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Oxfordshire Cruises & boat tours

Our most recommended Oxfordshire Cruises & boat tours

Oxford: River Thames Sightseeing Cruise

1. Oxford: River Thames Sightseeing Cruise

Cruise along the glorious River Thames on a short but scenic boat ride departing from the quaint Folly Bridge and heading toward the charming Iffley Lock. Admire your beautiful surroundings, made up of lush trees and cozy brick cottages, immersing you in the lovely old-town vibe of Oxford. Board your boat to begin your journey, throughout which your skipper will point out all the major sites and answer any questions you may wish to ask. Marvel at the views of Christ Church meadows, college boathouses, and a mix of wildlife and countryside, whilst enjoying your time on board. You will either ride a stunning traditional-style vessel or a more modern cruiser. Either way, rest assured you'll have a spacious boat to sit back and relax on.

Oxford: Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise

2. Oxford: Afternoon Tea Sightseeing River Cruise

Traveling down the University Regatta course, the boat passes Christ Church Meadows, the University College Boat Houses, and other landmarks on your way to Iffley lock. This is often a busy and vibrant section of the river where training rowing crews, punts, and pleasure boats jostle for river space in a wonderful display of Oxford at play. Passing through the lock at Iffley is an experience in itself. The river scenery and fascinating buildings combine to form a picture perfect location. Beyond Iffley you will travel into the tranquil water meadows that surround Oxford and there are abundant opportunities to spot wildlife amongst the green banks and overhanging willows. The boat turns for home at Rose Island, a favourite destination of Lewis Carroll and Alice Liddell on their river journeys. Aboard the boat an indulgent afternoon tea is provided by the renowned riverside restaurant, the Folly. The traditional menu typically includes: a selection of finger sandwiches, homemade scones with strawberry jam and clotted cream, a selection of cakes, tarts, or petit fours, and tea.

Oxford: Scenic Sightseeing Cruise with Gourmet Picnic

3. Oxford: Scenic Sightseeing Cruise with Gourmet Picnic

This cruise travels through the city past famous landmarks including Christchurch College and Meadows, the University boathouses and regatta course, the Head of the River and Folly Bridge . From the river passenegers take in a side of Oxford's heritage rarely seen by visitors to the city. Quaint Osney Island, well-loved allotments and gardens and majestic and ancient Port Meadow are off the tourist trail but represent some of Oxford's most beautiful and intriguing scenery. Port Meadow, a vast area of common land, has remained little changed since prehistoric times and supports plants and bird-life in abundance. At the top of Port Meadow is Godstow. Godstow was the ultimate destination of Alice Liddell and Lewis Carroll when they followed an identical route to this trip while composing 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. It is also the site of Trout Island, an inspiration for another of Oxfords literary icons, C S Lewis, and his stories of the land of Narnia. Your picnic lunch is provided by riverside restaurant, The Folly, and typically includes: • An selection of finger sandwiches • Homemade quiche or tart of the day • Homemade scones with strawberry jam, clotted cream and fresh strawberries  • Elderflower presse Served in a traditional picnic basket with napkins, crockery and glasses (to be returned to the crew at the end of the cruise). Drinks to take aboard can be purchased at the departure point.

Oxford: Sightseeing River Cruise

4. Oxford: Sightseeing River Cruise

This 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 the environmentally-friendly, zero-emission electric technology of today.

Oxford: River Cruise with 3-Course Meal

5. Oxford: River Cruise with 3-Course Meal

Your Oxford evening begins when you board an elegant Edwardian gentleman’s riverboat for a cruise to take in the highlights of river life in Oxford. See Folly Bridge, Christchurch Meadows, the university boat houses, and part of the regatta course while sipping a complimentary glass of Prosecco. Enjoy either the lunchtime crisp air and sun or the evening magical twilight on the river. Disembark at The Folly restaurant, where your meal will be served in charming surroundings either inside the restaurant or, weather permitting, on the floating river terrace. The Folly's evening a la carte menu offers relaxed fine dining. You’ll find a comprehensive wine list if you’d like to purchase wine to complement your meal.

Oxford: Evening Sightseeing River Cruise with a Cocktail

6. Oxford: Evening Sightseeing River Cruise with a Cocktail

Glide down Oxford University's regatta course on the Thames River with a tasty cocktail in hand on this evening cruise. Relax as you admire the Christ Church Meadows and the University College Boat Houses from the water.  Meet your guide at a local restaurant and head to the historic Folly Bridge. Order a handcrafted, seasonal cocktail before you board the covered boat. Sail along Oxford's regatta course. Spot rowing crews, punts, and pleasure boats as they jostle for river space.  Cruise by the lush Christ Church Meadows and iconic University College Boat Houses which as received an Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) prize. Sip on your drink and watch a wonderful display of Oxford at play. Return to your meeting point at the end of your tour.

Oxford Uni: Walk & Punt Tour w/ Optional Christ Church Entry

7. Oxford Uni: Walk & Punt Tour w/ Optional Christ Church Entry

See Oxford University through the eyes of Alumni and current students on this combo alumni-led campus walking tour and student-led punting trip. Get an authentic look at the colorful story of the oldest English-speaking university in the world.  Walking Tour Oxford is nothing without its students, and it’s the students who make this walking tour so special. Your guides will either be graduates or current students who combine their personal experiences of the city with their deep passion for its history, architecture, and stories. In just a 1.5-hour walk, follow your guide to discover pivotal moments of human history: from petty and outlandish rivalries to architectural masterpieces with confusing names. Inspiring, baffling, and downright outrageous: Oxford is a city full of stories waiting to be told. See the lamppost which inspired Narnia and the architecture that inspired His Dark Materials. Visit the meadows where Lewis Carroll first recounted the story of Alice in Wonderland. Marvel at some of the world’s greatest examples of Gothic and Baroque architecture. Hear all about what the students really get up to – from BOPS to secret societies to which all-night library permits outside snacks. Discover which college is the poshest and the oldest and which one has traditions designed only to mock the traditions of other colleges. As well as hearing it all from past and current students themselves, you’ll get to see inside colleges (entry included), with highlights including the Jesus College gardens. This is the real Oxford, experienced as a student, through busy streets and college grounds. Punting TourAfter your walking tour, enjoy a 30-minute student-led punting tour along the River Cherwell. As you set off south from the boathouse, you’ll be chauffeured past Oxford’s famous Botanic Gardens and Magdalen College School fields. Continue through Christ Church Meadows, where Lewis Carroll was teaching students in the mid-19-century when he wrote the famous Alice Through the Looking Glass and Alice in Wonderland. Pass St. Hilda’s College gardens and make your way back to the boathouse. You can ask questions throughout your trip and even have a free punting lesson upon request.

Oxford: Punting River Trip with Optional Walking Tour

8. Oxford: Punting River Trip with Optional Walking Tour

See Oxford from the river on this punting or rowing tour. Your guide will meet you and walk you along Broad street to the boat house. On route there, you will walk past some of the most famous sights of Oxford and learn about them from your guide.  Then, go out on the beautiful river for an hour. While on the river, you'll get lots of insight into Oxford student life and traditions. This is in fact how almost every Oxford university student celebrates their graduation.  Locals often take picnics or Pimms on the river, which is sold at the boat house. The boating activity is ideal for private groups couples and families as the boats only fit max 3 or 4 customers. You also have the option to book a private group or a public shared group walking tour which lasts 90-120 minutes to schedule either before or after the 1-hour boat trip.

Oxford: River Cruise and Walking Tour to Iffley Village

9. Oxford: River Cruise and Walking Tour to Iffley Village

Embark on an active day out to visit Oxford. In the first half hour, you will walk past colleges of the University including Christchurch to reach the departure point for the river cruise boat. Then, glide for about 20 minutes along the Thames river to reach Iffley village. During the river cruise, watch the rowers and hear all about the Oxford rowing tradition. You'll travel along the same stretch of river that writer Lewis Carroll once rowed on and created the story for Alice in Wonderland. When you reach Iffley lock, you can see traditional narrow boats passing through the river lock. Disembark for a 1-hour walking tour to explore Iffley village which is a gorgeous village with many quaint thatched cottages and one of the oldest and most unique churches in England. This includes the option for a short drinks stop at a historic garden pub too. The default itinerary is that you then walk back 2 miles from Iffley village to Oxford city which takes approximately 1 hour. Along the way, your guide will point out specific points of interest and if you choose to learn more, they can also tell you all about Oxford lifestyles and heritage.

Oxford: River Cruise and 6-Course Tasting at The Folly

10. Oxford: River Cruise and 6-Course Tasting at The Folly

The Ultimate Fusion of the Finest River and Dining Experiences in Oxford. Combine a serene river cruise, with a superb six-course tasting experience at one of Oxford's finest restaurants. Your experience begins boarding one of our elegant Edwardian River Launches for a 40 minute cruise taking in the highlights of river life in Oxford. We see Folly Bridge, Christchurch Meadows, the University boat houses and part of the Regatta course whilst a complementary glass of Champagne is served. This can be a wonderful time to be on the river as the sun gets lower in the sky and the light takes on a magical quality. Disembark at The Folly, where your exquisite meal will be served in charming surroundings either inside the restaurant or on the floating river terrace. The tasting menu is a showcase of the very best seasonal dishes, and there is the option of a 6-course wine pairing, at £39 per person, or alternatively, you can choose from a comprehensive wine list to complement your meal

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What people are saying about Oxfordshire

Absolutely fabulous hour spent learning about lots of random, interesting sights and facts along the river from Skipper Nick. He was informative and very friendly, defo worth booking this up, highly recommend 10/10

The cruise was booked easily on line. Everything was on time &? The the weather was v overcast the guides knowledge was excellent along with his sense of humour.

Lovely river cruise. Very relaxing but also informative. Great guide who provide a fun and informative commentary.

Brilliant !! Thoroughly enjoyed the cruise and Skipper Nick was very entertaining.

Excellent guide and good service. A delightful excursion