Royal Windsor
Relax and explore historic Windsor
Join us on a luxury private cruise along the royal River Thames at Windsor. From birthday and wedding celebrations, private commemorations, or just a relaxing trip or day out on the river.
Private Charters for up to 10 Guests
Three Icons. Two Towns. One River
Fortnums-on-Thames
Christobel is going Eau de Nil for the Summer—thanks to our lovely friends at Fortnum & Mason!
Henley-on-Thames
Vintage Private Boat Trips on the River Thames, Windsor
Join Fortnum & Mason at Henley for the iconic Regatta & Festival
Our beloved Christobel has been decked out in the gorgeous Fortnum’s livery for their very special picnic events at Henley Regatta and Henley Festival. Check out their packages below!
Private Picnics for up to 8 Guests
Our River Trips & Day Cruises
Short Trips & Day Cruises—from £265
Classic Boat Trips
Even a one-hour trip let’s you and your guests enjoy the sights and sounds of the river — including views of Windsor Castle
Lock Experience
Two-hours gives us the opportunity to transit the picturesque Boveney Lock—a 19th century masterpiece.
Lazy Lunch
Half or all-day cruises offer enough time for lunch on-board or in one of the lovely pubs along this beautiful stretch of the river.
Special Events & Celebrations
The best seats for your special event
— from £350
Weddings & Engagements • Birthdays & Anniversaries • Graduation & Retirement — we’ve had the pleasure of celebrating all of these and many more with our wonderful guests and their families and friends.
Ashes Scattering & Memorial Cruise
Ashes Scattering & Memorial Cruise
A 1½ Hr Private Cruise to the beautiful and tranquil Boveney Weir Pool — from £310
A private Memorial Cruise on our beloved vintage launch, Christobel, is a dignified and personal way for you and your guests to remember your loved one and scatter their ashes for the river to take where it will.
Henley Regatta & Festival 2026
Normally we’d be inviting you to join us at these iconic Henley events. This year you can enjoy the atmosphere and festivities as guests of the equally iconic Fortnum & Mason. Book your picnic package directly with Fortnum’s.
What our Lovely Guests say about Golding Bros. Windsor
-
![]()
MazB21 ★★★★★
“Booked the Christobel private charter for my mum’s 80th… Captain Andy and Dom could not have done more to make her day so fab! We learned so much about the history of the properties and hotels along the river. Nothing was too much trouble.”
-
![]()
Jackie B ★★★★★
"We brought our own picnic and Dom provided all the crockery, cutlery, and glasses. It made the whole experience so comfortable and stress-free. Truly old-fashioned service at its best."
-
![]()
Windsor Visitor ★★★★★
"The boat itself is a work of art. Beautifully restored and incredibly comfortable. Being on a vintage launch felt so much more exclusive than the larger commercial tour boats."
-
![]()
Ashes Scattering ★★★★★
"We used Golding Bros for a memorial cruise to scatter ashes. Andy and the team were so respectful and helped us find the perfect quiet spot. They turned a difficult day into a beautiful memory."
-
![]()
Veronika & Stephen ★★★★★
“Thanks again for an awesome service on our wedding day. Everyone loved it! Andy & Dom are the perfect hosts. Attentive, informative but most important fun… the boat is simply the best on the river. Comfortable and just stunning.”
Vintage Style — Classic Service
Golding Brothers boats have been delighting passengers on this beautiful part of the River Thames since the 1930’s. Our friendly Skipper and crew welcome you aboard one of our beautifully restored vintage motor boats as we travel up past Bray and Maidenhead towards Henley-on-Thames or downstream past Old Windsor towards historic Runnymede and beyond.
Our river cruises are all about you and good old-fashioned service. You don’t just turn up for a scheduled sailing. We make sure you and your guests are well looked after and enjoy the best experience possible from the moment you contact us. Need special timings or a particular pick up point? Just ask us. Need a picnic hamper? No problem. That’s why you won’t find an online ‘book now’ button! It’s good to talk.
CHRISTOBEL
A 30’ EDWARDIAN GENTLEMAN’S LAUNCH
RESTORATION PROJECTS
FIND OUT ABOUT RESTORATION SERVICES
ANDY GOLDING
I am proud to be the third generation of brothers at the helm of the Golding Brothers vintage boat charter business on the River Thames in Windsor. I look forward to welcoming you aboard soon.
— Andy Golding, Chief Skipper & Owner, Golding Bros.
GOLDING BROS.
LUXURY VINTAGE PRIVATE CHARTERS WINDSOR
It’s time to sit back and relax as we cruise along the River Thames at a stately 5 mph with only the occasional lock to slow our progress. You and your party will enjoy some of the most interesting and beautiful scenery and wildlife you’ll see anywhere — upstream or down.
Pricing for 2026
Enjoy a wonderful cruise or day out on the river —
Private charter from £265 for up to 10 guests
Glass of Fizz to welcome you aboard
Complimentary tea, coffee and soft drinks and no charge to bring your own food and drink!
Morning or afternoon cruise (1 to 4 hrs) — first hour £265
Additional hours for all cruises — £125 per hour
All day cruise with time for lunch (8 hrs) — £975
Special events cruise (various) — from £350
Memorial cruise (1½ hrs) — from £310
All prices include VAT. Prices shown cover your chosen cruise and collection from our normal embarkation point at Windsor Leisure Centre or an agreed alternative. Lunch options supplied by us are in addition by agreement. Please see our full terms and conditions and cancellation policy before booking.
Booking Enquiry
To check availability please fill out the form here, email us or call us. We will respond within 24 hours.
Our cruises are always popular. We encourage you to book early to secure the date to suit you. Popular dates do
No payment information required until final booking.
We will never sell or share your information.
Why choose Golding Bros?
Private charter — you have the boat to yourselves
Flexible timings — our cruises are tailored for your needs
Experienced skippers — sit back, relax and enjoy your cruise
Food options — bring your own picnic or ask us about hampers
Beautiful views — all our cruises give you a unique view of Windsor Castle
Your privacy is important to us. We will only use your information to discuss your cruise booking. We will never sell or pass on your data to anyone else. Please check out our full Privacy Policy.
Christobel — A Four-Year Labour of Love
FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
-
We operate 7 days a week, normally from the end of March to the end of September. Normal sailing times are from 8am until dusk and we are happy to accommodate your requests for specific departure times.
-
Currently our largest vessel, Christobel is licensed up to 12 passengers and 1 crew. We normally limit bookings to 10 passengers and have a crew of 2. When booking please let us know how many children are in your party.
-
The safety of our passengers and crew is paramount. Very occasionally we are unable to sail due to adverse river conditions. We follow guidance from the Environment Agency and will inform you as soon as we have any indication that your trip may not proceed.
-
Your safety is our prime concern. Our boats have a commercial Safety Certificate and we carry lifejackets for every person. Please ensure that you tell us about children and babies so that we have the correct equipment on the day. Our skippers are all highly experienced and will take every care for your safety. Please follow any instructions given to you by the Skipper or a crew member. We have full commercial liability insurance.
-
Our cruises are bespoke to your needs - you don’t just turn up for a scheduled sailing. Need to arrange the start or end time? No problem. Need picking up along the river? Just ask us. Need a picnic hamper? It’s our pleasure! We really do need to speak to you about your individual cruise so please call or email us today.
-
Sadly we cannot take pets aboard as a safety measure due to the low side rails on our vintage boats.
-
We operate on an individual private charter basis. Whether you are booking a romantic cruise for 2 people or a party for 8 you will have the boat for your exclusive use.
-
We provide a complimentary glass of wine or fizz on arrival plus soft drinks, coffee and tea throughout your cruise. You are welcome to bring your own food and drink or we offer other options. Please see our Food & Drink page for details.
-
Sadly accessibility was not considered when our boats were built and there is little we can do given the narrow confines and passageways of our boats. Passengers will need to be able to step down into the boat with our help. Please do talk to us when you are considering booking and we will of course do our best to help.
-
We carry a bluetooth speaker onboard which you are welcome to use for background music. Christobel has a full stereo sound system which you are welcome to connect to. We are required to stop playing music around the areas of the locks.
-
The speed limit on this part of the River Thames is 8 km/h or approximately 5 mph or 4.2 knots. It is set to avoid the wash from the stern of the boat eroding the river banks and disturbing wildlife. Even then it’s only polite to slow down when passing fishermen, moored boats and other river users.
Boveney Lock Photo from Wikipedia: Motmit