Classic Cruise – England

Guests are greeted at the Stafford Hotel in central London for afternoon English Cream Tea, followed by a transfer to the Magna Carta. Upon arrival, enjoy a champagne reception and meet the Captain and crew. Dinner is served on board.

This morning, visit the impressive Hampton Court Palace, touring Henry VIII’s apartments, the Royal Chapel, the haunted gallery, and the historic Tudor kitchens. Outside, explore the renowned gardens, featuring the Great Vine—Britain’s oldest fruiting vine—and the famous hedge maze. After lunch on board, continue through Molesey, Sunbury, and Shepperton Locks en route to a private mooring. An optional pub visit precedes dinner on board.

After breakfast, 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. Your 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. Explore the State Apartments, see Queen Mary’s Dolls House, St George’s Chapel, and enjoy the far-reaching views. Dinner on board.

This morning, 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 over 450 years and has been used regularly as a film location. Later, cruise upstream past the fabulous waterside houses of Bray and through the spectacular Cliveden Reach to your 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.

After breakfast, tour the grounds of Cliveden and learn about the history of the house and stories of intrigue and scandal! 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, cruise through Cookham and Marlow and up to the 11th-century village of Hurley. 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.

After breakfast, walk the village of Hurley and visit Peter Freebody’s boatyard. Here, see craftsmen build and restore wooden boats at a family-owned yard that has been in operation for centuries. A morning cruise to Henley-on-Thames through fabulous countryside to your final mooring along the famous Henley Regatta rowing course. Then, an earlier lunch, followed by 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.

After breakfast, guests are transferred by private chauffeured minibus to central London.