Barge Cruising Classic England By World Journeys
Luxury barge cruise
7 Days / 6 Nights from $12,720 Price Per Person
Sales from 24 March 2023 to 31 December 2026
**Day 1: London > Hampton Court Palace**
Guests are met at the Stafford Hotel in Central London for afternoon English Cream Tea, before being transferred to the Magna Carta. Champagne reception and welcome by the Captain and crew. Dinner on board.
**Day 2: Hampton Court Palace > Shepperton**
This morning explore the magnificent Hampton Court Palace. Tour Henry VIII’s apartments and the Royal Chapel and the breathtaking gardens including The Great Vine, the oldest in the country still producing grapes. After lunch cruise through Molesey, Sunbury and Shepperton Locks. Optional pub visit before dinner on board.
**Day 3: Shepperton > Windsor**
After breakfast, we cruise through Runnymede to Windsor, past the Magna Carta Memorial and Magna Carta Island where in 1215, King John was forced to meet the powerful barons and seal the historic document. Our afternoon excursion is to Windsor Castle. Built by William the Conqueror in 1066 and a royal home for over 900 years by the Royal Family, this is the largest inhabited castle in the world. We explore the State Apartments, see Queen Mary’s Dolls House, St George’s Chapel and enjoy the far-reaching views. Dinner on board.
**Day 4: Windsor > Cliveden**
This morning we take a short drive to the Tudor manor house of Dorney Court, a very special home that has been owned by the Palmer family for more than 450 years and used regularly as a film location. Later, we cruise upstream past the fabulous waterside houses of Bray and through the spectacular Cliveden Reach to our exclusive mooring on the Cliveden estate. Once home to the Astor family, it has amazing gardens and was, of course, the scene of much political scandal and intrigue. Dinner on board.
**Day 5: Cliveden > Hurley**
After breakfast, we tour the grounds of Cliveden and learn about the history of the house and stories of intrigue and scandal! We take a short drive to Cookham to visit the Stanley Spencer Gallery and enjoy a walk around the village he once described as ‘Heaven on Earth’. After lunch we cruise through Cookham and Marlow and up to the 11th century village of Hurley. We tour Peter Freebody’s boatyard and watch in wonder as the traditional craftsmen build and restore classic wooden craft. There is an optional visit to the Olde Belle, one of the oldest inns in the country before dinner on board.
**Day 6: Hurley > Henley-on-Thames**
A morning cruise to Henley-on-Thames through fabulous countryside to our final mooring along the famous Henley Regatta Rowing Course. Then, an earlier lunch, followed by a drive to Oxford for a fascinating tour of Christ Church, Oxford’s grandest college, founded by Cardinal Wolsey and then again by King Henry VIII. The magnificent surroundings were also where Lewis Carroll wrote Alice in Wonderland. Captain’s Farewell Dinner on board.
**Day 7: Henley-on-Thames > London**
After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to central London.
Type of Journey: Luxury barge cruise journey: Cruise in comfort aboard a fully crewed luxury barge, with options to book a cabin, or charter the whole barge for a group of friends or family.
Inclusions
- 6-nights’ onboard the 5-star Magna Carta barge
- All meals (B, L, D) onboard
- Premium spirits, fine wines, and non-alcoholic beverages
- Shared transfers as per the itinerary
- Shared sightseeing as per the itinerary
- Entrance fees as per the itinerary
- Use of the barge facilities including bicycles and hot tub