Oxford & the Royal Palaces along the River Thames
8 nights from £2710
5Cycling the Dreaming Spires and Thames Valleys on an idyllic journey through Oxfordshire to Hampton Court
The River Thames threads its way serenely through sleepy, rural villages, pretty landscapes, and through the heart of bustling historic towns including Oxford and Windsor. Royalty and history beckon, whilst water meadows, old inns, wildlife, and weirs lead you through your adventures.
The tranquil river path guides the route for much of this trip - we love it because it is flat and traffic-free. The itinerary is relaxed and includes several optional riverboat trips with bikes aboard. What a great way to discover the sights and smells of quintessential England!
A Trip to Remember
“With a great mix of trails and roads, this was one of our best bike tours. Our self-guide adventure took us along the Thames River on well conditioned paths, trails and roads…” Full Review
“With a great mix of trails and roads, this was one of our best bike tours.
Our self-guide adventure took us along the Thames River on well conditioned paths, trails and roads, where we did not see a lot of others. The Hotels were very good and easy to find, since we used the tour companies gps route guides on our phones using RideWithGPS. With this we never got turned around. Each day was a little different at every turn, and would recommend this to all. We added to the trip with a train trip up to Liverpool and four days there exploring all about Liverpool and the Beatles, including an evening at the Cavern Club.
GREAT Adventure we are glad we took” Less
—Jeff and Sue Ross
Daily Program
Day 1: Arrival in Oxford
Arrive in Oxford and check into your hotel located in the center of the city. Take some time to relax before hitting the town to stroll the 'city of dreaming spires'. Visit the gardens of the University and its historic colleges. Either tonight or tomorrow morning, you will meet with a representative to review the itinerary and fit your bicycle.
Classic - Overnight in Oxford
Luxury - Overnight in Oxford
Day 2: Oxford
12 miles/19 km
Enjoy the treasures of Oxford today - by bike if you wish. There are the lovely colleges of the University with their magnificent architecture, museums galore, galleries, and famous libraries. Add to these fine restaurants, unique shops, and river backwaters dotted with punters and rowing eights, and you will enjoy a fitting finale to your tour.
Classic - Overnight in Oxford
Luxury - Overnight in Oxford
Day 3: Oxford – Streatley
22-28 miles/35-45 km
Crisscross the Thames today and take in pretty riverside villages and forgotten rural scenes. These dreamy waters of the Upper Thames are where many a famous tale has been dreamt. The shorter ride includes a boat hop from Abingdon with its ancient abbey (only available in July and August). Continue pedalling along the Thames to Streatley, where you will spend the night in an old inn set in a tranquil riverside village.
Classic - Overnight in Streatley
Luxury - Overnight in Streatley
Day 4: Streatley – Henley
19 miles/30 km
Today's ride follows the river through some of its most magical settings. Pedal across weirs, spot the llamas, smell ancient beech woods, and discover the prettiest village on the Thames. There’s a 5-minute train hop at the start of the day from Streatley to the start of your cycling route. Once in Henley, famed for its rowing regatta, you will quickly discover its elegant atmosphere. Stroll along the waterfront and enjoy tea on one of a number of river islands. Your overnight stop is nestled in the heart of the town.
Classic - Overnight in Henley
Luxury - Overnight in Henley
Day 5: Henley – Marlow
10 miles/18 km
Take time to discover the history of Henley and visit The River and Rowing Museum before starting your cycling to Marlow. Today, there are some slopes through the Chiltern Hills and beech woods with fantastic views and wonderful scenery. Then drop down into the historic small town of Marlo,w further downstream on the banks of the river.
Classic - Overnight in Marlow
Luxury - Overnight in Marlow
Day 6: Marlow – Windsor
19-36 miles/30-57 km
There is a pretty route to cycle that leads away from the river through old villages and hamlets, across village greens and along hidden bridleways whilst crossing the river a few times. Take a peek at Eton across the river as you cycle across the Thames to reach Windsor and its famed castle. Tonight, your hotel is near the castle, and you will have time to discover the royal history of the area. There is an option to extend the cycling route by adding a circular route in Windsor Great Park.
Classic - Overnight in Marlow.
Luzury - Overnight in Marlow.
Day 7: Windsor – Hampton Wick/Hampton Court
Classic- 23 miles/37 km or Luxury- 18 miles/29 km
Ride to Hampton Court today along the classic riverscape of the Thames. There are houseboats and villas, famous islands and willow-lined meadows, pretty lock cottages, attractive steeples, and ancient waterside inns. Enjoy the tranquility and rural scene before making tracks to Hampton Wick or Hampton Court, where your overnight stop is located for the next two nights.
Classic - Overnight in Hampton Wick
Luxury - Overnight in Hampton Court
Day 8: Circular Ride Hampton Wick to Kew
Classic- 13-21 miles/21-34 km or Luxury- 19-23 miles/30-37 km
Your traffic-free ride today is glorious along the river and takes in Richmond with its Old Palace and Park, chic shops and waterside cafes, and the fine historic houses along the waterfront. The longer ride includes Kew Palace and the internationally famed Kew Gardens. You may be able to enjoy a boat ride too, with bikes aboard to help you along your way. Wow, what a finale to the tour!
Classic - Overnight in Hampton Wick
Luxury - Overnight in Hampton Court
Day 9: Departure day
Depart on your own.
Hotels
These are sample hotels and may vary based on availability.
Centrally located, hand-picked hotels and inns
Oxford: Oxford Spires
Streatley: Swan Streatley
Henley: Hotel Du Vin
Marlow: Premier Inn
Windsor: MacDonald Windsor
Hampton Wick: White Hart
Characterful and historic 4- and 5-star hotels
Oxford: The Old Bank Hotel
Streatley: Swan Streatley
Henley: The Relais
Marlow: Macdonald Compleat Angler
Windsor: MacDonald Windsor
Hampton Court: The Mitre
Interested in visiting other areas before or after your tour? Visit our hotels page to learn more about lodging options.
Bikes
Standard touring bike - Ridgeback Velocity, or similar
- Frame: Alloy frame with Hi-Ten Chromoly fork, includes mudguard eyelets
- Saddle: Ridgeback Custom
- Brakes: Shimano BR-T4000 V-brakes
- Derailleurs: Shimano Tourney (front), Shimano Acera (rear) – 3x8-speed drivetrain
- Tires: Schwalbe Citizen K-Guard, 700x40c
Electric bike - Bergamont E-Horizon Sport Wave (or similar)
- Frame: Super lightweight aluminum frame with low step-over height
- Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc brakes
- Derailleurs: Shimano CUES (rear only) – 1x11-speed drivetrain
- Tires: Schwalbe Marathon, 28"
*More about electrically-assisted bikes >
Accessories
- Pannier
- Pump
- Lock
- Toolkit which includes spare inner tube and pump
- Handle-bar mounted waterproof phone holder
- Helmet (upon request)
Tandem bikes (availability may be limited)
Bike Protection:
Bike protection can be purchased at the time of booking. You can read more about that HERE.
Pedals:
The bikes will have flat pedals. If you want to bring your own pedals, please bring your own shoes and also the necessary equipment to change the pedals.
Helmets:
Helmet rental is available on this tour. However, we recommend that you bring your own helmet for safety and hygiene purposes.
Surface and terrain
This tour takes place on flat terrain, on nearly traffic-free routes. The cycling is gentle, with low daily distances and very gentle grades. You will face occasional slopes, but no extended climbs on this trip. No cycling in London is required.
How to get there
Tour start
Nearest airport: London Heathrow Airport (LHR), United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Oxford (direct from London Paddington)
Tour end
Nearest airport: London Heathrow Airport (LHR), United Kingdom
Nearest train station: Windsor either Central or Riverside Stations into Waterloo or Paddington.
Tips on getting to and from your tour
Reviews
- ★★★★★ Jeff and Sue Ross
A Trip to Remember
With a great mix of trails and roads, this was one of our best bike tours.
Our self-guide adventure took us along the Thames River on well conditioned paths, trails and roads, where we did not see a lot of others. The Hotels were very good and easy to find, since we used the tour companies gps route guides on our phones using RideWithGPS. With this we never got turned around. Each day was a little different at every turn, and would recommend this to all. We added to the trip with a train trip up to Liverpool and four days there exploring all about Liverpool and the Beatles, including an evening at the Cavern Club.
GREAT Adventure we are glad we took- What was the date of your tour?
- April 2024
- How many tours have you completed?
- This was our 8th Self-Guided Bike Tour
- Difficulty (actual vs. expected)?
- Much easier
- Who is this tour suitable for?
- First-time bike tourists, Solo travelers, Families with teens, Families with young kids
- Do you recommend this tour?
- Yes
More About This Tour
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