Cruise along the Thames River down the University Regatta Course, as you pass the ancient Folly Bridge, Christchurch College and Meadows, and the university rowing houses on this 50-minute long ride.

About this activity

Free cancellation: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance to receive a full refund
Covid-19 precautions: Special health and safety measures apply. Learn more
Reserve now & pay later: Reserve now & pay later to book your spot without any charges today. Learn more
Duration 50 minutes: Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide: English

Highlights

Take in the beauty of the river in Oxford while traveling down the University Regatta Course
See the ancient Folly Bridge, Christchurch College and Meadows, the College boat houses and Iffley Lock
Cruise aboard our small, elegant and eco-friendly electric Edwardian River Launches
Hear the history of the river from your knowledgable skipper
Use your ticket to enjoy 10% off your food bill at The Folly, Oxford's acclaimed riverside restaurant

Full description

This 50-minute long river cruise takes you on a fascinating stretch of the Thames River, starting with the University Regatta Course and heading towards the quaint Iffley village. This section of the river – referred to by the locals as the Isis – is one of the liveliest, and paints an accurate picture of the bustling river life. As you make your way down the river, you'll see the ancient Folly Bridge, Christchurch College and Meadows, the university rowing houses, and Iffley Lock. The waterways next to you contain rowers, punt boats, and pleasure cruisers, and are equally interesting to watch. During the cruise, your captain will share some history of the river and gladly answer any questions. Your cruising vessel will be one from a fleet of many Edwardian-style river launches. These boats combine the elegant lines and teak interiors of the early 1900s with environmentally-friendly zero-emission technology of today.

Includes

Access to University of Oxford
Live tour guide
Transport for activity duration: Sightseeing cruise

Covid-19 precautions

You must book this activity online because the ticket office is closed

Safety measures in place

All areas that customers touch are frequently cleaned

Meeting point

Cruises depart from our moorings at No. 1 Folly Bridge, Folly Bridge, Oxford, OX1 4LB. No.1 Folly Bridge is an acclaimed restaurant, bar, and cafe, where as an Oxford River Cruises customer you can enjoy 10% off your food bill. Terms apply. The closest available parking is at the Westgate multi-story parking lot (OX1 1NT). Parking is also available at Redbridge Park and Ride (OX1 4XG). Please ensure that you allow adequate travel time and arrive at the departure point before your scheduled cruise time. We cannot issue refunds for missed departures.

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Important information

Not allowed

Pets
Smoking
Luggage or large bags

Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.6 /5

based on 281 reviews

Review summary

Guide
4.9/5
Transportation
4.7/5
Value for money
4.5/5
Safety
4.8/5

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This was a really enjoyable cruise with a very friendly ,knowledgeable guide. It was lovely having comfortable seats and a table and being able to take a drink from The Folly to enjoy on the way along the river. It is certainly a river cruise that I would recommend to others and would do again myself !

October 17, 2021

Booked for the river cruise. Was impressed with the map and ticket info sent to my phone for convenience. Very good instructions and easy to find. Very impressed with the way the booking was confirmed at the venue and George was an excellent guide and captain of our small but very comfortable boat. George explained all the necessary safety info and was very good at his job. He chatted about the river and the name change, the rowing and other crafts on the river. He obviously enjoyed his work was very relaxed with us and enabled us to feel safe and relaxed with his guide and experience. In our short stay at Oxfird this was one of the best hours we spent and would recommend this experience to anyone who wants to watch the world go by gently for an hour. Thank you George for your time and making Sunday afternoon for us a very lovely experience.

September 6, 2021

Very pleasant cruise on the Thames

Very knowledgable captain with keen sense of humour. We took the 1 hr trip and I think we anticipated seeing more of old Oxford and the colleges and were slightly disappointed that didn't happen. If that is what you want to see, I would suggest hiring a punt on the river Cherwell. Overall despite this it was a very pleasant way to spend an hour on the river.

August 1, 2019

Oxford Experience Cruise

Oxford Experience Cruise

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Very pleasant cruise on the Thames