Bygone Boating Ltd

Rubette was our boat, ideal for two. This is an amazing experience. Geoff and Sue organise everything for you, they explain the workings of the boat, possible routes and everything else that you could want. The boats are stunning, a time warp to an experience that you will never forget. I cannot recommend a trip on a Bygone boat enough, you will just love it. Thanks to Geoff and Sue once again!!Richard and Sharon, Herts

Beautiful setting, just spent week on a charming Freeman26 built in 1973 and restored.

Rented Rubette for a week in AugustAbsolutely brilliant experienceMost admired boat on the ThamesSimple accommodation but has everything you need (hot shower, stove, fridge, heating, comfy beds). Wonderful area to sit if the weather is inclementGreat hosts (Jeff and Sue)Easy to manage with bow thruster and good motorGreat places to visit and moor for the night (Sonning, Henley, Marlow, Goring, Abingdon etc etc)Highly recommend

Fabulous holiday - we absolutely loved it!!Everything was provided - bedding / towels / washing up liquid / shower gel etc.A superb time away, enjoying a very different pace of life :-)

Never actually used their boating services but we frequently camp at the campsite that they run their business from. We have camped here for over 10 years and since they have been here have been greeted with rude unwelcoming comments and scornful looks for no reason at all. Seems they now own the whole campsite.

We had a fantastic long-weekend on Bernadette, a beautiful well maintained heritage Star Craft cruiser, built in 1952, but with a modern engine and facilities. Sue and Jeff, the owners, were lovely people, and couldn't have been more helpful.Bernadette is very comfortable for 2 but would be a tight squeeze for 4 adults. Once you get to know her she's easy to handle, but the recommendation to have some experience is a good one - you wouldn't want to damage her.Bernadette is well loved by lock-keepers, and does get lots of kind comments from others on the river.We cruised upriver to Oxford, stopping the first night at The Plough at Long Wittenham (take the weir channel to the left before Clifton Lock and you can moor at the bottom of the Plough's garden). It was the perfect distance after a late afternoon departure, and they're happy to let you moor overnight as long as you're spending money in the pub (the food was good).Looking forward to another chance to borrow Bernadette for a weekend, maybe heading down to Windsor next time :)

We hired Evette during July 2021. We were blessed with a fabulously hot week, which added to the enjoyment of being on board. Geoff and Sue are friendly and welcoming, explaining all that is necessary for the excursion. We wanted to travel to Lechlade, so having a smaller vessel was necessary, as the river becomes narrower and there are extremely low bridges. Dogs are permitted on the boat, which is great. The interior is well laid out and although it does sleep 4, two people are more comfortable. The cupboard spaces are limited, with half a 'wardrobe' area to hang items. There is a fridge, which is useful but it struggled to freeze anything possibly due to the outside high temperature. We didn't cook on board, but there is an oven. A range of condiments are available. The bathroom is tiny but having a loo, shower and small sink is a blessing.Evette is easy to handle, turning quickly in small spaces. Lock keepers adore her and passers-by offer generous comments. We used a detailed River Thames book and carefully planned the trip marking pubs and shops en route, for essential supplies. We didn't appreciate that after Oxford the majority of the locks are unmanned and hand operated, with reels. This does slow you down, so it's important to plan your return journey to get the back in time. This is a superb way to spend time on the river, I would certainly recommend this to others.

We had a wonderful time on Bernadette 2. The boat is stylish and well appointed. Everything worked really well. It was comfortable and just the right size for 2 people. The owners are lovely and very helpful. We can truly recommend the experience. A great way to explore the country side along the Thames. A special bonus were the smiling, friendly and helpful lock keepers.

We took Rubette out for a long weekend and loved her. The bow thrusters made her a dream to handle, and she was extremely well equipped. Geoff and Suse are really welcoming and super helpful.