Review by Katie Christian
Lovely experience, very good tour guide, relaxing and informative thank you
15 October 2020
Enjoy the sights of one of the most beautiful cities in the UK with this Oxford Picnic Riverboat Cruise for Two. You will board a small vessel for an extraordinary cruise along the Thames, taking in a side of Oxford’s heritage few visitors have the chance to explore.
Tuck into a gourmet picnic lunch featuring locally sourced produce from some of Oxford’s finest caterers as you gaze upon famous landmarks such as Godstow, Christchurch College and Port Meadow. You’ll pass by the famous Folly Bridge, Oxford University boathouses, regatta course, and Osney Island as you make your way through this glorious city, some of which has remained unchanged for hundreds of years. See the areas which have inspired countless great literary icons throughout history, including Lewis Carroll and C S Lewis, as you meander along the water. You can choose either a lunchtime or sunset departure for this delightful journey through one of the greatest cities in the world.
You can choose either a lunchtime or sunset departure for this Oxford Picnic Riverboat Cruise for Two. Departing from Oxford’s city centre, you will travel 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 you will take in a side of Oxford's heritage rarely seen by visitors to the city, such as Osney Island and ancient Port Meadow, which 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 almost the same since prehistoric times and supports plants and bird-life in abundance.
See the magnificent Godstow – the ultimate destination of Alice Liddell and Lewis Carroll when they followed an identical route whilst creatiing 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'. It is also the site of Trout Island, an inspiration for another of Oxford’s literary icons, C S Lewis, and his stories of the land of Narnia.
As part of this experience you’ll enjoy a delicious picnic lunch featuring locally sourced produce from some of the city’s finest caterers.
This experience is available seven days a week, with lunch cruises running from April to October and sunset cruises from May to early September, subject to availability.
We recommend you book at least four weeks in advance to ensure that dates are available. All bookings are subject to availability.
Please allow approximately 2 hours 30 minutes for the full experience.
The centres contracted with us hold public liability insurance. We also hold contingency liability cover. You will not be liable for accidental damage to equipment, except where damage has been caused as a result of recklessness or wilful negligence.
Please ensure you are familiar with the terms and conditions of the experience.
All you have to do is pay for the experience you wish to purchase and we’ll send a voucher and booking information to you or directly to the recipient, then you just need to check the info and book your experience.
Please see the following page for information on our packaging and delivery.
All images shown are for illustration purpose only, actual product may vary from images shown.
Lovely experience, very good tour guide, relaxing and informative thank you
The on-line booking process was trouble free & the joining instructions were clear. Reception was friendly & efficient. The boat was spacious & comfortable. The cruise was relaxed and was actually slightly longer than advertised, which is a rarity! The picnic was packed in individual hampers for two. Tasty sandwiches, scones, jam & cream, & individual quiches; not a large amount, but sufficient. We would recommend this cruise & will probably take it again ourselves.
What a fab way to cool off from the 2018 heatwave. It would have been a great trip in any weather but the gentle breeze and relaxing scenery was just what we were after. Great little picnic hamper too, tasty treats. Some good knowledge from the guide/driver who was a friendly chap. Both being locals we still found this view from the river really a refreshing treat and learnt a few new things too. A fab present indeed.
A lovely outing, with pleasant company, a friendly and informative skipper/guide, and a beautifully presented picnic hamper.
We saw lovely countryside, in a very relaxed fashion, just leisurely meandering along the Thames, stopping half-way at a river-side pub. We saw egrets and herons, and the vivid blue flash of a kingfisher as it darted across the water. The weather was perfect too.
All-in-all, it was just a lovely, highly recommended, way to celebrate our special day.
Weather a bit mixed was only blot on the landscape but every care provided with transparent side covers to keep rain out and blankets to keep warm . A great guide and lovely couple of hours on the river. Great trip