Detailed below is our Classic England Cruise itinerary.

For families, we are able to create a bespoke itinerary and substitute a maximum of 4 of the detailed excursions with your preferred family activities from the list below.

Due to their nature, some activities carry a supplement and must be booked directly by the customer with the activity provider. All activities are subject to availability. Please contact us direct to discuss your requirements.

The following activities can be included in your cruise fare without supplement and can usually be arranged on board direct with the Captain:

• The Look Out Discovery Centre (hands-on science centre)
• Beale Park (outdoor wildlife park)
• Bekonscot model village (world’s oldest model village & railway)
• Eton College (only Friday afternoons)
• River and Rowing museum Henley (with wind in the willows exhibition)
• Legoland (Lego themed amusement park)
• Warner Brothers Harry Potter Studios (pre-booking necessary!)
• Thorpe Park (thrilling rides amusement park)
• Tennis at the Runnymede (2x AstroTurf, 1x multisport)
• Brooklands museum (home to Concorde, race cars, busses, planes…)

The following activities carry a supplement payable direct to the provider whose individual terms and conditions apply. Please contact us for further information:

• Liquid Leisure (aquatic adventure obstacle course)
• Go Ape (tree top adventures on ropes, swings and zip wires, min. age 10 years)
• Go Ape (forest Segway, min. weight 7 Stone)
• Oakwood Climbing centre (bouldering, climbing)
• Absolutely Karting (double level go karting track, min. age 8 years)
• Delta Force Paintball (movie setting from Casino Royal)
• Bracknell John Nike Leisure sport (Ice rink, skiing, snowboarding)
• Thorpe Lake Waterski (min. age 6 years)

Sunday, Day 1 London to Hampton Court Palace

Meet a crew member at the Stafford Hotel in London at 3pm for an English Afternoon Tea, before being transferred at 4pm to the Magna Carta. On board there will be a Champagne reception and welcome whilst being moored right outside Hampton Court, the former Tudor Palace of Henry VIII, where we remain overnight. Dinner aboard.

Monday, Day 2 Hampton Court Palace to Shepperton

This morning we have ample time to really explore Hampton Court Palace, the most fabulous Tudor home, once belonging to Cardinal Wolsey until acquired by Henry VIII!  We walk through Henry’s great hall and haunted gallery and see his chapel, still used for worship today and with the finest Tudor ceiling in existence. There is much more to see including the stunning privy gardens, the oldest growing grape vine and the famous maze! After lunch we enjoy our first cruise, up through Molesey Lock and following the meandering path of the river through Sunbury to our overnight mooring on Shepperton Lock. Dinner aboard.

Tuesday, Day 3 Shepperton to Windsor

This morning we cruise to Windsor before enjoying lunch on board. Our river journey takes us through Chertsey, past Penton Hook Marina and Bell Weir Lock through Runnymede where King John faced the barons in 1215 and was forced to put his seal on the Magna Carta, the document which was the very first Bill of Rights and from which our vessel takes its name. From the boat we see the Magna Carta memorial and Magna Carta Island where the sealing took place. Our afternoon excursion is to Windsor Castle. Built by William the Conqueror in 1066 and lived in for over 900 years by the Royal Family. This is the largest inhabited castle in the world. We explore the State Apartments, See Queen Mary’s Dolls House and St George’s Chapel and enjoy the far-reaching views from its elevated fortress position. Dinner aboard.

Wednesday, Day 4 Windsor to Cliveden

After breakfast we are driven to Dorney Court. This very special home has been owned by the Palmer family for more than 450 years passing from father to son through 13 generations. King Henry VIII has stayed here and the manor is regularly used for filming including “Poirot” and most recently “The other Boleyn girl” We are lucky to enjoy a private tour of the house. After Dorney Court you have the opportunity to spend some time in Eton or Windsor. As lunch commences on board we start cruising up to Boveney Lock, continue past the fabulous waterside homes of Bray and Maidenhead, Boulters Lock (made famous in Victorian times) and into the spectacular Cliveden reach where we have special permission to moor at the house itself. Dinner aboard.

Thursday, Day 5 Cliveden to Hurley

After breakfast we visit the little village of Cookham. Cookham was once described as ‘Heaven on Earth’ by artist Sir Stanley Spencer, one of England’s greatest and most eccentric painters. Much of his work was painted in and around Cookham. We visit his gallery whilst in Cookham. We then return to Cliveden for our tour there. Cliveden was once owned by the Astor family, though the original house dates back to 1666. The gardens are simply amazing and include a Parterre, Chinese water garden and topiary. We discuss the political intrigue and scandal for which Cliveden is famous!! On your return you will be served a lovely lunch and we start cruising through Bourne End and Marlow to Hurley. Once we are moored up for the night we have time to explore the ancient 11th century village including Ye Olde Belle, reputed to be the oldest inn in the country before returning to the barge. Dinner aboard.

Friday, Day 6 Hurley to Henley on Thames and Oxford

We start our last day with an early morning tour of Peter Freebody’s boatyard and watch in wonder at the traditional craftsman at work, building and restoring wooden boats as they have been done for generations. We continue the day with a morning cruise to Henley on Thames through fabulous countryside to our final mooring Remenham, a small village along the famous Henley Regatta Rowing Course. An earlier lunch followed by a 40 minute drive to Oxford. A fascinating tour of Christ Church, Oxford’s grandest college, founded twice, once by Cardinal Wolsey and then by King Henry VIII. The magnificent surroundings in which Lewis Carrol wrote Alice in Wonderland. For our final night we enjoy the Captains Farewell Dinner aboard.

Saturday, Day 7 Henley  to London

Following breakfast, disembark at 9.30am and return to London or Heathrow Airport.

On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.