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Thames Path Walking Holiday in England
from The Source of The Thames
in The Cotswolds to Oxford
in 6 days
5 nights and 4 days walking
Day by Day Itinerary
Thames Path Walking Holiday
in England
from The Source of The Thames in the Cotswolds to Oxford
via Cricklade, Lechlade, Kelmscott and Bablock Hythe
On this Thames Path walking holiday you walk 53 miles of the 180 miles of the Thames Path, which is one of UK’s National Walking Trails. The walking holiday follows the meandering course of the River Thames from its source in the Cotswolds at Thames Head to Oxford.
The Thames Path Walking holiday hiking route is a great first walking holiday experience as it is easy walking and offers a wealth of interesting places to visit en-route.
The route passes through the city of Oxford which is a great place to visit, with good shopping, restaurants and pubs.
This Thames Path walking holiday is great hiking for visitors to the UK as it offers a taste of England’s history mixed with the modern UK of today. This is a gentle walk, full of contrasts, with bustling cities and quiet river banks.
London’s great river is full of surprises as its path flows gently from its source and the stunning Cotswolds. On the Thames Path tour you walk through some of Southern England’s most historic landscapes, full of wildlife and heritage. The highlights of Oxford are en-route so why not take rest days to explore the many galleries and museums, and take advantage of the fine selection of shops, restaurants and pubs.
The Thames Path walking holiday connects with:
- Oxford Canal Towpath at Oxford
- Shakespeares Way at Oxford
Our self-guided walking holidays are designed with your comfort and enjoyment in mind and can be tailor-made to your own personal requirements.
The routes are clearly way-marked to provide reassurance on your hiking vacation.
We use a selection of guest houses, inns or small hotels with en-suite or private bathroom to ensure you are well rested each night after a busy day hiking and sightseeing. Rest assured that all our accommodation walking holiday providers are hand-picked and offer you that famous British hospitality.
Special diets can be catered for, including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free.
We organize the luggage transfer so your bags are at your next accommodation when you arrive. We try to get your bags delivered by 4pm, but this may be delayed due to road conditions.
Let’s Go Walking has developed one of the largest selection of walking holidays.
Our offices are staffed 9am to 9pm during our walking season (March to September) to ensure your walking holiday runs without a hitch.
All our walking holidays are self-guided and you must be a confident map reader and able to navigate from a compass bearing. The weather in the UK and Ireland can change quickly effecting visibility and underfoot conditions. It is important to carry a selection of clothing with you on your hike each day to cope with changing weather conditions. If you are not confident of completing any days walk, do not set out.
This walking holiday in the UK operates April to September and in either direction.
These daily distances are only a suggestion. If you would like to walk longer or shorter distances, we can arrange that too.
Our stated distances include mileage to the accommodation or pickup point and so may not agree with the guide book mileages.
Rest days can be taken in any location.
Why not combine this walk with a hiking tour in another part of England or the UK. Our staff will be happy to advise on necessary transfers.
Online booking available.
A deposit of £85 per person is required to secure the booking, with the balance due 6 weeks before departure.
Optional extra days and accommodation upgrades can be added during the booking process online.
Please wait for the confirmation of your holiday before making final travel plans just in case your holiday is not available for your requested date.
Thames Path Walking Holiday
Source to Oxford
Suggested Tour Duration:
5 nights, 4 days walking
Total Distance:
53 miles/85 kms
Min/max daily distance:
11/16 miles
Average Daily distance:
13 miles
Grading:
Easy
Features:
Cotswold Villages and Inns
The River Thames
Oxford
The Oxford Canal
This route connects with:
Oxford Canal Towpath
Shakespeares Way
Thames Path Walking Holiday
in Southern England
from The Source of The Thames in The Cotswolds to Oxford
5 nights and 4 days walking
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive at Kemble/Thames Head
To start your walking holiday on The Thames Path walking trail you make your own way to Kemble. We can assist with coach or train transfers if necessary. Car parking is available for the duration of your self-guided walking holiday. At Kemble there is an outstanding Brunel railway station.
Optional Day 1: Exploring Kemble
Take an extra day to explore The Cotswolds
Day 2: Kemble/Source to Cricklade 12 miles 19km
The first day’s hiking on The Thames Path follows the River Thames from its source, which is marked with a stone placed there in the 1970s although the spot usually appears dry as the water course is below of surface. Hiking to Lechlade the walking trail passes some fine Cotswold villages. At the village of Ashton Keynes the soon to be mighty Thames appears little more than a large stream in the High Street.
Day 3: Cricklade to Lechlade 11 miles 18km
On leaving Cricklade you can see the large airfield at Fairford used by the USAF and was a testing site for Concord. Lechlade is mentioned in the Doomsday Book and marks the highest place on the River Thames navigable by boat. This town was once a very busy river port. The bridge at Lechlade still has its old toll house although now a toll free bridge.
Day 4: Lechlade to Newbridge 16 miles 26km
This section of the walking trail is very quiet and a haven for wildlife. As late as the 1980s, parts of the path were so overgrown they were impassable. Chimney-on-Thames has one of the largest areas of unimproved meadows in England and is rich in wildlife. There are many locks and little footbridges along the trail. Newbridge boasts the second oldest bridge on the Thames dating back to the 13th century.
Day 5: Newbridge to Oxford 13 miles 22km
The Trout Inn at Godstow, which means Gods Place, has been used in the Inspector Morse ITV series and even President Clinton has visited. Just past Godstow is Port Meadow, a large grassland full of cattle and wildlife, which is claimed to have been ploughed since the 11th century. The Thames Path intersects with Shakespeare’s Way and the Oxford Canal in Oxford.
Optional Day(s) 2: exploring Oxford
Oxford is a must for any visitor to the UK, with so much history and culture.
Day 6: Depart after breakfast
Depart after Breakfast or extend your holiday walking and spend some time exploring the Thames Valley area
We can transfer you to your car or station.
We also offer this walking route in the upstream direction.
Please note the Royal International Air Tattoo will take place at RAF Fairford between Friday 18th and Sunday 22nd July 2025.
This affects the availability of accommodation in Cricklade and Lechlade,
and our ability to deliver your luggage (days affected depending on itinerary).
Therefore when booking your walking holiday on this section of the Thames Path we suggest you avoid these dates.
Source to Oxford (downstream)
in UK
6 day itinerary
4 days walking and 5 nights
Suggested Itinerary
| Day 1: | Arrive Kemble/ThamesHead | |
| Optional Day: | optional extra day in Kemble/ThamesHead | |
| Day 2: | ThamesHead to Cricklade | 12 miles |
| Day 3: | Cricklade to Lechlade | 11 miles |
| Day 4: | Lechlade to Newbridge | 16 miles |
| Day 5: | Newbridge to Oxford | 13 miles |
| Optional Day: | Optional extra day in Oxford | |
| Day 6: | depart Reading |
6 day itinerary 5 nights
| Double or Twin Occupancy | Single Occupancy travelling with others | Solo Traveller |
|
| 2025 | £745 | £1,240 | £1,340 |
All prices subject to change
Extra nights from £64.00 per person
depending on location
Optional Accommodation Upgrades for
Thames Path Walking Holiday 6 days
Source to Oxford
Can be added when booking online
Subject to availability Supplement per person per night
Cricklade
Red Lion Inn
double/twin
£8.50
Single
please ask
Newbridge
Rose Revived
double/twin
£25.00
Single
please ask
Oxford
double/twin
Single
Head of the River
£89.00
please ask
Randolph Hotel
£225.00
please ask
Royal Oxford Hotel
£99.00
please ask
Malmasion Oxford Castle
£129.00
please ask
What’s included
in your Thames Path Walking Holiday in England
- accommodation at high quality guest houses, inns or small hotels on a bed and breakfast basis
- room with en-suite or private bathroom, tea and coffee making facilities
- daily luggage transfer of 1 piece of luggage per person, max 20kg
- support should there be any problems on route
- detailed itineraries
- OS 1:25,000 map
- guide book to Thames Path
Optional Extras
for your Thames Path Walking Holiday in England
- upgrade to the region’s most elegant, prestigious and famous hotels, where available
- transfers back to car or station
- parking facilities
- rest days
- inn to inn walks
What’s not included
in your Thames Path Walking Holiday in England
- lunches and dinners
- travel insurance
- entrance to local attractions
Lunches and Dinners
These are not included.
Evening meals
These are available at overnight locations, either at your accommodation or in the town/village.
Packed lunches
These can be provided by your accommodation or can be obtained from a local store, or cafe or inn along the route.
Holiday Travel Insurance
We require that you take out holiday insurance as Let’s Go Biking Ltd accepts no liability for the following:
cancellation, personal accident, illness, loss/theft of personal possessions and/or money, and any unforeseen circumstances, especially travel delays.
This is in addition to our existing
booking conditions.
Please contact us if you have any questions.
Our telephone Lines are open 7 days a week.
UK +44 (0)1837 880075
or +44 (0)207 193 1252
March to September 9am to 9pm
October to February 9am to 5pm
US +1 (646) 233-1541
New York 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
AUS +61 (02) 8006 0182
Sydney 10 hours ahead of UK time:
March to September 7pm to 7am EADT
October to February 7pm to 3am EADT
CAN +1 (647) 4786251
Toronto 5 hours behind UK time:
March to September 4am to 4pm EST
October to February 4am to 12noon EST
or
Thames Path Walking Holiday:
How to get there:
- By Plane to Bristol, Birmingham or London where we can arrange transfer to London or Kemble etc
- By Car to London or Kemble etc where parking is available
- By Train/Bus to London or Kemble etc
This 180 mile walking holiday along the River Thames is between the source at ThamesHead and the Thames Barrier in Greenwich. You walk via Oxford, Henley, Marlow, Hampton Court, Kew and London.
This is one of our River Walking Holidays, one of our Southern England Walking Holidays, and also one of our National Trail Walking Holidays.
- Annandale Way in Scotland
- Avon Valley Path in Wiltshire and Hampshire
- Dart Valley Trail in Devon
- Exe Valley Way in Devon
- Nidderdale Way in Yorkshire
- Severn Way in Wales and England
- Shakespeares Way from Stratford upon Avon to London
- Speyside Way in Scotland
- Stour Valley Way in Dorset
- Teesdale Way in Northern England
- Test Way in Hampshire
- Thames Path from the Cotswolds to London
- Wye Valley Walk in Wales
We offer National Trail walking holidays in England and Wales in the UK.
This is one of our categories of walking holidays.
- Cleveland Way
- Cotswold Way
- Cumbria Coastal Way part of the England Coast Path
- England Coast Path
- Glyndwrs Way in Wales
- Hadrians Wall Path
- Norfolk Coast Path part of the England Coast Path
- North Downs Way
- Offas Dyke Path in Wales
- Peddars Way
- Pembroke Coast Path part of the Wales Coast Path
- The Ridgeway
- South Downs Way
- South West Coast Path part of the England Coast Path
- Thames Path
- Yorkshire Wolds Way
