Benson Waterfront, Wallingford
Self-drive day boats, canoes and kayaks on the Thames
Day boats from £80 for two hours. Canoes £30, kayaks £20. All of our day boats now have canopies.
Ring us for opening times and availability.
The fleet
See all boatsWe have a small fleet of day boats to hire by the hour or day, plus canoes and kayaks.
Day Boats
Puff up to 5 · Mistral up to 4
Mistral and Puff, both with canopies. Hire by the hour or the day.
From £80 / 2hr
Mistral & PuffFerrette
6–10 people · 2hr minimum
The old Benson weir ferry. Carries ten comfortably.
From £100 / 2hr
About the FerrettePhotograph to follow
Canoe photograph
Photograph to follow
Kayak photograph
Where can I get to?
The river speed limit is 5mph, so plan by time rather than distance. We're in the middle of it: upstream to Days Lock and back is a comfortable two hours, and downstream takes you towards the Beetle & Wedge, Goring and Pangbourne.
Oxford
Upstream4–5 hr cruise
The long one, one way.
Days Lock
Upstream2 hr return
The classic short trip.
Benson
Start hereBenson Waterfront
Our pontoon — you can head either way.
Beetle & Wedge
DownstreamHalf day
Riverside pub at Moulsford.
Goring & Pangbourne
DownstreamFull day
Locks and a longer run down.
Prices at a glance
Full prices & what's includedDay Boats
Puff up to 5 · Mistral up to 4
2 hours£804 hours£1406 hours£200Full day£250Ferrette
6–10 people · 2hr min
2 hours£1004 hours£1806 hours£250Full day£290Canoes
Per canoe
2 hours£30Kayaks
Per kayak
2 hours£20
Full day runs 9am–5pm. Ring us and we'll talk you through what's included and how booking works.
What people say
Knowledgeable owners who make sure you know where everything is and you are capable of handling the boat.
Angela Morrison · Google review The boat got lots of admiring comments as we pootled down the Thames and we wished we could take credit!
Sarah Chambers · Google review Thank you to the wonderful team at Bygone Boating. I recommend them for your boat hire in the upper Thames.
Anne Hunting · Google review
Benson Waterfront
We're based at Benson Waterfront on the Thames, with easily accessible moorings, the Waterfront café and restaurant, and a pristine shower, toilet and launderette area. Benson village is a fifteen minute walk; Wallingford is downstream and Abingdon upstream, both good places to moor up.
Benson Waterfront, Oxford Road, Benson, Wallingford, Oxon, OX10 6SJ
Fancy a couple of hours on the river?
Tell us the day and how many of you there are and we'll come straight back to you. Happy Boating!