Newbury to Windsor (7 nights) Saturday 01 July 2023

The Waterfront at Henley

Join the Wessex Rose for a delightful seven night cruise from the vibrant town of Newbury in the heart of the North Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to the magnificent Royal town of Windsor.

From the charming canal scape of Newbury, our journey follows the easternmost stretch of the Kennet and Avon navigation as it winds towards Reading and the Thames. Joined increasingly frequently by the River Kennet, this pleasant rural route is bounded by scenic countryside, water meadows and nature reserves and numerous picturesque hamlets and villages.   The frequent locks on this stretch include two unusual scallop sided locks, and the only two remaining turf-sided locks in the country. One of these, curiously named Monkey Marsh Lock, is an English Heritage scheduled ancient monument.

Approaching Reading, the scenery remains deceptively rural as the navigation winds its way through the outskirts of the town, changing suddenly and dramatically as the river flows through the centre of The Oracle, the town’s main shopping centre. From here the channel leads to the final lock on the Kennet and Avon navigation before flowing out into the Thames.

Following the river downstream, we head towards Sonning, a pretty village which straddles the Thames with the help of an attractive 18^th century bridge and has its own theatre housed in the former Sonning Mill on an island close to the lock. From here we follow the river through open countryside towards Henley, skirting Wargrave on the East bank and Shiplake with its splendid college building set into the hillside on the West.

Henley is a 12^th century market town on the banks of the Thames most famed for its reputation for holding the world’s greatest rowing regatta, but it is also a charming town with over 300 buildings designated as being of special architectural or historical interest. A visit stop here allows ample time to explore the town and an opportunity to visit the Henley River and Rowing Museum.

Leaving Henley and it’s attractive waterfront behind, we cruise the length of the Regatta course, where we are very likely to encounter copious crews of rowers from Henley’s numerous rowing clubs out training as we head for Hambledon Lock at the end of Henley reach. From here the river meanders gently through scenic open country, passing the splendid Medmenham Abbey near Hurley and the renowned Bisham Abbey as we approach the charming Georgian town of Marlow and its impressive suspension bridge over the Thames linking the counties of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

Below Marlow the channel twists and turns en route to Bourne End and Cookham where we enter Cliveden Deep and cruise downstream to Maidenhead overlooked by Cliveden House high in the trees above the river.   Maidenhead is a large town hugging the riverbank most popular with shoppers and diners. One of the town’s most famous features is Brunel’s Sounding Arch Bridge which carries the railway line over the Thames.  When it was built, the bridge, featured in Turner’s painting ‘Rain, Steam and Speed’ was the widest flattest arch bridge in the world.

From here the river carries us through the village of Bray with its wealth of fine waterfront properties and Michelin starred restaurants and on past the Eton Dorney Olympic rowing lake and famous Windsor race course to our destination at Windsor. A full day here before the end of the cruise allows ample opportunity to explore both Windsor and Eton, including the Queens favourite home Windsor Castle, Windsor Great Park, Eton College and Legoland Windsor Resort (a short ride out of town).

To book please select the required number of cabins below. Our three cabins are identical and can all be configured as either twin or double bedded rooms according to your preference.

Please refer to our terms and conditions before booking. If you have any questions or specific requirements please contact us.

*Price based on 2 people sharing a twin/double cabin. Cabins booked for 1 person incur a single occupancy supplement of 50%.