River Cruises Through the Wayerways of England
If you’re thinking about a holiday involving European river cruises, you may have overlooked England entirely. There is a fair chance that when you are thinking about this type of holidays you might automatically start to look at distant horizons somewhere on the mainland European continent.
There is nothing wrong with that and, of course, there are a large number of stunningly beautiful places to see on mainland European river cruises. However, people in the United Kingdom often overlook the beauty of their own country; in some respects it’s a rather sad fact of life that some holidaymakers know parts of the Mediterranean rather better than their homeland. That’s a great pity because England has some great river cruising opportunities, including those available on the western reaches of the River Thames.
History and the River Thames This river has always played a critical role In English and British history. Contrary to what some people believe, London was not always the capital city of Britain, or even England. Under the Romans, the first capital was arguably Colchester, and even under the Anglo Saxons, when England first became more or less united, the first capital was Winchester.
Even so, from Celtic times the Thames has been at the centre of trade and commerce across much of the south east of England, and even further afield with continental Europe. For that reason, the city of London grew massively in commercial and political importance over the centuries, and by the late Anglo-Saxon and early Norman period it had risen to pre-eminence in terms of England.
As a result, for over a thousand years many pivotal events have taken place on or around the river and parts of it to the west of London became closely associated with the wealthy and powerful – including royalty.
Exploring the river today
It’s possible to explore some of this history yourself through European river cruises specialising in parts of the western Thames. Whilst cruising along the river in the height of luxury, you’ll be able to stop off and explore a fantastic variety of historic and artistic sites including the following.
The Royal Palace of Hampton Court - Originally built for Cardinal Wolsey, this was given to Henry VIII as a last-ditch effort on the part of the Cardinal to turn around his fortunes in terms of royal favour. Ultimately he was unsuccessful, but the palace passed into royal hands anyway and has been a treasured national jewel ever since.
Runnymede and the Magna Carta memorial - This was one of the most important sites in English medieval history, being where King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta by his barons. The Magna Carta is often cited as one of the first major steps in western freedom and the rule of law. Although historians today may dispute its real revolutionary significance, it has been instrumental in influencing thinking for 800 years.
Windsor Castle - A mighty medieval fortress that has been a royal possession for a millennium and which remains used by the royal family to this day.
Cookham - This is a truly charming and quaint riverside village, which, in spite of 20th century development pressures from nearby London, has managed to retain a large degree of olde-world atmosphere. It’s also home to the Stanley Spencer art gallery.
So, instead of automatically thinking about long distance hauls next time you book a holiday, why not make the effort to get to know England a bit better? European river cruises along this stretch of the Thames can be a wonderful experience and one that might show you a little more of some of the country’s most historic locations.
Paul Newman is the Marketing and E-Systems Executive for European Waterways, a provider of luxury, all-inclusive barge holidays. If you're looking for European river cruises we offer experiences in France, Holland, Italy and the UK.