Boat hire on the River Thames

Hire a boat for a day, short break or boating holiday

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update - Self-drive boat hire and charters can now operate in England 

The public are allowed to hire or charter a boat with people from their own household or support bubble. Businesses have appropriate social distancing measures in place, including during boat handovers. Boats will be cleaned thoroughly between users.

If you prefer to take control, enjoy a few hours in a row boat, take a motor cruise for a spin over the weekend or relax with a week on a narrowboat read on...

There are a wide variety of boat hire companies on the River Thames offering everything from a canoe to a luxury skippered motor cruiser. Whatever time you’ve got available there’ll be a boat hire option to suit you.

Visit Thames Recommends the following for Self-drive Day Boat Hire

• Hobbs of Henley - Self-Drive Motor Launches, Rowing Boats, Self-Drive Electric Launches and Edwardian Style ‘Self-Drive’ Launches.
• Salters Steamers, Oxford - Punts, Rowing Boat, Electric Topic Motorboat, Diesel Day Boat
• Kris Cruisers, Datchet - Electric or Diesel engined motor boats
• Pure Boating – A selection of electric boats with a capacity of 5, 7, 8, 10 and 11. They all have a canopy apart from the 5 seater.
• Moose Canoe and SUP Hire offers canoe hire from its base at the National Sports Centre, Bisham Abbey.
• London Kayak Tours, Windsor, Hampton Court and Regents Canal. Enjoy kayaking with an experienced guide.
• Henley Canoe Hire - along the river Thames through Oxon, Bucks & Berks. Choose from: the whole of the Thames challenge,1 or 2 day hire packages, bespoke trips for everyone from families and small groups, up to larger group outings, for first time canoers to experienced paddlers.

Take a look at Boating Holidays for the full range of overnight, short breaks or week long cruiser hire including Hotel Boats.

Have you got questions about boat hire? Check out our Boat Hire FAQs.

Private Charters are great for special occasions, unforgettable events with family, friends and colleagues. Many of the boat operators on the River Thames offer boats for private charter for a half day or a day with your very own skipper.

• Henley Sales & Charter has the Classic Boat Collection comprising of a range of stylish, iconic river launches catering from 4 – 40. 
• Hobbs of Henley has chauffeur driven Edwardian launches. 
• Private Boat Hire Ltd - Choose from three luxury river cruisers (Fringilla, Larus and Sula) available for hire by the hour in Windsor, Maidenhead and Bray hired with a fully qualified experienced skipper.
• Kalbarri Charters run a privately skippered award-winning restored classic motor cruiser, operating between Windsor and Henley.
• French Brothers has boats for private hire, whether it be a birthday, corporate event or a family party. Please see the website for details.

Dragon Boat Trips – Get a few friends together and have fun on a Dragon Boat with Team Activity Group, or enter a team into the Marlow Dragon Boat Festival.

The Official British Marine App

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

TAKE A LOOK AT BOAT TRIPS OR CRUISING HOLIDAYS ALONG THE RIVER THAMES COMPREHENSIVE BOATING INFORMATION ABOUT THE RIVER THAMES IS AVAILABLE HERE