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Walking Holidays in the UK |
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Walking Holiday in England on
The Thames Path
London to Thameshead
via Greenwich, Westminster, Kew, Richmond, Windsor, Marlow,
Henley on Thames, Goring, Oxford and Cricklade
13 days walking
14 nights
Total Distance:
180 miles
Min/max daily distance:
11/17 miles
Average Daily distance:
14 miles
Grading:
easy
Features:
Thames Barrier
Tower of London
St Paul's Cathedral
Houses of Parliament
London Eye
London Wetlands Centre
Kew Gardens
Hampton Court
Windsor Castle
This is a popular walking tour, so we have carefully selected comfortable accommodation to ensure you are well rested each night after a busy day hiking and sightseeing.
Why not take rest days in London, Windsor and Oxford to explore the many galleries and museums, and take advantage of the fine selection of shops, restaurants and pubs.
London's great river is full of surprises as its path flows gently from its source and the stunning Cotswolds. On the Thames Path tour you walk through some of Southern England's most historic landscapes, full of wildlife and heritage. The highlights of Windsor and Oxford are en-route. This is a gentle walk, full of contrasts, with bustling cities and quite river banks.
To start your walking holiday on The Thames Path walking trail you make your own way to London. We can assist with coach or train transfers if necessary. Car parking is available for the duration of your self-guided walking holiday.
You take a short walk or ride on London's Underground Train Service from central London to the Thames Barrier and museum, the official starting point of The Thames Path walking trail. Today's walking route follows the South Bank of the Thames most of the way, and provides great views over the river to The Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral and the City, giving insight into London and the River Thames' industrial past and rebirth as a modern exciting capital city. The walking trail takes you to some of London's hidden places as well as one of London's most famous landmarks, the London Eye and The Houses of Parliament.
Walking on from the Tate Gallery on the South Bank of the Thames you pass the famous Old Battersea Power Station and soon arrives in a more residential area with fine Victorian riverside houses and house boats. Walking along the river bank you reach Barnes and the London Wetlands Centre, a wildlife haven in the middle of London. On the last part of today's walk you pass Kew Gardens, one of the World's most famous gardens and well worth a visit. Today's walk ends at Richmond, full of old riverside pubs, great places to eat, and also the famous Deer Park.
Leaving Richmond on the walking trail you soon pass the 17th century Ham House with its sumptuous interiors and restored formal garden. The Thames Path soon passes Eel Pie Island, named after the food served on the island from 16th century. Today the island is famous for its community of artists. Beyond Teddington Lock the River Thames is no longer tidal. After walking through Kingston you soon reach Hampton Court, a fine Tudor palace with superb gardens.
Walking on from Shepperton, you pass the bridge at Chertsey which was built in 1785 and is mentioned in Charles Dickens' Oliver Twist. Continuing on the hiking route you pass a couple of locks and soon reach the busy modern town of Staines. Then you walk past the historic Runnymede, location of the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215 before reaching Windsor, a highlight of this section of the Thames Path. A visit to the castle is a must!
A short walk from Windsor is Eton, home of one of the world's most famous schools. The fine riverside house at Oakley Court has been the location for many a film. Before reaching Marlow you walk past Cliveden, the former home of the Astor family. Marlow is a riverside gem, has a fine bridge, pleasant park and is a great place to explore. The Thames Path intersects with Shakespeare's Way in Marlow.
Walking on from Marlow you soon reach Bisham Abbey, headquarters of the English Football team. Medmenham Abbey, a former Cistercian abbey dates back to the 13th century. This is now a rural setting and Temple Island provides a fine vista. Henley-on-Thames, famous for its rowing club and fine shops and pubs, is a good place to relax. On the walk today you pass Thames-Side Court which has a narrow gauge railway running alongside the river.
The Thames Path provides a pleasant route through Reading. Walking on through the towns of Caversham and Purley, the town of Pangbourne is reached by walking through relaxing water meadows. At Whitchurch, the walking route takes a short diversion up the only steep climb of the whole Thames Path.
Today you walk to Wallingford which has a 17th century town hall and fine old English inns. The famous Thames side town of Dorchester-on-Thames dates back to Roman times. The thatched village of Clifton Hampden is picture postcard pretty and boasts The Barley Mow Inn mentioned in Jerome's Three Men in a Boat. Sutton Courtenay dates back to Norman times and has a fine Manor House and the grave of George Orwell in its churchyard.
On the walk today is Abingdon, one of Britain's oldest towns dating back to 695. It is famous as the former home of MG cars and has many fine buildings and well worth spending some time to explore. The walk to Oxford is pleasant, passing weirs and water meadows. Oxford is a must for any visitor to the UK, with so much history and culture. The Thames Path intersects with Shakespeare's Way in Oxford.
After leaving Oxford the walking trail has a quieter, remoter feel to it. Port Meadow, a large grassland full of cattle and wildlife, claims to have been ploughed since the 11th century. The Trout Inn at Godstow, which means Gods Place, has been used in the Inspector Morse ITV series and even President Clinton has visited.
Day 12:
Newbridge to Lechlade. 16 miles 26km
Newbridge boasts the second oldest bridge on the Thames dating back to
the 13th century. This section of the walking trail is very quiet and
a haven for wildlife. As late as the 1980s, parts of the path were so
overgrown they were impassable. This section has many locks and little
footbridges. Chimney-on-Thames has one of the largest areas of unimproved
meadows in England and is rich in wildlife.
Lechlade is mentioned in the Doomsday Book and marks the highest place on the River Thames navigable by boat. This town was once a very busy river port. The bridge at Lechlade still has its old toll house although now a toll free bridge. The large airfield at Fairford has been used by the USAF and was a testing site for Concord.
The final day's hiking on The Thames Path follows the River Thames to its source. Hiking out of Lechlade the walking trail passes some fine Cotswold villages. At the village of Ashton Keynes the once mighty Thames appears little more than a large stream in the High Street. At Kemble there is an outstanding Brunel railway station. The source is marked with a stone placed there in the 1970s although the spot usually appears dry as the water course is below of surface.
Day 15: Depart
after breakfast
or extend your stay and spend some time exploring the Cotswolds.
We can transfer you to your car or station.
This walking holiday in the UK operates year round and in either direction.
Short walking breaks are also available, with 2 or 3 days walking. Just select the part of the path you want to walk.
The above distances are only a suggestion. If you would like to walk longer or shorter distances, we can arrange that too. Why not combine this walk with a hiking tour in another part of the UK.
What's included
in your UK walking holiday
on The Thames Path
- accommodation at high quality guest houses, inns or small hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- room with en-suite or private bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities
- daily luggage transfer
- support should there be any problems on route
- detailed maps and itineraries
- Cicerone's Guide to Thames Path
London to Source
13 days walking and 14 nights
from £979 per person
double occupancy
6 days walking, 7 nights
from £589 per person
double occupancy
7 days walking, 8 nights
from £649 per person
double occupancy
Optional Extras
for your UK Walking Holiday
on The Thames Path
- upgrade to the region's most elegant, prestigious and famous hotels, where available
- transfers back to car or station
- parking facilities
- rest days
- inn to inn walks
All prices subject to change
Contact us for schedule and availability. Lines
are open 7 days a week. 9am to 9pm  New York 5 hours behind UK time: 4am to 4pm EDT  Sydney 10 hours ahead of UK time: 7pm to 7am EST or email us |
By Car to London where parking is available
By Train / Bus to London or Kemble
What our customers say:
"Realy enjoyed the walk and stays in Thameside
pubs. The arrangements all worked well and we will be happy to use Let's
Go Walking again" Paul
and Janet Birch, UK 2011
Lynn and Mark Preston, UK 2011
