To coincide with the re-opening of Reading Abbey we will be running a special cruise from Caversham (with stops along the way) to Reading Abbey in the morning and then back in the afternoon. What better and more relaxing way could there be to explore the Thames and then join the Kennet before arriving in the heart of Reading at The Abbey.
Cruises to Reading Abbey and around the waterways of Reading have now finished for 2018. We hope to be back in 2019.
During the school summer holidays on a Wednesday and Saturday take one of our multi-stop town centre cruises. Break up a shopping trip, see Reading centre from the water . Boarding at one of 3 points along the Kennet Canal, which runs through the heart of Reading we will take you on a 45 minute round cruise. You can hop onboard at the Abbey Ruins landing stage, Bel and the Dragon pub or by the Duke Street Bridge. You will see our ‘Boat Stop’ signs at the boarding points.
Our new cruises join Caversham with the centre of the town as well as providing a great opportunity to use the 45 minute trip as a water bus. Every Wednesday and Saturday for a trial period we will be sailing in the morning from our Caversham Pier with stops along the way (please see the timetable below) arriving at Reading Abbey. During the daytime you can join one of three 45 minute town centre cruises linking you to areas hard to reach on foot and giving a unique waterborne insight on the town. See the 45-minute cruise map here
Reading Abbey Quarter has been rejuvenated with substantial works having been undertaken at the Abbey (free to visit) and next to this is Reading Museum. We have two more main stops on the round Reading Waterways cruise. Firstly Duke Street Bridge, which is the gateway to town centre shopping including The Oracle shopping centre and a short walk from the main streets. If you are looking for a lunch stop, the Bel and the Dragon pub is a great waterside venue and reached via private landing stage.
At the end of the day the boat will return from the Abbey Wharf to Caversham Pier, passing through both Blakes Lock on the Kennet and Caversham Lock on the Thames. It is a relatively short but entertaining cruise with lots to see. Taking around one and half hours, the relaxed way to commute, go shopping or simply to get a new perspective on Reading.
Wednesdays and Saturdays 25th July-18th August
| Caversham-Abbey Depart | Abbey-Caversham Return | |
|---|---|---|
| 10.00 | Caversham Pier | 17.30 |
| 10.15 | Caversham Lock | 17.00 |
| 10.45 | Blakes Lock | 16.30 |
| 11.05 | Bell and the Dragon | 16.20 |
| 11.20 | Duke Street Bridge | 16.10 |
| 11.30 | Abbey Ruins | 16.00 |
Caversham to Reading Abbey Cruise Ticket Prices. Ticket Price valid for all boarding and set down points.
| Ticket | Single | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £10 | £15 |
| Senior | £9 | £14 |
| Child | £7 | £9 |
| Family 2 +2 | £29 | £40 |
| Trip 1 | Trip 2 | Trip 3 | Trip 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12.00 | 13.00 | Abbey Ruins/Wharf | 14.00 | 15.00 |
| 12.15 | 13.15 | Bel and the Dragon | 14.15 | 15.15 |
| 12.35 | 13.35 | Duke Street Bridge | 14.35 | 15.35 |
| 12.45 | 13.45 | Abbey Ruins/Wharf | 14.45 | 15.45 |
All tickets valid for one complete circuit unlimited hop on and hop off.
| Ticket | Round Trip |
|---|---|
| Adult | £7.50 |
| Senior | £7 |
| Child | £5 |
| Family 2 +2 | £22 |
The cruise to and from Caversham will depart from and return to Caversham Pier. It will pass through Caversham Lock and Blakes Lock calling at the Bel and the Dragon and Duke Street Bridge before arriving at Abbey Wharf.
For those boarding in Caversham our boarding point is at Caversham Promenade or Caversham Pier (they are next to each other) by Reading Rowing club beside Caversham Bridge Reading . There are car parks nearby which are often free at the weekend.
The 45-minute cruise has multiple stops around the town. The times on our booking system are for the 45-minute trips departing from the Abbey Wharf boarding point and we recommend first time users of the service board at the Abbey Wharf (behind Reading Abbey). A map can be found here
The boat operating this service is single deck with a wide access. Not all landing stages during this trial are wheelchair friendly although the boat does carry a ramp. We recommend giving the office a quick call on 01189 481088 to discuss your requirements and we can advise on the best options for you or your guests.