minute river trip

Sonning Mill Ferry

Sail to Sonning from Caversham, take in matinee, afternoon tea or walk the Thames Path

About

Cruise to the theatre, take tea or explore the Sonning area

Possibly our most unique cruise, new for 2026 you can now hop on the Sonning Mill Ferry in Caversham and let the boat take you all the way to the Mill at Sonning. Take in an afternoon matinee (limited dates), an evening dinner and theatre package, afternoon tea or use the sailing as a way to explore Sonning village and the river Thames.

Wherever possible this service will be on our Little Ship of Dunkirk, Devon Belle. She oozes character and is a a great river viewing platform packed full of her own history.

You can sail one way or book a return. You only need to select the outbound sailing any hop on any return. Don't miss the last boat! Theatre tickets and food sold separately, the ferry is a boat service between Caversham and Sonning Mill. You can book events and dining at Sonning Mill here.

The trip

The Sonning Mill Ferry opens up the Sonning area for visitors from Reading and Caversham. Take the morning ferry from Caversham and spend the day in Sonning returning in the afternoon or walking the Thames Path. We are unable to offer wheelchair access from Sonning Mill due to the boarding position.

Top 5 Things To Do Using The Sonning Mill Ferry

Catch a Matinee at the Mill, Sonning - Treat yourself to theatre the way it was meant to be, arrive by water. Sail downstream from Caversham Bridge and return from The Mill. Perfect for the 9th July and 30th July matinees.
Enjoy afternoon tea as the Mill - a hidden and unique venue by the river serving freshly prepared tea.
Explore Sonning, a stunning village with pubs and cute houses, makes for a wonderful way to while away an afternoon.
Take dinner and watch a theatre production, arrive by water to kick the evening off in style.
Walk the Thames Path, for the adventurous you can walk to Shiplake and take the train back to Reading (Shiplake-Twyford-Reading) or walk back along the Thames path to the Kennet in Reading.