How it works
The choice is yours
We offer you the chance to build your own Walk The Thames package using our route planner. This allows you to choose how far to walk and where to stay. The route planner shows distances between all points to the nearest 1/10th of a mile.
We have pre-selected a range of accommodations to suit different budgets. Aside from pubs and hotels of differing prices, we also offer bed and breakfasts, some self-catering accommodations such as a cabin, shepherds huts and gypsy caravan; and the use of sport and educational institutions including the National Sports Centre at Bisham Abbey and the London School of Economics.
Of course, if you’d like to leave it to us, you can select one of our suggested itineraries. Or, if you would like us to create an itinerary for you, simply message us stating which section you would like to walk, when you would like to go and how many miles per day you would like to walk.
The price depends on the category of accommodation you choose and is the same regardless of whether you use the route planner, a suggested itinerary or we create the itinerary for you.
You don’t have to start at the beginning. You don’t have to end at the end. And you can walk in any direction. The choice is yours.
How much?
Packages
The cost of our packages is simple to understand. We charge per night depending on the category of accommodation you choose. The cost per night includes breakfast (except where stated), luggage transfer, OS 1: 25,000 map and guide book, and 24 hour on-call support in the event of problems, be it navigation or accommodation. You will also receive daily alerts if there are any problems on the Path, as well as recommendations for lunch and dinner, places of interest along the way, and suggested alternative routes.
We have categorised all our accommodation into three classes: bronze, silver and gold. To keep it simple, all accommodation within the same category is charged at the same rate as follows:
- Bronze £75 per person per night
- Silver £100 per person per night
- Gold £125 per person per night
Note: this assumes double occupancy; single supplements apply.
You don’t have to keep to the same category. You can switch between categories. The choice is yours.
Terms:
A deposit of 20% is required on booking with the balance due 6 weeks prior to departure. Cancellation and change fees apply, but please note our Coronavirus Clause:
- If we cancel your holiday because of national or local (Thames Path) lockdown, you will be due a full refund.
- If you have to cancel because of a local (to you) lockdown, travel restrictions or Coronavirus illness, we will defer your holiday.
Packages are protected by ABTOT
Baggage Only
We also offer a baggage-only service. You book your accommodation and email us your itinerary. We move your bags. You can choose any hotels en route that you wish. You do not need to use the hotels listed on the planner.
We can also pick up and drop off on travel days. For instance, if you were to arrive in Oxford and plan to walk that day, we will tell you where in Oxford to drop your bag. We will deliver it to your hotel later that day. Bag drops on travel days incur a £5 supplement.
The “baggage-only” service costs £15 per bag per move. Bags should be no more than 23kg. For parties of 2 bags or more, we will apply a discount of £5 per bag (more for larger groups). A refundable deposit of 20% is required on booking with the balance due two weeks before departure.
The “Baggage Only” service is NOT protected by ABTOT.
How to Build your Thames Path Itinerary
Here’s a short video of how to build your Thames Path itinerary.
To build your itinerary, complete the following 3 sections of the route planner: (note: if you want to save an itinerary you will need to register on the site; otherwise you can “continue as a guest”.)
Your Walk & Hotels This asks for basic information to help plan your route. You will be asked to select your starting point and which direction you plan to walk (upstream or downstream).
There are 2 methods available in building your itinerary: you can use the standard method which contains “drop downs” for start and end points as well as drop downs for accommodation close to those points. Or you can use the map route planner which is a visual representation of the route. The map version displays information about cafes, restaurants, public transport and points of interest which are not shown on the standard planner. You can toggle back and forth between the two versions. Further information on how to use the map planner can be found here.
In both versions, a selection of suitable accommodations will appear for your first night. Once you have selected your accommodation, you will be moved onto your next day. Places with available accommodation (“break points”) within your daily walking capacity will appear. By selecting a break point, you can view the available accommodation.
Keep going until you reach where you want to get to.
After completing the Journey Route Details, you must complete the Info Required section. This allows you to put a title on your itinerary in case you want to have multiple versions. We ask for the number of walkers and your start date.
Finally, on the No. of rooms section we ask you for room details (singles, doubles, twins etc) and whether you have any allergies or special requests.
You can save your details at any time. By clicking on Journey Itinerary, you can view your itinerary and request to have it emailed. The itinerary will provide an estimate of the total cost. This will exclude various discounts that may be applicable.
What Happens Next?
If, after finalizing your itinerary, you wish to proceed let us know as soon as possible and we will start contacting the hotels to check availability. We cannot guarantee that your chosen itinerary will be available exactly as requested. However, we will endeavour to get as close to it as possible.
We will then re-issue your final itinerary with a final price, including any discounts available. If you choose to accept this itinerary, we will send you an invoice for the deposit – which is always 20% of the final price.
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Detailed Guidance
This narrows the range of break points that become visible as you build your itinerary. The default setting is 12 miles per day which you can increase or decrease.
Most people start at the “source” and make their way downstream (which is generally west to east) towards London and the “mouth” of the river. But you can also walk upstream from wherever you want to start.
These are natural places to start or finish a walk. We only list break points that have nearby accommodation.
The cost of your holiday is based on the standard of accommodation you choose. Accommodation is split into three categories: Bronze, Silver and Gold. The costs are:
Bronze £75 per person per night
Silver £100 per person per night
Gold £125 per person per night
This assumes double occupancy and including transportation of one bag (max 20kg) between hotels. You don’t have to keep to one category throughout your itinerary.
We can organize transport from airports and train stations. The price will be quoted separately.
Whilst dogs are welcome, most hotels charge extra. A dog supplement of £25 per dog per night is therefore charged. Your choice of hotel may need to be changed to use dog-friendly hotels. We will advise you of this. The charge includes transfer of a dog bag each day, so that your best friend can enjoy their favourite bowls as well as food and treats. If your dog eats fresh food (as opposed to dried food) we can keep these stored in our freezer and have it dropped off in your dog bag each day.
The price is inclusive of one 23kg bag per person. Enter number of bags here so we know if there are additional bags being carried. For parties of 2 bags or more, we will apply a discount of £5 per bag.
This is the day before you start to walk as we assume you will stay in accommodation the night before you start to walk. So, if your walk starts Monday, your start date is Sunday.
Where family rooms are requested, the itinerary will not be costed as special arrangements may need to be in place. Please use the journey planner to build an itinerary and we will revert with a special price.
The single supplement applies to anyone occupying a room as a single occupant whether alone or with another group.
Single supplement is:
Bronze £40
Silver £55
Gold £70
If you want to add a rest day, simply select the same hotel for your next night. We offer the following discounts for rest days:
Bronze £25
Silver £30
Gold £35
You cannot have more than one rest day per location.
We have a minimum itinerary of 2 nights (3 if including a Saturday)
We normally operate from April 1 to October 30. However, exceptionally for winter 2020/21, we will continue to operate as the season has been so disrupted.
Baggage Transfer and Concierge
Baggage is transferred between each point of accommodation. We use our own team of drivers. Bags must be ready for collection by 9am each morning. We aim to deliver bags to your next accommodation by 4pm at the latest. We can also arrange delivery of anything you might be missing along the route: whether it be a phone charger, medicines, or a pair of wellington boots! In fact, just think of us as a concierge desk at a hotel.
News & Events
Under our Events section, we’ve listed the various festivals and events happening on or near the river: for example, Dorchester Festival, Henley Regatta, Swan Upping, Oxford vs Cambridge Boat Race. This may help you choose when to visit: whether the event is an attraction for you, or maybe you want to avoid the crowds during that time.
Under our News section we try to keep you informed of any updates to route information such as diversions and flood alerts.
- Weather....
Also under our news section are current weather patterns. For historic weather patterns, see our page About The Thames.