Oxford by Boat

Oxford nestles between two rivers – the Cherwell and the Isis (the local name for the Thames), famed for providing the inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland stories and the place where Oxford’s tradition of rowing began. After your walking tour of the city why not take a relaxing boat trip on one of Oxford’s rivers?

Boat trip to Sandford or Abingdon (half-day)

Take a Salter’s Steamer from Folly Bridge to Sandford (40 minutes each way) or Abingdon (two hours each way) and see Oxford from the river.

You will pass Christchurch Meadows and the College Boathouses where, during University term-time, you may see the eights and scullers practising their rowing.

You will see some of the beautiful English countryside which inspired Lewis Carroll to write stories about Wonderland for a little girl called Alice and her sisters. You will also pass through some of the beautifully maintained locks that enable pleasure craft, punts and Steamers to navigate the River Thames from Lechlade to London.

Cruises depart at various times during the day, morning and afternoon, between May and September, and may be taken one-way or return. Please visit the Salter’s Steamers Website for further information, or telephone: 01865 243421

Short Pleasure Cruises on the River Thames

For those customers who would prefer a short pleasure cruise rather than using the scheduled services, Salters now offers a variety of day trips and cruises, including:

River Experience
A forty-minute round trip taking in some of Oxford’s finest riverside scenery, including Christ Church Meadows, The University Boat Houses and Regatta Course and the picturesque Iffley lock.

Lunchtime Picnic Cruise
A 2.5 hour round trip, including all the sights of the River Experience and taking in views of Iffley Lock and Port Meadow. This cruise includes a gourmet picnic lunch. Departs from Folly Bridge.

Alice in Wonderland Cruise
A 2.5 hour round trip, including all the sights of the River Experience and taking in views of Iffley Lock, Osney Lock and Port Meadow. All the riverside places Alice used to go! Departs from Folly Bridge.

To learn more about prices and timing for these crusies, please visit the Salter’s Steamers Website, where you will find further information as well as details on how to book.

Punting on the River Cherwell and from Folly Bridge

Try your hand at this curious form of boating which is particular to Oxford and Cambridge by hiring a punt and taking a trip along the River Cherwell or the Oxford reaches of the Thames. You will pass the University Parks and the gardens of several of the Colleges. You can take a picnic and stop to eat on the banks of the river or you can hire the punt for a whole day and punt down to a typical English Pub – the Victoria Arms – for lunch. Bottles of champagne and towels are advisable! Punt hire is usually per hour, with space for up to five people (including one punting!).

Magdalen Bridge Boathouse

£25 per hour Monday to Friday

£30 per hour weekends and bank holidays.

Chauffered punts: £35 per 30 minutes Mon – Fri and £40 per 30 minutes weekends and bank holidays.

To book, please email Magdalen Bridge Boathouse.

Cherwell Boathouse
£20 per hour and £100 per full day
Please call 01865 515978 or email the Cherwell Boathouse.

Chauffeured Punts from Magdalen Bridge Boathouse

An option for the slightly more cautious: Hire a punt which is chauffeured by an expert puntsman – just sit back, relax and enjoy the landscape. Don’t forget to bring some refreshments. The standard price for a chauffeured punt from Magdalen Bridge Boathouse is from £32 per half-hour for up to four passengers. To reserve a chauffeured punt, please email Magdalen Bridge Boathouse.

Punting and Lunch or Dinner at the Cherwell Boathouse

A very pleasant way to spend a leisurely lunch or a romantic evening. Hire a punt from the Cherwell Boathouse (5 minutes from City Centre) and spend one hour punting before having lunch or dinner at the delightful and extremely popular Cherwell Boathouse restaurant overlooking the river.

The Cherwell Boathouse can also supply picnic lunches for those hiring punts, with prices starting from just £9.50 per person, and Afternoon Teas are available, by appointment.
Restaurant reservations: Telephone: 01865-552746, or visit the Cherwell Boathouse website.

Please note: All details, including timings and prices, are subject to change, and are offered here merely as a guide and indication. Please check with the individual companies concerned if you wish to make a booking, or to determine exact times for availability and confirmed costs.

Cruises on the Oxford Canal also available – Please ask!

What Our Guests Say

Highly recommended!

 5/5

"It was such a lovely day out! Thank you Isobel for your wonderful and informative guide, and thank you David for the safe and comfortable ride. The Cotswolds is really difficult to travel with public transport, so joining the tour was the best way to enjoy the quaint villages and hidden gems in the area. Also, it is rather impossible to get a ticket for the immensely popular Highclere Castle on your own; I am so glad to have found a perfect tour that saved my day."

Arisa N.

Best tour and great people

 5/5

"We had an excellent tour with the most knowledgeable and friendly driver and guide. I would seek them out again if we are ever back in the area! Thank you so much for being accommodating. You went beyond expectations! All seven of us commented on how much we enjoyed our day."

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Call us on any of the numbers below and we will be happy to help you with booking a tour with us.

Landline: +44 (0)1869 340 090

Mobile: +44 (0) 7976 246 967

Mobile: +44 (0) 7860 222 408

Partners & Awards

Google Reviews

Cotswold Exploring

5.0

Based on 15 reviews

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Joyce Zhang

14:07 11 Nov 22

What a lovely day we had in the Cotswolds! We went in early November and were very lucky to be the only ones, so we had an unexpected private tour. The weather was lovely, and the bus was exceptionally comfortable.Our guide, Isobel, had a... considerable amount of information about each town/village, and we appreciated her information during the drive while giving us time in each location to explore freely. We were also able to drive through some lovely villages that were more off the beaten track and probably would not have visited otehrwise. Looking back, I am really glad we chose this tour rather than self-driving.For those considering a trip to the Cotswolds, I cannot recommend this tour more!read more

Chris Prince

18:47 20 Oct 22

It was a long day, but never boring or tedious. Isabelle and David were spectacular hosts. They exhibit tremendous knowledge of their immediate surroundings, and English history/tradition/custom on the whole. In addition to more "regular" stops,... they put great effort - and empathy - into providing off-the-path diversions as well. We made frequent stops at legitimate sights, never having to sit too long. The group size was less than a dozen. Isabelle and David were also personally engaging, taking time to talk with all their guests to insure everyone was having a good time. We heard lots, saw more, had a great lunch, and enjoyed ourselves royally. If an 8 hour day is too much for you, they have other options that fit your interest and schedule. Do not book anyone else's tour, this is the one you want.read more

Derek G

03:57 29 Aug 22

Highest recommendation! This is the tour operator to choose for experiencing the Cotswolds. We did the Cotswold Explorer tour on a lovely August day. The full-day outing was packed with stops and drive by sights, but it was not at all exhausting.... Isobel and David are amazing tour guides and they seem to love their work. Both are kind and pleasant; Isobel's commentary is delightful to listen to, while David is an excellent driver with a reassuring presence. Their van is clean, comfortable, and provides great views of the breathtaking countryside. Thank you, Cotswold Exploring, for an experience we will treasure always.read more

Pamela S

16:29 10 Jun 22

We took the Cotswold Explorer summer tour and it was a lovely day exploring the area.The tour took us through the variety of Cotswold area with lots of stories and information shared. At each stop, restaurant and coffee shop recommendations were... made that didn’t disappoint.Highly recommend booking a tour with Cotswold Exploring. A wonderful experience.read more

Stefane Desmond

07:32 31 May 22

This was a great trip, that picked up from an easy location to get to in Oxford. The guide, was wonderful and knowledgeable. It was 5.5 hours but it didn’t feel too long at all. The drive to and through the Cotswolds was adorable. They picked great... stops for us to walk around and shop at. They brought us to the best places to take pictures, as well for a memorable trip. The driver and guide went above and beyond when my mum asked where she could get a Sunday dinner back in Oxford. They called a bunch of restaurants to check. Would definitely recommend! It is such a charming area!read more

Morgan C

17:22 12 Apr 22

My husband and I did the Cotswold Explorer full day tour, and we had a blast! Isobel and David have lived in the area for years and are incredibly knowledgeable. We probably passed through 10 towns/villages, and stopped in 4 or 5. Isobel shared... history about each and every one of the places. David was an excellent driver and carefully navigated the narrow roads for a comfortable riding experience. This tour is well worth your time and money! We would love to return and do the Downton Abbey tour.read more

Arisa Nakagoe

22:08 11 Sep 21

I am so glad to have found this perfect tour! It was a lovely day out, exploring the beautiful castle and quaint villages. Thank you Isobel for the fun and informative guide and thank you David for the safe and comfortable ride!

Aswin shyam

17:52 14 Jul 21

Isobel was our guide and David was our Tour driver. Isobel was very knowledgeable and helped us get around the beautiful Cotswold villages. The tour was well planned and we had ample time at every village to explore with Isobel highlighting the... history and significance of each place. David and Isobel were both kind and even helped us to choose the best place to have our lunch and shopping. The tour even included stops at the eccentric lavender, poppy and wild flower fields. The tour along with Isobel and David made our day special.read more

Arun Michael Dsouza

14:11 08 Jun 21

The Cotswold Taster Tour was absolutely lovely. Both Isobel and David were extremely nice and knowledgeable, we had a wonderful experience with them. Isobel's commentary was excellent - full of interesting facts and David was very careful throughout... the trip, driving through some of the narrow lanes of the countryside while we were enjoying the scenic views. We got to visit some of the most beautiful little villages in the area and got the chance to wander around and explore. This is the best half-day tour of the Cotswolds in my opinion. I would definitely recommend it!read more

Mary Anne Dooley

10:54 23 Jul 19

Had a wonderful day with Isabel and David. Couldn’t rate the tour and them any higher! The commentary was delightful, very informative and timely. Amazing local knowledge. Isabel and David were able to answer any question and they were both very... flexible for the needs of the passengers. David’s driving was expertly handled, especially on the narrow roads. Because of the small bus, they are able to use the more interesting roads and visit towns and villages off the beaten track and often prettier and much less crowded than the the well known. If you want a day tour to the Cotswolds don’t go past this one.read more

Yulia A.

23:14 23 Jan 19

I've just had an incredible day with Isobel and David. Breathtaking beauty of rural countryside on a winter day combined with excellent commentary made this tour absolutely amazing. Seeing all these rural villages, rows of thatched cottages with... lovely gardens, rolling hills with farms, animals and rare birds gives such a therapeutic effect! And Isobel is so interesting to listen! Highly recommended!read more

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