2012 BARGING IN ENGLAND
Chelsea Flower Show Cruise - 20 May 2012
Hampton Court Flower Show Cruise - 1 July 2012

THE 8PASSENGER Magna Carta
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) with fine mahogany, teak and oak woods is outstanding. The upper deck saloon and dining areas feature picture windows and stylish furnishings. The sun deck has comfortable seating and a spa pool.

Magna Carta has the most sophisticated modern amenities, including air conditioning, WI FI internet access and underfloor heating in each of the four full width suites. Each suite is exceptionally spacious with contemporary en-suite facilities and colour TVs and DVD players. There are eight bikes on board to take at your leisure 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 royal Barkshire, historic Buckinghamshire and beautiful Oxfordshire from your floating country inn. Two housekeepers complete the crew of four.

Below you can find some of the highlights of the cruises we are currently offering on Magna Carta, along with some examples of the cuisine and fine wines the master chef will present you with on board. You can view the current itineraries and maps by clicking "Magna Carta Cruises" on the menu on the right where you will also find links to the photo gallery, deck plan and cruise rates.

Photo Gallery - Classic itinerary - Flower Shows - Tariff

 

MAGNA CARTA - CLASSIC ENGLAND CRUISE
Sunday, Day 1 London to Hampton Court
Meet the Captain or a crewmember at the designated meeting point for afternoon English High Tea, before being transferred to the Magna Carta. On arrival receive your 'Champagne Welcome' aboard the Magna Carta moored outside Hampton Court, former Tudor Palace of Henry VIII, where we remain overnight. Dinner aboard.

Monday, Day 2 Hampton Court to Runnymede
This morning we have ample time to thoroughly explore Hampton Court Palace, the most fabulous Tudor home of Henry VIII which continued to be used as a Royal home until Victorian times. 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 private gardens, the world’s 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 through Sunbury, Chertsey, and Shepperton to our overnight mooring on Bell Weir Lock at Runnymede. Dinner aboard.

Tuesday, Day 3 Runnymede to Windsor
After breakfast we have the option to use the spa facilities of the newly refurbished Runnymede on Thames hotel including pool, sauna and steam room. Beauty therapies, massages and other treatments are available but are best booked in advance. 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.

Wednesday, Day 4 Windsor to Cookham
Windsor to Cliveden 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 are lucky to enjoy a private tour of the house. Our cruise continues past the fabulous waterside homes of Bray and Maidenhead, Boulters Lock (made famous in Victorian times) and into the spectacular Clivedon reach where we have special permission to moor at the house itself. Cliveden was once owned by the Astor family, though the original house dates back to 1666. The gardens are simply amazing and include a Parterre, Chinese water garden and topiary. We discuss the political intrigue and scandal for which Cliveden is famous!!. A late afternoon cruise takes us to a stunning mooring at Cookham Lock. Artist Sir Stanley Spencer, one of England’s greatest and most eccentric painters, once described Cookham as ‘Heaven on Earth’. Much of his work was painted in and around Cookham. Dinner aboard.

Thursday, Day 5 Cookham to Hurley
After breakfast we visit Stanley Spencer’s gallery and take a walk around the village before cruising through Bourne End and Marlow to Hurley. We tour Peter Freebody’s boatyard and watch in wonder at the traditional craftsman at work, building and restoring wooden boats as they have 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. Dinner aboard.

Friday, Day 6 Hurley to Henley on Thames
A morning cruise to Henley on Thames through fabulous countryside to our final mooring situated along the famous Henley Regatta Rowing Course. An earlier lunch followed by a 40 minute drive to Oxford. A fascinating tour of Christ Church, Oxford’s grandest college, founded twice, once by Cardinal Wolsey and then by King Henry VIII. The magnificent surroundings were where Lewis Carrol wrote Alice in Wonderland. For our final night we enjoy the Captains’ Farewell Dinner aboard.

Saturday, Day 7 Henley on Thames to London
Following breakfast, disembark the barge for your transfer to the designated drop off point.

On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary and is subject to change.

MAGNA CARTA - CHELSEA & HAMPTON COURT FLOWER SHOW CRUISE -
Cookham to Teddington.

Sunday, Day 1 London to Cookham
Meet the Captain or a crewmember at the designated meeting point for afternoon English Cream Tea, before being transferred to the Magna Carta moored at Cookham, once described as 'Heaven on Earth' by artist Stanley Spencer, one of England's greatest and most eccentric painters. Champagne welcome on arrival with time to take a stroll before Dinner on board.

Monday, Day 2 Cookham to Cliveden
A morning cruise, which brings us to one of the most beautiful reaches on the river and our mooring at Cliveden Estate and Gardens. This magnificent estate, former home of Lord and Lady Astor, boasts amazing views and incredible gardens. First laid out in the 18th century they include a formal parterre, a wonderful water garden with a restored Pagoda made for the Paris Exhibition of 1867, a long garden with topiary and 18th century Venetian statues. Truly stunning. Dinner on board.

Tuesday, Day 3 Cliveden to Windsor
A morning cruise past fabulous waterside homes through the spectacular open English countryside. After lunch we make a visit to Eton College, founded in 1440 and currently school to Prince Harry. Here a beautiful new footbridge not only allows splendid views of the collect and river but takes you to Luxmore's Garden, an island garden created by an Eton Housemaster in 1880. There is also time to view the Provost's and Fellow's Gardens. Return to Magna Carta for dinner on board.

Wednesday, Day 4 Windsor to Runnymede
Today commences with a cruise to Runnymede followed by a visit and morning coffee at stunning Saville Gardens. Saville Gardens comprises of over 1,500 hectares of Windsor Great Park and is maintained by the Crown Estate and contains a diverse range of land uses. Over 60% of the Great Park is open to the public and it is estimated that more than 3 million visits are made each year. The Gardens Department is responsible for 600 hectares of the Great Park including the Savill Garden. There is also an optional visit to the nearby Wisley Gardens which is 200 acres of botanic gardens, famous for their trials of new varieties. Dinner on board.

Thursday, Day 5 Runnymede to Hampton Court
Early morning cruise to Hampton Court. An early morning start takes us to the Chelsea Flower Show, the most famous flower show in the world. Here nurseries, societies and charities create colour filled stands and amazing arrangements in a huge marquee outside the grounds of the Royal Hospital in Chelsea. In addition to this there are wonderful and innovative display gardens, both traditional and contemporary, created by the brightest and best of Britain¹s garden designers. Months of work goes into these beautifully staged displays which only last a week. After this heady and colourful assault on your senses we return to Magna Carta for dinner on board.

Friday, Day 6 Hampton Court to Teddington
This morning we visit the famous Kew Gardens. With the new Bonsai collection, Palm House where all the plants have their first flush of new growth and tropical water lilies are opening their exotic blooms in the nearby Waterlily House. Plants of a smaller stature or scale can be seen in the Rock Garden and here plants from the world's mountain ranges are grown alongside Mediterranean species, both enjoying the open, sunny position and free-draining soil. Return to Magna Carta and continue our cruise to our final mooring at St Katharines Dock in London. Farewell Captains Dinner on board.

Saturday, Day 7 Teddington to London
Following breakfast, disembark the barge for your transfer to the designated drop off point.

On alternate weeks the cruise will be in the reverse direction. This is a sample itinerary is and subject to change.

 

PHOTO GALLERY