Thames Valley bike tour London to Oxford
Single / Double
£1444/ £1130
Tour Period
Any Start Date February to November
Tour Nights
5
Tour description
A five centre self-guided bike tour from London to Oxford in England. Tour includes 5 nights in en-suite bed and breakfast guesthouse accommodation, 4 days cycling and the hire of high spec hybrid touring bikes. Also includes bike delivery and pick-up, luggage transfers, emergency back-up, route guide and maps. PLEASE NOTE: The only meal included in the tour price is breakfast.
The tour starts in Kingston-upon-Thames close to Heathrow airport and London, easily reached by the tube or taxi. Using the National Cycle Network Route this is mainly traffic-free and flat (for the first half of the tour) passes through Richmond Park, Hampton Court Park and the wide open spaces of Windsor Great Park. There will be overnight stays in attractive towns like Kingston-upon-Thames and Windsor before the route rises gently into the Chiltern Hills. You’ll continue cycling through beautiful scenery and historical towns such as Wallingford and Abingdon before reaching your destination the University City of Oxford. Your final morning you are free to continue your journey. The bikes will be picked-up from the guesthouse.
Sample schedule
START: Kingston-on-Thames London England.
ARRIVAL DAY: Arriving in London by train or air it's easy to get to Kingston-upon-Thames. Your first night’s accommodation will be in Kingston-upon-Thames. The bikes will be delivered to the guesthouse and help will be given to adjust them to your requirements. There are many places to eat in the town centre from traditional pubs to luxury restaurants. Overnight: Kingston-Upon-Thames, England.
DAY ONE: Cycle from Kingston to Windsor. Distance approx 30 miles (48 km). Leaving Kingston there is a choice of routes. You can cross the Thames on a small ferry or use a shared footpath to Addlestone. Following the river upstream it meanders through Staines and Egham before you leave it briefly to ride through Windsor Great Park. Enjoy the wide open space and the fantastic panoramic views of the impressive Windsor Castle. There are many choices for your evening meal in this vibrant city. Overnight: Windsor, England.
DAY TWO: Cycle from Windsor to Reading. Distance approx 28 miles (45 km). Once again there is a choice of routes that take you through Eton. One way passes Eton College itself and follows alongside the 1.25 mile long college rowing lake. A succession of minor roads, tracks and cycle paths lead to Maidenhead before open farmland takes you over Bowsey Hill to Reading where you can enjoy your evening at one of the many pubs or restaurants. Overnight: Reading, England.
DAY THREE: Cycle from Reading to Shillingford. Distance approx 14 miles (23 km). Today the route takes you through some beautiful countryside with the option to add an extra section if you like. This makes for a very enjoyable bike ride. Rising gently into the Chiltern Hills you reach the highest point of the route, providing breathtaking views over the upper Thames valley. Descending back to the river you reach Shillingford where a hotel or traditional pub will provide an evening meal. Overnight: Shillingford, England.
DAY FOUR: Cycle from Shillingford to Oxford. Distance approx 20 miles (32 km). From Shillingford it is a mixture of minor country roads and cycle tracks that take you to your destination of this tour. You will find towns like Wallingford, Didcot, Abingdon and Kennington all providing opportunities for refreshments or a lunch stop. Finishing with a very flat section you reach the University City of Oxford. This bustling centre has many choices for your evening meal. Overnight: Oxford, England.
FINAL DAY: Return to London. Today you catch the train back to London to continue your journey. The bikes will be picked up from the guesthouse.
Travel Description
RAIL TRAVEL from OXFORD to LONDON: There are very frequent trains from Oxford to London Paddington.
ARRIVING and DEPARTING by EUROLINES or NATIONAL EXPRESS COACH: This is by far the cheapest option for long-distance travel in England, Scotland, and Wales. There are very convenient buses from each major airport. National Express carries over 16 million passengers to 1000 different places in the UK every year, and thousands more from destinations across Europe and Ireland. You can purchase an e-Ticket where you print your travel ticket online in a matter of minutes OR you can obtain an m-Ticket and have your travel ticket sent to your mobile phone - no paper ticket required. You then present this to the driver on arrival.
ARRIVING BY CAR: Please ask for details.
Tour Start Location
Tour End Location
Interested?
If you want to book this cycling tour, or chat about an altered schedule, please get in touch.
Enquire now »Why book with us?
- We've got 10+ years of cycling tour experience
- Only the very best handpicked tours at competitive prices
- We work with you to create the perfect holiday. Just ask!
Useful Links
If you can't see exactly what you want and we are unable to adjust our tour shown here - Google may be able to help !
Tours to suit
If you want to book this cycling tour, or chat about an altered schedule, please use the 'Enquire Now' tab above or contact us on richard@xplorebritain.com
Related Categories
Tour Code:
KO05
Options
Extra night in Kingston
Grade
D
Grade Description
GRADE D cycling: Between 14 - 30 miles (23 - 48kms) a day. The route is principally a flat easy ride. We recommend that clients bring their own bicycle and equipment. We can arrange for the hire of this, if required. The cost would be about £50. You will start cycling about 10am and finish at approx. 4pm. These grades are for guidance only and will depend on weather conditions and your fitness.
![[open quote]](/images/open-quote.gif)
![[close quote]](/images/close-quote.gif)