View of Thames from narrowboat

Day 4. Narrowboating on the Thames to Eynsham

The day started with an autumnal mist over the river, but gladly the sun soon broke through.  After enjoying a leisurely breakfast on board our narrowboat we walked back to Sandford lock to take a photo of the pub where we'd tucked into dinner the night before (The King's Arms). It was 9.50 a.m. by …

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Thames Canal Boat

Day 3. Boating on the Thames to Sandford Lock

Drawing back the curtains from our mooring on the Thames, we were greeted by clear blue skies and after a leisurely breakfast on board we decided to take a stroll around Clifton Hampden as it was too dark to see much the night before. Both the village and the Barley Mow pub (where we had …

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Bridge along the Thames near Abingdon

Day 2. Narrowboating from Oxford to Abingdon

We'd enjoyed a peaceful first night's sleep tucked up in our comfy beds on board Cunningham, our 65ft narrowboat on hire from Drifters Waterways Holidays, Anglo Welsh base in Eynsham. Up first was David, my husband who performed the daily engine checks which had been demonstrated to us during the previous afternoon's handover.  He then turned …

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AngloWelsh Cunningham Canal Boat

Day 1. Narrowboating on the Thames

I’ve spent many a happy hour strolling along canal towpaths and riverbanks enjoying watching narrowboats pass by.  I've even seen 3 of the 7 'Wonders of the Waterways' yet had never been on a British narrow-boating holiday, that is until now. Our adventure started one bright and sunny October morning when we drove to the …

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Blakes Lock, Caversham

Reading – A Walk along the Thames

We decided to spend the day in Reading, a town in the Thames Valley to the west of London.  It's Berkshire's biggest town and also the largest in the UK to not have city status.  Reading is a popular commuter town with a train almost every five minutes into London and the fastest services taking …

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Greenwich Old Royal Naval College across the River Thames

Day 1. A weekend in Greenwich

I had a spring in my step as I boarded an LNER early morning train between Leeds and London Kings Cross.  Using public transport and travelling by train is something I do constantly but alas not in these strange times so I was excited to be taking my first journey for over four months. I'll …

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River Thames, Abingdon

A day in Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Abingdon is a market town in Oxfordshire nestled on the banks of the River Thames.  I was long overdue a return visit as the previous occasion was more than 25 years ago when I attended a wedding in the town.  Although Abingdon does not have a railway station the nearest one is located only three …

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Tower Bridge, London at night

Day 2.  A walk along the Thames Path 

Leaving our hotel in Clapham Junction we walked the few steps across to the railway station in order to board a service to Putney in south west London, just 10 minutes away.  We then enjoyed a hearty breakfast on the high street before wandering round the shops and making our way towards the river. Strolling …

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Historic Buildings, Kingston Upon Thames

Day 3.  Kingston-upon-Thames to Richmond

A 20 minute rail journey from Clapham Junction lies the south west London town of Kingston-upon-Thames and our starting point for today. The large town has some attractive Tudor buildings and a small market selling fruit and vegetables takes place in the central market square at weekends.   The town has a good range of shops including …

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Leadenhall Market, London

Day 2. The Woolwich Foot Tunnel and a walk along the Thames Path

Part One This morning we took the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) to Woolwich Arsenal where we enjoyed breakfast in the 'Great Harry' pub which was in the main square.  Woolwich is a historic naval and military town situated three miles to the east of Greenwich. Leaving the pub we walked towards the river passing the …

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