British Barge ACTIEF - Hotel barge on the River Thames England Britain UK

- ACTIEF -

Antiques Cruise

The Upper Thames, England

Welcome aboard Actief for our heritage and antiques cruise. As you relax and unwind on our wonderful 1907 Dutch Barge you will meander through an area of outstanding natural beauty. Along the way you will see much of the history and traditions of the Thames Valley and have the chance to learn about, shop for and generally enjoy a wonderfully varied range of antiques and artifacts designed for the previous millennium.......

Private transfer from the Goring Hotel in London to our mooring at Windsor where cream tea on arrival is followed by a visit to Eton College. Eton was founded in 1440 and is alma mater to Princes William and Harry. The museum of Eton Life gives a fascinating insight into the education of Britain's premier scions over the centuries. This evening there is a festive champagne welcome, followed by dinner and your first night aboard.

After breakfast you visit the interesting antique shops of beautiful Eton before today’s river journey. Our cruise takes us to the stunning Cliveden Reach and our private mooring at the picturesque boathouse of Cliveden. Your tour of this magnificent estate, former home of the Astors, concentrates on the gardens with their especially stunning views. There is plenty to amuse the antiques aficionado including 18th century Venetian statues and the restored Pagoda made for the Paris Exhibition of 1867.

This morning you will enjoy a relaxing cruise through unspoilt countryside to the beautiful medireview village of Hurley. A gentle walking tour of this ancient village allows us to glimpse many reminders of long-ago life, including ‘Ye Olde Bell’. This is reputedly England’s oldest inn, founded in 1135AD. You will also visit to Peter Freebody’s boatyard - Peter’s family has been involved with the river for 800 years! Continuing this tradition he and his team of skilled craftsmen build and restore antique steam launches. The day ends with a cruise along the world famous Royal Regatta mile into Henley-on-Thames.

In the morning you visit the Nettlebed Antique Merchants, who have an eye for the unusual, and then continue onto ‘The Country Seat’ at Huntercombe, an internationally renowned antiques venue housed in a Tithe Barn*. This is followed by a visit to Hallidays, another highly acclaimed antiques shop whose proprietor does considerable work in America. If there is time you will round off the morning at the Lamb Arcade in Wallingford, an historic building divided into 25+ small shops and showcases for a wide and varied range of antiques and collectables. Following lunch our afternoon cruise takes us to the ancient village of Sonning, founded as an abbey settlement in 909AD. *A barn specifically for holding the ‘tithes’ of the tenth part of agricultural produce everyone paid to the Church in medireview times.

The day commences with an early morning stroll around Sonning and then your cruise takes you to the picturesque Mapledurham Estate. Here you enjoy a private visit of the stunningly beautiful Elizabethan Mapledurham House, home to descendants of the same family since 1490, and full of beautiful family heirlooms and antiques. Mapledurham Mill which is also part of the estate, is a 500 year old still working water mill (famously used during the filming of ‘The Eagle Has Landed’). A final late afternoon cruise takes you through ‘Wind In The Willows’ country to Pangbourne, home of author Kenneth Grahame.

Friday morning is spent cruising through the steep hills of the Goring Gap, formed during the ice age, and on to your final mooring at Shillingford Bridge. Following lunch you visit the annual Oxford Antiques Fair where an Aladdin’s cave of treasures awaits your inspection. After this we journey to Ewelme, a beautiful village forever associated with the name of Chaucer. The great poet’s son, daughter-in-law and grand-daughter lie buried in impressive tombs in the little altered 15th century church.

NOTE: This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change. On alternative weeks the cruise operates in reverse direction.