or balloon powered vessel. 7 – 11yrs
• Wind in the Willows Silk Painting 9 Aug 10.30am – 12.30pm Have a go at painting Ratty, Toad, Badger or Mole on silk 12 - 16yrs
• Re-create, Reduce, Recycle! 14 Aug 10.30am – 12.30pm Design your own recycled hanging mobile to celebrate life in the river. 7-11yrs
• Kings & Kittens 22 Aug 10.30am - 12.30pm Hear the story of the Cat and the King by Nick Sharratt. Make a castle and a cat. 4 - 7 yrs
• Going Green 30 Aug Drop in 10.30 – 3pm Various activities

Booking is essential for all workshops – call 01491 415600.  Adults must stay in the workshop with children under 7yrs.

Oxford Castle & Prison -Take a costume-guided tour today and let the characters reveal their fascinating stories entrenched in the building’s 1,000 year history. Climb the Saxon St George’s Tower, descend to the 900 year old crypt, explore the Debtors’ Tower and Prison D-Wing and scale the Mound of the 11th century motte-and-bailey castle.

Explore the towns and villages

Explore Henley-on-Thames,  Marlow, Reading or Windsor and discover how much there is to do. Check out the Daily Express's 10 Things to Do in Windsor.

Looking for something different to do this summer, take a family activity break or a family getaway on the River Thames or take a Boating Holiday.