Planning a trip to Oxford?
Read on to discover our review of the Oxford River Cruises' "Oxford Experience Cruise." This idyllic day out makes a fun experience gift for Christmas, and is the perfect addition to your next Oxford trip.
On a slightly drizzly morning in September, my four friends and I made our way to The Folly Restaurant to begin our cruise. We were staying in a holiday cottage in Hook Norton, about an hour’s drive from the city of Oxford.
We hadn’t quite anticipated the hassle of parking in central Oxford, and a fair amount of sweating, swearing and hand-wringing took place in the final moments of our journey.
As we rushed to the dock, worried about (quite literally) missing the boat, we were relieved to see – in stark contrast to our panic - a relaxed, green-jacketed skipper leaning against the side of the boat. The river stretched out behind him, dotted with little houses and gardens overlooking the water. He was friendly and approachable, introducing himself as Nick.
We were told we still had time to nip to the loo in the adjoining restaurant before the boat set off, so we did so before taking our seats onboard. The interior of the boat was cosy and kitschy-chic, decorated with vintage throw pillows and blankets. My friends and I took a seat in the corner and breathed a sigh of relief that we could finally relax and enjoy the cruise after our stressful morning.
Nick stepped onto the boat and gave an introduction to what we’d be seeing during the journey. His authoritative voice and approachable energy filled the boat, making me feel at ease. As the boat cruised and rocked along the surface of the water, we were able to see the houses that lined the side of the river. People relaxed in their gardens, trying to absorb what little sun was poking through the late September clouds.
Nick told us some local trivia as we trundled along, including that one of the houses we passed was rumoured to be where David Cameron got… erm… friendly with a pig. We passed some local boat houses in use by the Oxford punting teams, and could see students, red-faced from exercise, half-in and half-out of their wetsuits, milling around the entrances. Nick pointed out the unfortunately named ‘Isis’ boat house amongst the others.
Nick seemed to know everyone, giving a friendly honk of the boat’s horn as we passed a woman eating her breakfast on a bright purple boat. ‘Leave some for me!’ he called out as we passed her. A man was coaching a breathless team of athletes as they punted along beside us. ‘Taking a break today?’ called Nick. The way that he seemed to be in perfect rhythm with this community along the river really made me feel like we were getting an inside look into what it would be like to live in Oxford.
After passing some beautiful scenery, we stopped outside an inviting-looking pub. The sun started to come out in earnest as Nick explained that this pub could only be reached by bicycle, boat or foot. No taxi cabs are being hailed to this particular watering hole! The pub was a big, white building that stood out above the river. It was surrounded by a beer garden, dotted with people drinking half pints and eating chips on wooden tables.
Nick recommended the local IPA – which was vegan and gluten free, perfect for our group’s awkward combination of dietary requirements – so a few of us ordered pints to bring back onto the boat with us. My friend Paige even ordered scones with clotted cream and jam, of which I was quite jealous, and Brigit had an Aperol Spritz cocktail.
As we headed back onto our vessel and sipped and ate, I worried about what to do with our empties. Nick reassured us that he’d simply take them back to the pub (where he also worked) on the return trip.
Relaxed and merry, we set off to cruise back the way we came. Nick explained the return journey would be much more relaxed, and free of commentary, so we could simply chat amongst ourselves as his playlist came out of some onboard speakers (at a respectable volume – we’re not trying to disturb the neighbourhood here.)
We passed the quirky houses, boats and bridges that we had seen on our way there, taking in the scenery as the music played and the water lapped the edge of the boat. Once we were docked back at The Folly, Nick helped us out of the boat and bid us a happy afternoon.
I’d like to say a big thank you to Nick and the team at Oxford River Cruises for having us along; it was a brilliant way to spend an afternoon during our trip to Oxford. I’d highly recommend this cruise to anyone taking a weekend away in Oxford, or to locals who want to see a new side to their city!
