River Thames Boating Holidays

Boating holidays on the River Thames are a relaxing way to travel and explore the landscape and towns and cities along England’s greatest river. There are some great places to stop and eat along the river.

With an amazing selection of boating holidays from self-drive boat hire to the ultimate luxury of a hotel barge, where you have your own skipper and all meals prepared, you can be sure you’ll travel in style and comfort.

Hotel Boats Cruising on the River Thames

Luxury boating holidays along the Thames include an all-inclusive cruise on a choice of luxury hotel boats offering a unique way to explore the Thames. Choose from the elegant and spacious hotel barge, Magna Carta, which accommodates 8 passengers; heated spa pool and contemporary en suite facilities for the four spacious 200sq ft. suites.

Or the award-winning African Queen, offering a remedy to the daily hustle and bustle. Enjoy delicious meals, wonderful company and fantastic hospitality as you cruise through Wind in the Willows country. Includes dinner and a performance at the Mill at Sonning.

KAILANI is a luxury wide beam Hotel Boat, crewed and fully catered, cruising England’s southern waterways. Independently assessed by Visit England as 5 stars and awarded their Gold Accolade in 2018 for its quality of fittings, exceptional standard of housekeeping and guest feedback reviews on hospitality. Kailani is the first hotel boat to receive this prestigious award and is the only hotel boat licensed by the Port of London Authority to cover the tidal section through central London.

Or fancy luxury self-drive boat hire on the River Thames? 

Hobbs of Henley has 2 luxury Linssen Cruisers; Jacqueline and  Midsomer, which are available for weekend or weekly hire. With spacious cabins, showers and well equipped kitchens you’ll be completely self-contained as you explore the Thames and Midsomer Country. Choose from 9 Midsomer Murders villages and 30 different filming locations around the Thames. Take in the historic market towns and villages of Henley, Sonning,Goring & Streatley, Wallingford, Dorchester, Moulsford, Wargrave, Hambleden and Marlow.

Le Boat is Europe’s No 1 boating holiday company and provides a wide selection of boats, with different features and styles and sizes, from 2-12 people. Le Boat operates from two bases on the River Thames – Benson and Chertsey with a huge choice of itineraries and models. The Royal cruise takes you one way from Benson in Oxfordshire to Chertsey in Surrey, passing through Windsor and its famous castle (the Queen’s weekend home) and Runnymede where the Magna Carta was signed. Or take the Scholars’ Cruise to Oxford, England’s city of learning and include some bird-watching at Benson Lock.

Kris Cruisers operates a fleet of 15 cruisers ranging in size from a 29ft 2 berth cruiser to a 48ft 10 berth cruiser. Based at Datchet, near Windsor, it’s easy to meander along the Thames to Hampton Court Palace. 

Calmer Cruising’s Sancerre, built in 2014, is a luxury self-drive 60ft by 11ft widebeam canal boat. Start from near Marlow to cruise in superior style through the historic town of Windsor to Hampton Court, and visit the quiet villages of Cookham and Bray.

Bygone Boating offers two luxury wooden boats lovingly restored by Jeff and Sue from their base in Benson. Bernadette II  and Claudette IV are well-equipped and offer central heating for  those cooler mornings.

Thames Narrowboat Holidays - based at Penton Hook Marina, choose from four or six berth boats and cruise past Hampton Court Palace, Henley, Marlow, Windsor and Windsor Castle.

Kalbarri Thames Charters offers a night on board - there are 6 berths, two en suite doubles and a cabin with twin bunks. 

Check out individual boat operators for 2019 discounts. Download our River Holidays PDF for more information.

Useful App for planning your days out during your trip along the Thames.

The Official British Marine App helps you plan your day while on holiday. The complete App solution for planning your leisure activities during your trip on the  non-tidal and tidal River Thames; from Lechlade to the Thames Barrier. For smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops; iOS, Android, Amazon Fire, macOS, Windows

BoatCoSafe Campaign

Mandatory installation of Carbon Monoxide alarms on enclosed boats in UK waterways would save lives. Find out about the Carbon Monoxide Alarm Campaign.