OUT AND ABOUT WITH
Windsor Castle
SERVICE 6
PURPLE BUS
Visit The Queen's favourite weekend home
- the world's oldest, largest inhabited castle!
Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the
world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen.
Its rich history spans almost 1000 years.
The Castle covers an area of about 5 hectares (13 acres) and contains
•
•
•
•
Magnificent State Apartments furnished with treasures from
Royal Collection
St George's Chapel (one of the most beautiful ecclesiastical
buildings in England and the burial place of 10 monarchs)
Queen Mary's Dolls House, a masterpiece in miniature
The Drawings Gallery
the
SERVICE 239
BLUE BUS
Visit Henley-on-Thames
- The home of the famous Regatta
Adjacent to the River Thames, Henley is overlooked by a
beautiful Chiltern landscape of wooded hills and green fields.
It’s historic church, Town Hall, market square, many local shops,
plus its own theatre/cinema, mean Henley is a delightful place for
mooching about.
Best known for its annual Royal Regatta, Henley attracts some
of the world’s finest rowers. Why not enjoy your own boat trip
down the Regatta course and stop off at the towns award-winning
River and Rowing Museum.
The stretch of river between the regatta finish and Henley Bridge
is the location for the annual Henley Festival of Music and Arts.
Now a popular hospitality venue, it attracts some of the world’s top
entertainers to perform on a floating stage in front of a dinner-jacketed
audience; as well as holding exhibitions of art and sculpture.
Henley is 25 miles south east of Oxford and there are delightful walks
around the town, leading you along the Thames Path and up into the
Chiltern Hills for wonderful views of the Thames Valley.
FIND THE THAMES ON VARIOUS SERVICES
ROUTES 6, 8, 239, M1 & M4
The Thames Trail
Throughout history people have tended to live on or near great rivers. This is true of the River Thames and as it flows in to the
west of The Royal Borough it matures and widens on its route to London. There is something particularly appealing about the
River Thames on the stretch from Hurley to Runnymede as it is perhaps the most historic, offering easy strolls along the Thames
Path, many visitor attractions and lots of messing about in boats.
Hurley
The river has always been an important part of Hurley's history with records of a ford as early as the 6th century. During the
summer, Hurley Lock is at its most picturesque. You may like to stop at the Olde Bell Inn for tea. Dating from 1135, it is one of the
oldest inns in England.
Bisham
The splendid woodlands at Bisham provide a dramatic backdrop to many historical buildings. Bisham is best known for its Abbey,
founded by the Knights Templar in 1338. In spite of its name, Bisham Abbey was never inhabited by monks and is today a national
sports centre. Bisham has a delightful church with a graveyard that slopes down to the water’s edge.
Cookham
Downstream is Cookham, one of the most popular Thameside resorts. This pretty village is a mix of rustic workmen’s cottages and
grand Georgian and Victorian houses with a High Street packed with excellent restaurants and pubs, the oldest dating from 1417.
Images of Cookham can be seen at the Stanley Spencer Gallery. Spencer was born in the High Street and was strongly influenced
by the river and his religious beliefs. Many of his works depict villagers and village life. The gallery has a good collection including
his unfinished masterpiece, Christ Preaching at Cookham, and at just £5 adult admission it is well worth a visit. Kenneth Grahame
lived in Cookham as a child and was later inspired by the village to write The Wind in the Willows.
Maidenhead
From Cookham the river flows towards Boulters Lock at Maidenhead, made famous by Gregory’s painting, Ascot Sunday (1895).
Ray Mill Island, behind Boulters Restaurant, has a very restful atmosphere, the peace broken only by the roar of the weir at the far
end of the island. At the end of the fishpond is a statue entitled Maiden with Swans by local artist Eunice Goodman. The back of
the rock on which the maiden sits has a copy of the “Godayn Seal” used by the Borough of Maidenhead from at least 1612. Beech
woods that rise steeply on the east bank are part of the Cliveden Estate. Set on the cliffs, 200 feet above the Thames, Cliveden was
once the home of Lady Astor. Some 376 acres of National Trust gardens and woodland include a splendid parterre, water garden
and woodland walks with spectacular views. An incident at Cliveden sparked the Profumo affair and the scandal that followed. The
house is now an hotel.
Edwardian Maidenhead had something of a risqué reputation. The town was a place of recreation for members of the Guards
Club, whose lady friends (the Gaiety Girls) lodged in close proximity to the riverside quarters of the officers themselves. Well in to
the 1920s, Maidenhead was the place where fashionable London motored to let its hair down, as recorded in Michael Arlen’s
novel, The Green Hat (1924). Today, the town – the largest in the Royal Borough – still retains the charm that earned it the
soubriquet “Jewel of the Thames” but has shed its decadent image, retaining just a touch of glamour as home to many media and
show business personalities. Fans of Isambard Kingdom Brunel can marvel at his famous brick-built Sounding Arch (1838), which
carries the West Country mainline railway over the Thames just downstream of Maidenhead Bridge. A technical wonder now as
then, the Sounding Arch formed the setting for JMW Turner’s famous Royal Academy exhibit Rain, Steam and Speed, which was
painted in 1844.
Maidenhead is surrounded by villages and areas which have their roots firmly planted in our historical past, not least at
Maidenhead Thicket, a couple of miles outside the town centre. The thicket, now owned by the National Trust, was once the
haunt of the infamous highwayman Dick Turpin. Today it offers walkers and cyclists hours of pleasure.
Bray
Further down river is Bray, a large riverside parish with attractive houses and period cottages from various centuries surrounding
the old Church of St Michael. Simon Alwyn lived here and was known as the Turncoat Vicar of Bray, who changed his politics to
retain his living during the times of Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I. He is buried in the churchyard and a plaque telling
his story hangs in the Hinds Head Hotel. Bray has become synonymous with exquisite dining experiences, now boasting three of
Heston Blumenthal’s restaurants – The Fat Duck, The Hinds Head and The Crown – as well as the famous French restaurant The
Waterside Inn.
Dorney
Before reaching Eton, the Thames passes through Dorney. Here a visit to Dorney Court is a fascinating experience. Built in 1440
and owned by generations of the same family for over 400 years, the rooms are full of history with 15th- and 16th-century oak and
beautiful 17th-century lacquer furniture. Dorney is the ancient word for “island of bees” and Dorney is famous for its honey which
is still produced today. The very first pineapple to be raised in England was grown at Dorney Court and presented to Charles II in
1661. Enjoy lunch or afternoon tea in the adjoining Dorney Kitchen Garden Centre, and then a guided tour as part of a day out.
Dorney Lake hosted the Rowing and Kayak events during the Olympic and Paralympic Games for London 2012.
Old Windsor
Passing through Windsor and Eton towards London there are stunning views of Windsor Castle. The original settlement in this area
was in Old Windsor and it was not until the 11th century after William the Conqueror’s success at Hastings that the first wooden
fortress was built. For hundreds of years the town existed primarily to house courtiers, the garrison and their families and visitors.
The real expansion of Windsor did not take place until Queen Victoria’s reign, with the coming of the railways in the 1840s. Old
Windsor is home to superstar Elton John who lives on the edge of Windsor Great Park.
Datchet
As the Thames widens and grows in strength, it brings you to the attractive village of Datchet, the inspiration for Sir Izaak Walton
who wrote The Compleat Angler. Shakespeare certainly knew Datchet, which is referred to in The Merry Wives of Windsor, along
with Datchet Mead, where Falstaff was dumped into a ditch by the Thames. To commemorate Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee in
1887 the great oak tree was planted in the middle of the village, to be joined by the jubilee cross for the 60th jubilee in 1897. The
two world wars affected Datchet as they did every village, and the war memorial, erected in 1920, is a particularly fine one.
Runnymede
Three miles south-east of Windsor, the river leaves the Royal Borough at Runnymede, the famous site of the signing of the Magna
Carta. A walk through the peaceful meadow to the top of the hill offers breathtaking views across the Thames Valley.
There is nothing more relaxing than enjoying the River Thames by boat. Hire a craft for an hour, a full day or longer, or join a
passenger boat with on-board commentary. The choice is yours.
Just a few things to do when using our services…
please feel free to contact us if you require any further
information. We will do our best to assist you.