Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Touring the Thames Valley
Touring this historic waterway is still
possible on foot or by boat. Stretching
for 184 miles, the
Thames Path
is a
national trail that follows the river from
its source, in the Cotswolds, through
Oxford, Henley, and Windsor all the way
to London's Docklands. It usually takes
a minimum of 10 days (with plenty of
pubs and B&Bs along the way), but you
can also tackle smaller sections. For the
less-energetic, boats glide along the
river, offering a languid alternative to
the road.
Salter's Steamers
(
&
01865/
243421;
www.salterssteamers.co.uk)
runs services in segments between
Staines and Oxford, via Abingdon, Read-
ing, Henley, Marlow, Windsor, and Maid-
enhead. Most segments cost around £10
one-way. If you fancy the role of captain
yourself, contact
Kris Cruisers,
in
Datchet (
&
01753/543930;
www.
kriscruisers.co.uk). The outfitter rents
the largest fleet of fully equipped boats
on the Thames, containing between two
and eight berths. From Datchet, you can
travel upstream to Windsor and Eton
and on to Henley and Oxford. Prices
start at £660 per week.
Exploring the Area
Eton College
HISTORIC SITE Eton is home of what is arguably the most
famous public school in the world (non-Brits would call it a private school). The
school was founded by 18-year-old Henry VI in 1440, and since then 20 prime min-
isters have been educated here, as have such literary figures as George Orwell, Aldous
Huxley, Ian Fleming, and Percy Bysshe Shelley. Other notable students include
Prince William, second in line to the throne, and David Cameron, elected prime
minister in 2010. The real highlight inside is the Perpendicular
College Chapel,
completed in 1482, with its 15th-century paintings and reconstructed fan vaulting.
The history of Eton College is depicted in the
Museum of Eton Life,
located in
vaulted wine cellars under College Hall (originally used as a storehouse by the col-
lege's masters). The displays include a turn-of-the-20th-century boy's room, school-
books, and canes used by senior boys to apply punishment—the brutal flogging that
characterized much of the school's history. Note that admission to the school and
museum is by
guided tour only.
Keats Lane, Eton.
&
01753/671000.
www.etoncollege.com. Admission £6.50 adults, £5.50 seniors and
children 8-14. Mar 25-Apr 20 and early July-early Sept daily 10:30am-4:30pm; late Apr-June and early
Sept-early Oct Wed and Fri-Sun 1:30-4:30pm. Dates vary every year, and Eton may close for special
occasions; call ahead. Take a train from Paddington Station to Windsor (see “Getting There,” above). If
you go by train, you can walk from the station to the campus. By car, take the M4 to exit 5 to go straight
to Eton.
Insider tip:
Parking is difficult, so we advise turning off the M4 at exit 6 to Windsor; you can
park here and take an easy stroll past Windsor Castle and across the Thames Bridge. Follow Eton High
Street to the college.
Queen Mary's Dolls' House
ARCHITECTURE A palace in perfect minia-
ture, the Dolls' House was given to Queen Mary in 1923. It was a gift of members of
the royal family, including the king, along with contributions made by some 1,500
tradesmen, artists, and authors. The house, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, was cre-
ated on a scale of 1 to 12. It took 3 years to complete. It is a miniature masterpiece;
each room is exquisitely furnished, and every item is made exactly to scale. Working
elevators stop on every floor, and there is running water in all five bathrooms.
5
