Swiss Farm Touring and Camping

Use Swiss Farm as a base for exploring the south-east or stick closer to home and head for historic Henley-on-Thames a few minutes’ walk away, home of possibly the most famous regatta course in the world. The award-winning River and Rowing Museum covers the history of the regatta, the Thames and rowing in Henley; if you want to take to the water to briefly pretend you’re at a regatta-like level of fitness, Henley Rowing Club usually offers ‘learn to row’ sessions for beginners. Less energetically, boats of all shapes and sizes can be hired in many places along this stretch of the Thames, and there’s reasonably-priced motorboat hire a few minutes from Swiss Farm.

Staying on land, Swiss Farm is next to both the National Trail Thames Path and the Oxfordshire Way, which finishes up in Henley. The Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty the Chiltern Hills is also on the doorstep and has walking routes for all levels as well as the Chilterns Cycleway, a 170-mile circular route with several signposted day rides. The National Trust house Grey’s Court is ten minutes from Swiss Farm.

Flower fans can take their pick from several gardens and arboretum in the area including Waterperry Garden and Harcourt Arboretum (also with peacocks), and there are historic houses galore in this part of the country: Blenheim Palace, Windsor Castle and William Morris’s former home Kelmscott Manor are all well worth day trips, and Eton College is about half an hour away.

For wildlife and small fry, Cotswold Wildlife Farm is at Burford and Beale Wildlife Park and Gardens at Reading about twenty minutes away. Or pack them up and take them to Legoland Windsor twenty minutes away, where there are over 55 rides and attractions including many suitable for toddlers.

The historic city and university of Oxford are about twenty minutes’ drive away, and London Paddington is reachable by car or train within forty minutes.