A charter boat vacation on the River Thames, rich in history, bordered by rolling pastoral countryside, English villages, pubs and even some castles, would be a treat at any time. But now Le Boat, the largest self-drive charter operation in Europe, has a special this spring. It’s called The Royal Cruise, and it can take you to Windsor Castle on May 19, for the wedding of Prince Harry and the American actress Meghan Markle.
You actually can cruise on the Thames any time from Le Boat’s base in Chertsey, about 25 miles west of London and just short of Windsor Castle. In fact, Le Boat offers eight different Thames itineraries, so you can wake up each morning in a different spot. At 215 miles, the Thames is England’s longest river, but you don’t have to go far from Windsor to visit Eton College, founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, take in the British social scene at Windsor Racecourse, or tour Hampton Court Palace. Or you can just relax on your upper deck and watch the countryside, and the castles, go by. That’s assuming, of course, that you don’t have your invitation to the wedding yet.
The good news is that you don’t have to worry about driving Le Boat’s canal boats. You don’t need a license or even any experience. Just relax and enjoy. Here’s a great story from Canadian Yachting about the whole Thames/Le Boat scene:
http://www.canadianyachting.ca/destinations/europe/4320-royal-fever-on-the-river-thames
