fbpx

England Cruise (Magna Carta)

England Cruise (Magna Carta)

ENGEW
Call for Price

Description

When it comes to river cruises, England is sometimes overlooked as a potential source of fabulous opportunities. The River Thames has a lot to offer, as guests who book a room on our luxury hotel barge will discover. When you experience English river cruises, the quaint, scenic countryside opens up before you.

If you are looking for luxury river cruises, England’s rustic beauty is revealed in its glory to those who opt for this destination. We offer slow, meandering journeys past Royal Palaces, riverside towns and villages. Guests will experience a real mixture of olde worlde England and the natural beauty of Surrey, Berkshire and Oxfordshire. From Henry VIII’s Hampton Court, these cruises pass Windsor Castle to Henley, with frequent stops allowing plenty of time to wander and explore whilst we follow this old Viking trading route deep into the rural countryside.

Gentle exploration is the highlight of all river cruises in England, and our holiday maximises this potential, with good cycling and walking opportunities as our elegant and spacious luxury hotel barge finds her way along the Royal River Thames visiting traditional boat builders, art galleries and the “real” Downton Abbey.

For holidaymakers wanting less crowded but still charmingly scenic river cruises, England may well be the perfect destination!

The elegant and spacious air-conditioned 8 passenger Magna Carta is the perfect hotel barge for the royal river. We are proud to claim that English river cruises with us will offer you an unrivalled view of England from the deck of this luxurious vessel.

Please note: Royal, Antiques, Family, Chelsea Flower Show, Hampton Court Flower Show Theme Departures available. Please contact us for more details.

On alternate weeks the cruise is in the reverse direction.

Trip Name
England Cruise (Magna Carta)
Days
7
Overview
Vessel Type: Hotel Barge / River Boat Length: 117 feet / 35.66 meters Passenger Capacity: 8 Magna Carta will take you on a slow, meandering journey along the prettiest stretches of the River Thames, past Royal Palaces, quaint riverside towns and villages – a captivating mixture of olde worlde England and the natural beauty of the surrounding countryside. From Henry VIII’s Hampton Court past Windsor Castle to Henley, with frequent stops allowing plenty of time to wander and explore as we follow this old Viking trading route through some of England’s prettiest counties. During the cruise, there is a diverse programme of escorted visits along the way – art galleries, stately homes including the real “Downton Abbey”, even a boatyard that has been building traditional river craft for centuries. There are also good cycling and walking opportunities along the ever-present Thames Towpath. Magna Carta is a hotel barge that accommodates 8 guests and is one of the finest vessels cruising the waters of the British Isles today. Originally built in the 1930’s, today she is a luxurious and spacious ‘floating country hotel’ boasting a combination of traditional and contemporary features that create a very inviting ambience on board. There is great attention to detail with the use of fine mahogany, teak and oak woods throughout, complemented by modern amenities such as under floor heating and TV/DVD players in the cabin suites. The large saloon and dining area feature picture windows and stylish furnishings, and the sense of refined space continues in the four very generous, air-conditioned twin/double suites, with their combination of period furniture and contemporary en suite shower rooms. Outside you can unwind in the heated spa pool, or enjoy a mouth-watering alfresco lunch prepared by your onboard master chef as you get admiring glances from passers-by. Magna Carta is one of the most recognised vessels navigating the Royal River Thames today and her Captain who knows the river so well, together with his doting crew, will ensure your voyage of gentle exploration is an unforgettable experience.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Hampton Court Palace
Guests are met at the Stafford Hotel in central London** for afternoon English Cream Tea, before being transferred by private chauffeured minibus to Magna Carta. Champagne reception and welcome by the Captain and crew. Dinner on board.
Day 2 - Day 2 Hampton Court Palace to Runnymede
This morning we explore the magnificent Hampton Court Palace. We tour Henry VIII’s apartments and the Royal Chapel, feel the chill in the haunted gallery and wonder at the Tudor kitchens. Outside, the gardens are breathtaking with The Great Vine, the oldest in the country still producing grapes and the famous maze. After lunch, we cruise through a number of locks including Sunbury and Molesey to moor at Runnymede. Dinner on board.
Day 3 - Day 3 Runnymede to Windsor
After breakfast, we have the option to use the spa facilities of the newly refurbished Runnymede-on-Thames Hotel. Then we cruise to Windsor, past the Magna Carta Memorial and Magna Carta Island where in 1215, King John was forced to meet the powerful barons and seal the historic document. Our afternoon excursion is to Windsor Castle. Built by William the Conqueror in 1066 and a royal home 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, St George’s Chapel and enjoy the far-reaching views. Dinner on board.
Day 4 - Day 4 Windsor to Cliveden
This morning we take a short drive to the Tudor manor house of Dorney Court, a very special home that has been owned by the Palmer family for more than 450 years and used regularly as a film location. Later, we cruise upstream past the fabulous waterside houses of Bray and through the spectacular Cliveden Reach to our exclusive mooring on the Cliveden estate. Once home to the Astor family, it has amazing gardens and was, of course, the scene of much political scandal and intrigue. Dinner on board.
Day 5 - Day 5 Cliveden to Hurley
After breakfast, we cruise further upstream to visit the Stanley Spencer Gallery in Cookham and take a walk around the village he once described as ‘Heaven on Earth’, before cruising through Marlow to Hurley. We tour Peter Freebody’s boatyard nearby and watch in wonder as the traditional craftsmen build and restore classic wooden craft. We have time to explore the ancient village, including Ye Olde Bell, reputed to be the oldest inn in the country, before returning to the hotel barge. Dinner on board.
Day 6 - Day 6 Hurley to Henley-on-Thames
A morning cruise to Henley-on-Thames through fabulous countryside to our final mooring along the famous Henley Regatta Rowing Course. Then, an earlier lunch, followed by a drive to Oxford for a fascinating tour of Christ Church, Oxford’s grandest college, founded by Cardinal Wolsey and then again by King Henry VIII. The magnificent surroundings were also where Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
Day 7 - Day 7 Henley-on-Thames
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to central London.
Day 8 - Please Note:
This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.

Trip Dates

StartEndPrice FromRoom Type

Inclusions

    • Explore Henry VIII’s Hampton Court Palace
    • Moor beneath and visit Windsor Castle
    • Visit the Tudor manor house of Dorney Court
    • Tour the Stanley Spencer Gallery at Cookham
    • English cream tea at the Stafford Hotel, London
    • Visit Henley-on-Thames, the Royal Regatta town
    • Tour of Christ Church College, Oxford
    • Great walking and bicycling opportunities along the Thames Footpath
    • Tour of Highclere Castle (Downton Abbey) on selected departures (please contact us for more details)

Map