Trips will be available (subject to weather and river conditions) aboard the luxury Thames launch Inglesham throughout the 2009 summer season (April through to September/October). The departure point is on the south bank of the river from the popular Riverside Park (by kind permission of Swindon Borough Council) and trips will take about 30 minutes. Crews will be available to waft you gently up-river every weekend and Bank Holidays and possibly weekdays as well during the height of the summer subject to other bookings (see here for booking Inglesham for your own private trips /escorted tours). Normal operating times are from 11:00 until 17:00 and cost just £3 for adults and £2 for under 16´s.

Parking at the Riverside Park is plentiful and free. In the centre of Lechlade, just a few minutes walk from the park, there is a wide variety of amenities: shops, riverside pubs, restaurants, a post office and cafés. If you forgot to bring a picnic with you, there is plenty of choice for eating from small supermarkets for a d.i.y. picnic, through to top-of-the-range restaurants for a special night out.

Make a day of it, have a walk, have a boat trip, have a lovely day! And when you've done that, you'll probably want to explore more of the lovely River Thames and its surroundings, if so, all the information you could possibly need about the Thames is contained in these excellent web sites:

• The River Thames Guide
  
• Thames Path Online Guide
  
• National Trails - Thames Path
  
• Kinston Bagpuize & Southmoor Online Guide
  

• www.cotswolds.info
  

• Waterway Routes - Cotswold Canals
  
• ThamesHead.com - local waterways discussions