FAQ’s & Info

As a friendly family business we offer one of the best ways to experience the wonderful River Thames from the quiet meandering of its upper stretches from our base in Lechlade through to Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and on occasion, where safe to do so, beyond.

View our lovely fleet

Take a ride upon the Thames on one of our famous swans or flamingos. Our pedalos are super stable fun for 2 to 5 people. They have 4 seats but a small child could sit between two adults a the front. If you are nervous about boating or have young lively children then a pedalo is a great family favourite. They are also the perfect exercise for a leg workout!

Regrettably, due to the cleaning involved, we ask that you do not take duck food on our pedalos.

Our traditional rowing boats are the perfect way to enjoy the River Thames at your leisure. Whether you row or choose to relax, it is a peaceful way to head upstream through the willows from our HQ on the River Thames, taking a picnic or a romantic trip for

The boats will take four medium sized adults in weight.

Hire our open Canadian Canoes, for 1 hour, 3  hours, or full day if you turn up on the day. We accept bookings for half day and full day via our booking page. Our canoes are very stable and perfect for the beginner or families, however they can be tricky to paddle on your own. All our canoes have 3 seats.

Combinations with Children:

  • 1 adult and 1 child (not recommended for small children)
  • 2 adults and 1 child ( min age 5)
  • 2 adults and 2 children ( min age is 5, as they will sit side by side on an adult seat)
  • 1 adult and 2 children ( min age 13 for one of the children and who can look after themselves independently)

Our Canadian Canoes are suitable for families or multi day trips as it has the capacity to carry camping kit. All our canoes have three seats. (two children up to the age of 6 can sit together in the middle seat).

At Cotswold Canoe hire we use:

Venture Rangers

Technical specifications 

Mad River Explorers

Technical Specifications

We have a large selection of kayaks, for juniors, singles, doubles and tourers.

Minimum age 12 in a single kayak. Must be accompanied by an adult in another craft.
Minimum age 5 in a double kayak. Must be accompanied by an adult (18+)

Compact singles

These are suitable for novice paddlers and are ideal for short term hire.There is limited space for a small rucksack or dry bag.

Touring Kayaks

Our single touring 15 ft kayaks are perfectly suited for multiday and our longer trips. They have storage compartments front and rear to accommodate camping kit.

Tandem Kayaks

We love our tandem kayaks, these are super stable and great mile munchers and are well suited to parent /child and of course 2 adults. They have limited storage so great for a day drip but maybe not multi – day trips ( unless you travel really light and stay in B and B).

At Cotswold Canoe Hire we cater for all abilities and have compact singles, doubles and touring kayaks.

Dagger Katanas

Touring Kayak – Perception Expression 15

Read More

Tandem Kayaks

Read More

We have a fleet of RED paddle boards for hire. They are super stable and great fun to explore the Thames upstream from our base in Lechlade.

Only one person per board. Minimum age 12 and must be accompanied by an adult on another craft on the river.

We have a stock of RED paddleboards of various sizes.

1 adult per board.

 

We pride ourselves at Cotswold Canoe Hire by using and providing quality equipment sourced from British manufacturers and suppliers. We update our fleet of Kayaks & Canoes & SUPS’s most years, and our rowing boats and Pedalos are serviced regularly.

When you hire from us we supply with you the following:

  • A canoe/kayak/SUP
  • Suitable paddles
  • Buoyancy Aids (infants and smaller children will be supplied with Life Jackets)
  • Safety Briefing
  • Dry Bags (available for multi day or full day hire)

Boyancy Aids
At Cotswold Canoe Hire we use fully approved UK branded buoyancy aids for your safety while on the river. Our buoyancy aids come in a range of sizes from XXS to XL, with adjustable straps to accommodate children and adults.

Life Jackets
We provide Life jackets for babies and toddlers- The Life jackets have a Head support and leg straps. All adults and children must wear their buoyancy aid or life jackets while on our pontoons and the river.

Dry Bags

We can provide dry bags of various sizes to keep your clothing and personal items dry. These are available for multi day and day hire and are on a first come first serve basis for other hire.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We ask that you arrive promptly for you booked time slot.
  • We will check you in against our booking system. Please ensure you have watched our online guidance videos.
  • Our crew member will offer guidance on which size bouancy aid will fit you and/or your family.
  • You will then be led to our rear dock where your craft will be waiting.

We will be deep cleaning equipment after each use each day with disenfectant.

High traffic areas and surfaces will also be cleaned regularily.

There are no restrictions for unpowered craft. You must respect other river users, moored vessels and not enter private property.

Not all locks are manned downstream, please bear this in mind. The safest way to navigate the locks is to portage.

Please let us know as soon as you can, we will do our best to accommodate you. If however you are booked on a trip, these run on strict timings. We will if numbers permit try and put you on the next available time slotWe ask that you turn up at your alloted time slot, not before, ready to go.

Tips for being ready to go:

  • parking is limited in Lechlade. So please allow ample time for this.
  • have refreshments and snacks for your time on the river. There is a small Londis in Lechlade where you can buy basics.
  • have sun protection
  • It may seem obvious, but have been to the toilet. The public toilets are now open on the High Street and the Riverside Pub opens at 12 noon.

We supply the craft, paddles & dry bags if needed. Items you should consider bringing are:

  • Drinks
  • Picnic or snacks
  • Weather appropriate clothing (DO NOT WEAR JEANS!)
  • Sun cream
  • Mobile phone

This will depend entirely on the craft you choose and your fitness level. Around 2 miles per hour is a good guide, but some will be faster and some slower. Remember to allow time to enjoy the river, by stopping for snacks or a drink. There is so much wildlife to see! Paddling upstream will always be slower, so bear this in mind when planning your day.

Our site is not wholly suitable for wheelchair users, due to the narrow doors at the rear. Our pontoon to access the pedals is on a slope. We have had non able bodied people access the majority of our craft. Please contact us before hand.

Yes! We very much welcome your four leggers on all our craft, as long as their owners are well behaved. We must stress however that you must be in control of your kayak/canoe/rowing boat/pedalo at all times, as well as your dog. You do this at your OWN risk.

Unfortunately, we have no toilets in our building. The Riverside Pub has toilets to use for its paying customers. The public toilets are clean and are a short walk from us on the High Street. We ask that you allow time before your hire slot should nature call!

We share the car park with The Riverside Pub. There is limited number of spaces and can be very busy at weekends and peak season. There is a pay and display machine next to the pub entrance. This is suitable for short stays. Alternatively there is the Market Place or the High street in Lechlade. For day trips or multi day trips we suggest using the Riverside Park Car Park which is located on the other side of the river and a short walk back over the bridge to us. Bridge House Campsite also has longer stay parking. Please contact them direct for up to date charges. Please allow plenty of time to park your vehicle, so that you arrive at your allowed time slot.

SAFTEY & Useful Information

Opening Times

Monday 9.30am – 5pm
Tuesday 9.30am – 5pm
Wednesday 9.30am – 5pm
Thursday 9.30am – 5pm & 6pm – 8pm
Friday 9.30am -5pm
Saturday 9.30am – 5pm
Sunday 9.30am – 5pm
Cotswold Canoe Hire is open from Easter Holidays through to the end of September. We may operate trips or multi day hire dependant on the weather conditions and river levels in October.

We open on all English Bank Holidays April to September

Hire starts at 10am (except Saturdays). All craft must be back by 5pm. Please check your booking confirmation for start time.

Our last hire is at 4.30pm for ½ hour. Late return will carry an extra charge. Please see our T & C’s.

We reserve the right to close at short notice should weather or river conditions be unsuitable for hire. For more information please see our T & C’s.

Incredible Facts about the River Thames.

At 215 miles long, extending from its rise to the sea, the Thames is England’s longest river! It is well known for flowing through London, while it also runs through 15 other cities and towns, including Windsor and Oxford.

While the source of the River Thames is disputed, many people say it is the spring in the Cotswolds Hill, Thames Head in Gloucestershire. From its source, the river flows in a consistent west-east direction to the Thames Estuary and the Atlantic Ocean via the East Coast.

On the gliding River Thames, 44 locks exist from its source in the West of England to Teddington Lock in South West London. Interestingly, Teddington Lock was the first pound lock; it is 55 miles from the Estuary.

The area around the Thames River is called the Thames Catchment or Basin. Its purpose is to drain the river system, which it does over the impressive nearly 5,000 square miles (4,994, to be exact) it extends across between South East and West England. In total 18 major river catchments flow along the stunning river.

As well, there are over 190 islands in the Thames! Also called eyots or aits, they reach from Kent to Oxfordshire. Many of these small islands originated naturally, formed by bends in the river that accumulated deposits of silt and sediment. Of the close to 200 islands on the Thames, only about a quarter of them are occupied.

The main tributaries on the Thames include Kennet, Ock, Loddon, and Leach. There are 38 main ones, which join the extraordinary river near locations such as Wargrave, Berkshire, and Inglesham, Wiltshire. From rivers and canals to underground streams, the tributaries take many forms but they together share the task of sending water to the central river.

Have you noted the bridges? There are over 2014 of them! The Thames also has more than a dozen tunnels. The first of the underwater tunnels dates back to 1843; today, it is home to the East London rail line. Speaking of rail stations, London’s first solar powered version was built at Blackfriars in 2014.

Over 200 rowing clubs regularly use the river. As well, there are more than 50 terminals used for shipping purposes.
As for aquatic life, there is an assortment along the River Thames too! For example, at the Thames Estuary, and all the way to the Waterloo Bridge, seals breed and care for their young.

The estuary also has dolphins, which are regularly seen during summer and several months after, as well as porpoises. The number of otters and water voles is increasing in the Thames while the opposite is true of the European eel. Jellied eels are a regularly consumed dish in East London.

In addition, over 125 species of fish live in the Thames. At the river’s bottom are 350 benthic invertebrates, which are organisms characterised by having no backbone. In 2012, a rare creature, the short-snouted seahorse, was found in the Thames, at Greenwich.

To protect creatures along the Thames, more than 45 internationally designated Special Protection Areas and conservation regions exist across the Thames.

Have you been to the River Thames? With its natural beauty, glorious activities and a multitude of bridges and tunnels, the urban river is a must-see destination.

Now if that doesn’t make you want to get out there and explore it in all its glory nothing will…

Take a ride upon the Thames on one of our famous swans or flamingos. Our pedalos are super stable fun for 2 to 5 people. They have 4 seats but a small child could sit between two adults a the front. If you are nervous about boating or have young lively children then a pedalo is a great family favourite. They are also the perfect exercise for a leg workout!

Regrettably, due to the cleaning involved, we ask that you do not take duck food on our pedalos.

Our traditional rowing boats are the perfect way to enjoy the River Thames at your leisure. Whether you row or choose to relax, it is a peaceful way to head upstream through the willows from our HQ on the River Thames, taking a picnic or a romantic trip for

The boats will take four medium sized adults in weight.

Hire our open Canadian Canoes, for 1 hour, 3  hours, or full day if you turn up on the day. We accept bookings for half day and full day via our booking page. Our canoes are very stable and perfect for the beginner or families, however they can be tricky to paddle on your own. All our canoes have 3 seats.

Combinations with Children:

  • 1 adult and 1 child (not recommended for small children)
  • 2 adults and 1 child ( min age 5)
  • 2 adults and 2 children ( min age is 5, as they will sit side by side on an adult seat)
  • 1 adult and 2 children ( min age 13 for one of the children and who can look after themselves independently)

We have a large selection of kayaks, for juniors, singles, doubles and tourers.

Minimum age 12 in a single kayak. Must be accompanied by an adult in another craft.
Minimum age 5 in a double kayak. Must be accompanied by an adult (18+)

We have a fleet of RED paddle boards for hire. They are super stable and great fun to explore the Thames upstream from our base in Lechlade.

Only one person per board. Minimum age 12 and must be accompanied by an adult on another craft on the river.