It’s now less than a month until the season starts. May and June are rapidly booking up. July and August still have a fair amount of flexibility. We are now busy with final preparations for our first walkers setting off in April: preparing detailed itineraries and baggage labels. Sadly this means we are getting out less, just as the weather is getting warm. That will all change come Easter when we will be on the road.
Route News
Despite what was generally a sunny week, we had one day of persistent and heavy rain, sufficient enough to raise the river levels resulting in some flooding upstream of Newbridge. Thanks to our readers for alerting us to this. Despite this, there are no flood warnings or alerts on the Thames although two tributaries have alerts: the Cherwell, which joins the Thames at Oxford, and the Thame, which runs through Dorchester.
Work on Reading’s Horseshoe Bridge starts today lasting for ten days. This bridge takes the Thames Path across the Kennet Canal. Diversions are in place but these are extensive: leaving the Thames Path about a half mile before the bridge, rejoining half a mile after the bridge. Unfortunately the detour lasts for 2 miles, rejoining the Thames Path just a mile further down. So quite some disruption.
Sunday saw a number of walkers on the Thames Path between Tower Bridge and Greenwich as they walked the route of the London Marathon in support of Ukrainian refugees. You can donate here.
London’s Tower Hamlets Council is seeking feedback for improvements on the Thames Path. The council is responsible for the left bank of the Thames Path from Tower Bridge to where the path ends at Island Gardens, on the tip of the Isle of Dogs. This stretch passes through Wapping, Shadwell and Limehouse. A tunnel to Greenwich links the two paths. See here for more details.
We’ve been a little slow to update our Route Alerts page. This is partly because we’ve had very little flooding. But also because few people have been out. But now, with activity picking up, we’re making a concerted effort to keep this page current.
Some of the feedback we receive comes from our Thames Path Walkers facebook group. This is a forum for walkers to share experiences. Do please consider joining.
There are no new events to report on.
Reminders:
Kelmscott Manor, the former home of William Morris, is re-opening to the public on April 1. Opening times will be Thursday to Saturday from 11am to 5pm. Last admission is 4pm.
The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has a special exhibition dedicated to Pissarro (1830-1903), the father of impressionism. The exhibition opens on February 18 and runs until June 12.
The gardens at Hampton Court Palace are reopening after being closed for 2 years. A series of open weekends has been published as follows: March 19-20, May 7-8, September 10-11, and November 19-20. Also, the Hampton Court Flower Show will be held from July 4 to July 10.
Fulham Palace is hosting an evening of opera on April 6. Tickets cost £38 and can be purchased here. The Palace is the former residence of the Bishop of London.
Tate Britain, found on the left bank of the Thames between Chelsea and Westminster, is hosting an exhibition on William Hogarth (1696 – 1764), painter, engraver, cartoonist, satirist and social critic.
Accommodation News
The Oxford Townhouse has decided to close. They have received an offer they just could not refuse from the University from Oxford. The property will be turned into student accommodation. The property was popular with walkers being close to Folly Bridge. They managed a self check-in process extremely well.
And finally…
We will be taking some time out next week as we take our last break before the season starts. But don’t worry. We will still be processing bookings and answering queries as Stef, who was with us last summer, will be returning tomorrow for another season. It does mean, however, that there will be no newsletter for two weeks!
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That’s all folks. Mind how you go.
Ready to book?
