Tours/Oxford/Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise
Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise
4.9(334)Oxford3 hours
VIATOR4.8(41)TRIPADVISOR4.9(293)
+3 photos
At a glance
Duration
3 hours
Price from
$92 / person
Location
Oxford, United Kingdom
Rating
4.9 / 5 · 334 reviews
Languages
EN
Group
Small group, up to 12
Cancellation
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
Confirmation
Within 24h
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Operator
Oxford River Cruises
Description
This Oxford picnic cruise combines Oxford sightseeing with a leisurely picnic and relaxed experience of river life. Your small group cruise through the city past famous landmarks including Christchurch College and Meadows, the University boathouses and regatta course, the Head of the River and Folly Bridge . From the river you take in a side of Oxford's heritage rarely seen by visitors to the city. Complimented by a delicious picnic hamper.
Schedule & prices
Runs
Every day
Start times
11:30 AM and 5:00 PM
Next available
Sun, Oct 11
Adult (ages 12+)
$92
Child (ages 2–11)
$57
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
Out at sunset: the 5:00 PM departure is under way when the sun sets, around 5:55 PM in the coming weeks.
In demand: 42 of the next 60 departures are already sold out.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 10.
Tour Options
Oxford Sightseeing River Cruise Including a Picnic
Option 1: Our Oxford Picnic Cruise combines sightseeing with a leisurely picnic and relaxed river experience. Departing 11.30am/5pm
Itinerary
Pass by
Cruising this ancient and historic waterway passengers enjoy the beauty, peace and tranquility of river life.
Christ Church Meadow
Pass by
The cruise takes in the views of Christ Church Meadow, a beautiful area of open countryside in the heart of Oxford. Beside the meadow are glimpses of Christ Church College, Merton College and Magdalen College
Folly Bridge
Pass by
The cruise passes under Folly Bridge, the ancient river crossing from which the city of Oxford grew.
Port Meadow
Pass by
From the river view Port Meadow, a vast area of common land that has remained little changed since prehistoric times and supports plants and bird-life in abundance.
Osney Lock Hydro
Admission included10 min
Passing through Osney Lock passengers experience the fancinating system of locks and weirs which have managed the flow of the River Thames for hundreds of years.
Oxford River Cruises
Pass by
Oxford River Cruises offers sightseeing tours, picnic and dining cruises in the heart of Oxford
Admission included10 min
Cruises embark and disembark at Oxford's renowned Folly Restaurant perched beside the river at Folly Bridge. Guests can order drinks from the restaurant to take aboard the boat and enjoy a meal on their return from the cruise (sold separately).
What's included
Included
Picnic lunch
All taxes, fees and handling charges
3-hour river cruise
Professional skipper
Not included
Gratuities
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.9
334 reviews
5
304
4
21
3
5
2
2
1
2
How it compares in Oxford
No. 14 by number of reviews among 262 tours in Oxford
Starting price $92 is 70% above the typical $54 for tours of similar length in Oxford
Excurgo comparison of 262 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Infant meals not included
Minimum drinking age is 18 years
Please advise any specific dietary requirements at time of booking
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise take?
Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise cost?
Prices start at $92 per person for this Oxford experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, starting at 11:30 AM and 5:00 PM.
How much does Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise cost for children?
Children aged 2–11 pay from $57, adults from $92.
Does Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise sell out?
It can: 42 of the next 60 departures are already sold out, so booking ahead is a good idea.
Can I cancel Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
What languages is Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller Children must be accompanied by an adult
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Is Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.9 out of 5 across 334 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Oxford River Cruises.
Reviews(334)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
donnadX7732JC
October 4, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Oxford Sightseeing Picnic River Cruise - Sep-2026
While in Oxford, we spent a very enjoyable afternoon touring The Thames river and enjoying a picnic as part of our river cruise. We went via Oxford River Cruises, at the Folly Bridge. Our captain was Joe, and he was just great - a very knowledgeable and pleasant young man, who took lots of time to explain the sights, tell us about the boating life of the river, explain various landmarks along the way, and hand out the delicious picnic. The weather was great, the waters were calm, and the sights to see were many - various birds, lots of other boats, little towns, locks along the way, and a stop at the Kings Arms Pub. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon in Oxford!
K
kathygE3408JF
September 28, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Memorable day on a Oxford River Cruise
Max was brilliant. He was funny, informative, considerate. He arrange a short quiz relating to C S Lewis. For which l won an Alice in Wonderland pin of the cat.
The lunch hamper was brilliant and delicious. Attention to detail was excellent. I’m a local but l learnt so much about Oxford.
Visited the Perch was charming. Weather was perfect.
A very memorable day gifted to Des for his 70th birthday. What a memory.
Thank you to all but especially to Max.
King regards Kathy/DesGilmore. Oxford.
S
simonsimoncorpca
September 25, 2026 · via Viator
Darran was fantastic! He...
Darran was fantastic! He had a great knowledge about Welsh history and very good contacts with local food vendors. Would highly recommend the experience.
Z
Z6793PZdianag
September 19, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Boat ride on the calm waters of Oxford
We had a lovely time on the picnic cruise. Max our guide was very knowledgeable and entertaining with all his stories about Oxford. He even took us to a pub you can only get to by boat. It was great to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. We were even given blankets in case it got a bit chilly but we didn’t need them.
3
343Chris
September 15, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Life in the Ocean (River) Wave 🌊
Fabulous experience yesterday cruising on the Isis/Thames in Oxford.
Very pleasant scenery, delicious food and great company.
The best part was our lovely skipper Joe. He was so friendly and informative and gave us lots of interesting information about Oxford and life on the river etc. A fine young man. Thanks Joe :)
Wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this trip.
M
MelanieH1966
September 10, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A great trip!
A lovely trip, food great and guide friendly. Would definitely come again!
6
676danb
September 8, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Crying through Oxford on the River Thames.
It was a beautiful cruise. The captain was well unturned and entertaining and the picnic lunch was excellent.
F
fred8bateson
September 4, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
A lovely, leisurely river cruise.
Our sightseeing picnic cruise was very enjoyable indeed. It was a three hour cruise but the time passed quickly as our guide pointed out the various sights and sections of the river and surrounding landscape. We had the vessel to our selves so lots of space to stretch out. The food was delicious and plentiful. Our skipper, Russell, was charming and most informative. We will return to experience one of the other cruises Oxford River Cruises has to offer.
7
79dianep
September 3, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Perfect way to celebrate a big birthday
Ten of us had an excellent cruise to celebrate a big birthday. We started with glasses of fizz in the restaurant then cruised downstream with lunch from picnic hampers. We stopped for drinks at the Kings Arms at Sandford on Thames. Afterwards we cruised back to Folly Bridge and enjoyed scones with jam and cream and pots of tea in the restaurant. A perfect way to celebrate. The staff, especially our guide, made the event a great success. Pity about the weather.
N
Nick_k_uk
September 3, 2026 · via Tripadvisor
Thank you Captain Henry
Enjoyable experience on the river of Oxford. Henry our Captain was very friendly, informative, personable and capable. Our picnic was very enjoyable, as was the stop off at The Perch part way through. Thank you for looking after us.
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