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Sailing along the River Thames is an unmissable experience whether you’re a real Londoner, or just visiting the British capital and its leafy suburbs. A boat hire in Chertsey to sail along the Thames is the best way to admire the evergreen beauty of the English countryside.
Chertsey in the Runnymede borough of Surrey is just one hour on the train (28 miles) from London. It’s a good starting point for a houseboat or narrow boat hire along the Thames. It’s a picturesque city, typical of glorious pastoral England, surrounded by lush meadows and green pastures. Not only that, but it’s also conveniently located at the crossroads between London, Surrey and Oxfordshire.
Oxfordshire
A boat hire in Chertsey can take you to Oxfordshire. There, you can admire splendid riverside houses and cottages facing the river’s narrow canals. Some of England’s most coveted mansions are located in this region. The area is known for its green hills, farmland and picturesque towns. Its gem is of course the University of Oxford, one of the oldest academic institutions in the world. From your boat, you can admire Oxford’s famous architecture, including the city’s numerous spires.
There are several public moorings along the Thames River and its tributaries if you opt for a boat hire in Chertsey. The river has no less than 45 locks and even more weirs. Sailing along the Thames river is easy, even for non-seasoned sailors. If you don’t have a licence, we nevertheless recommend a skippered boat hire. A lock-keeper manages each lock, and can help you find your way around the numerous canals and waterways. Alternatively, you can use a charting app.
Surrey
Surrey’s idyllic landscape inspired some of the giants of English literature, such as C.S. Lewis, author of the Narnia books. One particular sailing tour you might enjoy is along the Basingstoke Canal. You’ll pass through small towns such as Greywell, Odiham, Dogmersfield, Farnborough, Knaphill and Woking. You might see ‘Dragon’s teeth’ along the riverbanks. These pyramid-shaped fortifications were built during the Second World War to delay the movement of tanks. You will also admire some of South England’s most beautiful bridges, such as Pondtail Bridge, Malthouse Bridge and Shearwater Bridge.
Visit Hampton Court palace with a boat hire in Chertsey
With a boat hire in Chertsey, you can also visit Surrey’s most famous residence: King Henry VIII’s Hampton Court palace. This king’s reign may have been tumultuous, but he also enjoyed life and its little pleasures. He originally intended his Hampton Court palace to outshine Versailles in luxury and splendour. It has been featured in films such as Pirates of the Caribbean, Sherlock Holmes and The Favourite. A visit to this gem of Tudor architecture is an opportunity to walk through the famous Anne Boleyn gate and visit the rooms where Henry’s first wife lived before she met her unfortunate ending.
Windsor
Luckily for you, royal splendour along your way does not stop there. With a boat hire in Chertsey, you can sail upstream across the Thames river to reach Windsor, home to the Queen’s summer residence. The palace is not far from the Runnymede water meadow and just a few hours from Chertsey.
To end your sailing tour, you can stop at Eton College, where 19 former British Prime Ministers went to school. Take a walk along its famous playing fields and enjoy the view of ‘England’s green and pleasant land’. According to Lord Wellington, ‘the battle of Waterloo was won’ on these playing fields? .
