BOATING ON THE THAMES
by Lisa Anacora, Managing Director of Val Wyatt Marine
WHERE CAN YOU GO BOATING IN THE UK? As an island, us Brits are lucky enough to be spoilt for choice when it comes to choosing a destination for a beautiful boating holiday. For those experienced boaters who want to explore the coast, Falmouth (the UK’s premier seaport), Eastbourne (apparently the “UK’s sunniest town”), and Southwold (in the heart of the Suffolk Coast National Nature Reserve) are all popular choices. Caernarfon in Wales (the 13th century castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site) and Islay (known as the “Queen of the Hebrides”) in Scotland also desirable locations. For those people looking for a gentler inland waterways experience, there are countless rivers to sail upon, as well as 96 canals, across England and Wales – however, for this article I’ll be focusing on my home turf – Thames boating holidays. CAN YOU BOAT ALONG THE THAMES? The Thames is just over 215 miles long – from the source of the river near Kemble in southern Gloucestershire, to the end, which is situated between Whitstable in Kent and Foulness Point in Essex. The non-tidal Thames, which is the distance from the source of the river to Teddington in west London, measures 147 miles. You can navigate the Thames from Lechlade in Gloucestershire. 30
Interboat
DO YOU NEED A LICENCE TO TAKE A BOAT ON THE THAMES? If you want to cruise down the length of the Thames, or in fact any stretch, your vessel will need to be registered with the Environment Agency. This organisation oversees the Thames, as well as those rivers situated across East Anglia and the River Medway. As we are based in Wargrave, this is where our customers and visitors obtain their licences from. If you keep a boat on the Thames, you will need to renew your licence each year, however you can buy a visitor registration or licence for shorter periods, which is perfect for holidays. WHAT TOWNS AND VILLAGES DOES THE THAMES FLOW THROUGH? There is an abundance of beautiful villages and towns on the Thames that holidaymakers will be able to explore. WOKINGHAM LOCAL • SEPTEMBER 2022
