The 8 passenger Magna Carta is one of the
finest, most luxurious vessels cruising the British Isles.
The ambience created by combining a traditional barge
hull (1936) and fine mahogany, teak and oak woods is
outstanding. The upper deck saloon and dining areas sport
picture windows and stylish furnishings and the sun deck
has comfortable seating and a spa pool.
Magna Carta has the most sophisticated modern amenities,
including air conditioning, underfloor heating in the
cabins and four full width suites, each with exceptionally
spacious contemporary en-suite facilities and colour
TVs and DVD players. There are eight bikes on board to
take at your pleasure for rides along the tow paths.
Her experienced Captain knows the Thames well and will
pilot the barge and be your tour guide. Your Master Chef
will produce a range of mouth watering dishes whilst
you enjoy the sights of London and the home counties
from your floating country inn. Two house keepers complete
the crew of four.
Sunday,
Day 1 LONDON – HAMPTON
COURT PALACE
Meet the Captain or a crew member at the Stafford Hotel
in London at 3pm for afternoon English Cream Tea, before
being transferred at 4pm to the Magna Carta. Champagne
reception and welcome moored outside Hampton Court,
former Tudor Palace of Henry VIII, where we remain
overnight. Dinner aboard.
Monday, Day 2 HAMPTON COURT PALACE - SHEPPERTON
This morning we have ample time to really explore Hampton
Court Palace, the most fabulous Tudor home, once
belonging to Cardinal Wolsey until acquired by Henry
VIII! We walk through Henry’s great hall and
haunted gallery and see his chapel, still used for
worship today and with the finest Tudor ceiling in
existence. There is much more to see including the
stunning privy gardens, the oldest growing grape
vine and the famous maze! After lunch we enjoy our
first cruise, up through Molesey Lock and following
the meandering path of the river to Shepperton. Dinner
aboard.
Tuesday, Day 3 SHEPPERTON - RUNNYMEDE
After breakfast we cruise to Runnymede and moor at
Bell Weir Lock adjacent to a luxury spa hotel where
after lunch we have the option to use the spa facilities
including pool, sauna and steam room. Beauty therapies,
massages and other treatments are available but are
best booked in advance. In the afternoon we take
a short drive to Savill Gardens. These beautiful
gardens have something to offer all year round and
form part of Windsor Great Park. The stunning new
visitor centre was built using sustainable timber
from the royal estates and makes a unique architectural
statement with its grid shell design inspired by
leaf form. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday, Day 4 RUNNYMEDE - WINDSOR
This morning we cruise to Windsor before enjoying lunch
on board. Our river journey takes us through Runnymede
where King John faced the barons in 1215 and was
forced to put his seal on the Magna Carta, the document
which was the very first Bill of Rights and from
which our vessel takes its name. From the boat we
see the Magna Carta memorial and Magna Carta Island
where the sealing took place. Our afternoon excursion
is to Windsor Castle. Built by William the Conqueror
in 1066 and lived in for over 900 years by the Royal
Family. This is the largest inhabited castle in the
world. We explore the State Apartments, See Queen
Mary's Dolls House and St George's Chapel and enjoy
the far-reaching views from its elevated fortress
position. Dinner aboard followed by an optional pub
night with live entertainment (all pubs are now non-smoking).
Thursday, Day 5 WINDSOR - COOKHAM.
This new itinerary includes a special private visit
to a country house which may be Dorney Court this
morning or Milton Manor on Friday afternoon. Leaving
Royal Windsor behind us we cruise up to Boveney Lock
and take a walk to Dorney Court. This very special
home has been owned by the Palmer family for more
than 450 years passing from father to son through
13 generations. King Henry VIII has stayed here and
the manor is regularly used for filming including “Poirot” and
most recently “The other Boleyn girl” We
enjoy a tour usually with Jill Palmer the present
owner. We continue our cruise past the fabulous waterside
homes of Bray, through the spectacular Clivedon reach
and open English countryside. We moor in Cookham,
once described as ‘Heaven on Earth’ by
artist Sir Stanley Spencer, one of England’s
greatest and most eccentric painters. Spencer would
transpose biblical scenes into his surroundings and
was knighted by the Queen shortly before his death
in 1959. We visit his newly renovated gallery and
take a walk around the village he loved so much and
painted so frequently. Dinner aboard.
Friday, Day 6 COOKHAM – HENLEY ON THAMES
A morning cruise to the village of Hurley where we
wander through Peter Freebody’s boatyard and
watch in wonder at the traditional craftsman at work,
building and restoring wooden boats as they have been
done for generations. We have time to explore the ancient
11th century village including Ye Olde Belle, reputed
to be the oldest inn in the country before returning
to the barge. We cruise to Henley on Thames, our final
approach being along the famous Henley Regatta Course.
Once we arrive in Henley we have a choice. If we were
able to visit Dorney Court earlier in the week we will
visit the award winning River and Rowing museum, after
which there is plenty of time to explore the 18th century
town. Otherwise we take a short drive to Milton Manor,
an extraordinarily beautiful family home designed by
Inego Jones with Gothick library, Catholic Chapel and
a wealth of fine and interesting antiques. The present
owner, Gwendoline Mockler-Barrett gives us a private
guided tour. For our final night we enjoy the Captains
Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday, Day 7 HENLEY-ON-THAMES - LONDON
Following breakfast, disembark at 10 am and return
to the Stafford Hotel.
NOTE: On
alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse direction.
This is a sample itinerary and is subject
to change.
MEETING POINT: Sunday
3pm, The Stafford Hotel, St James Place, London for
afternoon tea. (Tel 020 7493
0111 Web site www.TheStaffordHotel.co.uk Email information@TheStaffordHotel.co.uk)
Sunday,
Day 1 LONDON – HAMPTON COURT PALACE
Meet the Captain or a crew member at the Stafford Hotel
in London at 3pm for afternoon English Cream Tea,
before being transferred at 4pm to the Magna Carta.
Champagne reception and welcome moored outside Hampton
Court, former Tudor Palace of Henry VIII, where we
remain overnight. Dinner aboard.
Monday, Day 2 HAMPTON COURT PALACE - SHEPPERTON
This morning we have ample time to really explore Hampton
Court Palace, the most fabulous Tudor home, once
belonging to Cardinal Wolsey until acquired by Henry
VIII! We walk through Henry’s great hall and
haunted gallery and see his chapel, still used for
worship today and with the finest Tudor ceiling in
existence. There is much more to see including the
stunning privy gardens, the oldest growing grape
vine and the famous maze! After lunch we enjoy our
first cruise, up through Molesey Lock and following
the meandering path of the river to Shepperton. Dinner
aboard.
Tuesday, Day 3 SHEPPERTON - RUNNYMEDE
After breakfast we cruise to Runnymede and moor at
Bell Weir Lock adjacent to a luxury spa hotel where
after lunch we have the option to use the spa facilities
including pool, sauna and steam room. Beauty therapies,
massages and other treatments are available but are
best booked in advance. In the afternoon we take
a short drive to Savill Gardens. These beautiful
gardens have something to offer all year round and
form part of Windsor Great Park. The stunning new
visitor centre was built using sustainable timber
from the royal estates and makes a unique architectural
statement with its grid shell design inspired by
leaf form. Dinner aboard.
Wednesday, Day 4 RUNNYMEDE - WINDSOR
This morning we cruise to Windsor before enjoying lunch
on board. Our river journey takes us through Runnymede
where King John faced the barons in 1215 and was
forced to put his seal on the Magna Carta, the document
which was the very first Bill of Rights and from
which our vessel takes its name. From the boat we
see the Magna Carta memorial and Magna Carta Island
where the sealing took place. Our afternoon excursion
is to Windsor Castle. Built by William the Conqueror
in 1066 and lived in for over 900 years by the Royal
Family. This is the largest inhabited castle in the
world. We explore the State Apartments, See Queen
Mary's Dolls House and St George's Chapel and enjoy
the far-reaching views from its elevated fortress
position. Dinner aboard followed by an optional pub
night with live entertainment (all pubs are now non-smoking).
Thursday, Day 5 WINDSOR - COOKHAM.
This new itinerary includes a special private visit
to a country house which may be Dorney Court this
morning or Milton Manor on Friday afternoon. Leaving
Royal Windsor behind us we cruise up to Boveney Lock
and take a walk to Dorney Court. This very special
home has been owned by the Palmer family for more
than 450 years passing from father to son through
13 generations. King Henry VIII has stayed here and
the manor is regularly used for filming including “Poirot” and
most recently “The other Boleyn girl” We
enjoy a tour usually with Jill Palmer the present
owner. We continue our cruise past the fabulous waterside
homes of Bray, through the spectacular Clivedon reach
and open English countryside. We moor in Cookham,
once described as ‘Heaven on Earth’ by
artist Sir Stanley Spencer, one of England’s
greatest and most eccentric painters. Spencer would
transpose biblical scenes into his surroundings and
was knighted by the Queen shortly before his death
in 1959. We visit his newly renovated gallery and
take a walk around the village he loved so much and
painted so frequently. Dinner aboard.
Friday, Day 6 COOKHAM – HENLEY ON THAMES
A morning cruise to the village of Hurley where we
wander through Peter Freebody’s boatyard and
watch in wonder at the traditional craftsman at work,
building and restoring wooden boats as they have been
done for generations. We have time to explore the ancient
11th century village including Ye Olde Belle, reputed
to be the oldest inn in the country before returning
to the barge. We cruise to Henley on Thames, our final
approach being along the famous Henley Regatta Course.
Once we arrive in Henley we have a choice. If we were
able to visit Dorney Court earlier in the week we will
visit the award winning River and Rowing museum, after
which there is plenty of time to explore the 18th century
town. Otherwise we take a short drive to Milton Manor,
an extraordinarily beautiful family home designed by
Inego Jones with Gothick library, Catholic Chapel and
a wealth of fine and interesting antiques. The present
owner, Gwendoline Mockler-Barrett gives us a private
guided tour. For our final night we enjoy the Captains
Farewell Dinner aboard.
Saturday, Day 7 HENLEY-ON-THAMES - LONDON
Following breakfast, disembark at 10 am and return
to the Stafford Hotel.
NOTE: On
alternate weeks, cruise will be in reverse direction.
This is a sample itinerary and is subject
to change.
MEETING POINT: Sunday
3pm, The Stafford Hotel, St James Place, London for
afternoon tea. (Tel 020 7493
0111 Web site www.TheStaffordHotel.co.uk Email information@TheStaffordHotel.co.uk)
