Southampton to London

[Sunshine Coast]

Hi everyone. We're brand new to this forum so sorry in advance if any of these questions are considered very basic. Australian couple recently retired and have purchased a Broom 39 currently in Southampton.

We plan to cruise the boat from Southampton to London in June. We're looking to do day trips up the coast and hop from port to port at about 12-16 knots. Looking for recommendations on interesting ports to visit as well as budget priced moorings in each of these.

Do we need any permits along the way and I assume it's similar to cruising in Australia where you get passed from one Coastguard station to the next as you move up the coast.

Any advice on publications, websites or things to look out for would be greatly appreciated and we hope to catch up sometime during our travels over the next few years.

 

[Angele]

Firstly, why London? It is a place better visited by land than by sea. If you don't know it, just sticking in the Solent (the area around Southampton) is good fun.

Lots of harbours along the route, although I don't think many will provide "budget priced moorings". Once clear of the Solent, the main ones are (west to east):

Littlehampton
Shoreham
Brighton
Newhaven
Eastbourne
Rye
Folkestone
Dover
Ramsgate

In general, we only contact the Coastguard if there is a problem (or for a radio check), but you can lodge passage plans with them.

 

[Sunshine Coast]

The reason for London is that we've been accepted as volunteers at Wimbledon. Plus we get to explore it together for the first time so that will be fun. Any particular marinas anyone can recommend in those ports?

 

[CLB]

Southampton to London is really only a 2-3 day trip. Could even do it in one long day if so inclined. For a leisurely trip I would do Brighton on night 1, Ramgsgate on night 2 and up to London on day 3. You won't be missing much by passing all the other places by.

 

[Angele]

The Thames through Central London is tidal. This, combined with the volume of traffic in that part of the river (and the value of land, even docks), means there are few marinas there. There are some marinas in the former docks - mostly on the north side, which is a fair way from Wimbledon.

There is a lock in Richmond that retains water in the river above. That is about 5 miles WNW of the All England Tennis Club. But the river doesn't become properly non-tidal until Teddington lock further upstream. Roughly 5 miles due west of Wimbledon. My guess is that is probably where you would want to be aiming for, but I have no idea what berthing opportunities there are there.

I would suggest you post on the Thames Forum. I'm sure you will find the answers you need there.

http://www.ybw.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?66-The-Thames-Forum

 

[Tranona]

As suggested there are not many exciting places to visit along that part of the coast - most people go west for pleasure!

Think you will struggle to find anywhere to berth on the Thames in the middle of the summer unless you book well in advance and it certainly will not be cheap!

Actually it would be better to stay in Southampton and get the train in everyday. Wimbledon is on the direct fast line from Southampton to London Waterloo and will be cheaper and less hassle.

However if you are set on trying for the Thames you need to do your research now and book your berth.

 

[jrudge]

There are 2 cheap marinas in the tidal section - Chiswick and Brentford.

They can be buggers to get into if the tide is running so choose a slack tide.

Brentford is the better of the two.

They are both in the middle of housing developments. I used to be in Chiswick but the house owners just see the marina as an expense and when i was there ( 8 years ago i guess) it was full of silt.

As you go up to the non tidal part you (a) need a river licence which is surprisingly expensive. You are allowed a few temporary ones but I don't know how long a temp one is allowed to last for (b) it gets much nicer and hence more expensive.

The tidal thames is a working water way that the pleasure boats think they own. There are few places to stop, and other then sight seeing value going past the houses of parliament has little to offer.

 

[Bongo]

Try Greenland Dock ( quiet when we were there.)..it's an hour to get to Wimbledon 1hr8mins by train, says google.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Firstly, why London? It is a place better visited by land than by sea. .

Completely disagree. There is no better way of seeing our nation's capital than from your own boat on the Thames but of course you must be aware of the strong tidal currents and local regulations governing speed and wash. St Katherines Yacht Haven http://www.skdocks.co.uk/marina is a fantastic place to stay for a few nights as it is right in the heart of London next to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. To get to Wimbledon just take the District underground line from Tower Hill

 

[wonky]

Did this trip a few years back, got up to just short of Oxford. Southampton to Thames is a bit dull to be honest and I would get it out of the way as soon as poss. Spend more time on the Thames, possibly go further and explore the non tidal bit? I stayed in Limehouse basin for central London but loads of marinas or river bank space on the non tidal and you'll never be too far from Wimbledon. Enjoy��

 

[n.herring]

Completely disagree. There is no better way of seeing our nation's capital than from your own boat on the Thames but of course you must be aware of the strong tidal currents and local regulations governing speed and wash. St Katherines Yacht Haven http://www.skdocks.co.uk/marina is a fantastic place to stay for a few nights as it is right in the heart of London next to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. To get to Wimbledon just take the District underground line from Tower Hill

Done this trip many times.
Brighton,ramsgate and St. Katherine's is the way to do it, St Kats is a great base for exploring central London. If you want to get more rural carry on up the Thames to Windsor, Marlow, Henley etc.
I have done it in a Broom 37, 38 and a 42.
Very straight forward trip but best to read the Port of London (pla) guide before tackling the London bridges and tidal barrier, there is no better way of seeing London than from your own boat.
Do it and enjoy, good luck, Neil

 

[MoodySabre]

Even if St Kats can find you a space it will be very expensive for two weeks. A few days there and then somewhere cheaper.

 

[Sunshine Coast]

Thanks everyone. We've secured a berth at Chelsea Harbour Marine so London is taken care of. Any recommendations for marinas along the way? Is Cowes worth visiting? We would like to spend a few days in Portsmouth from the history perspective (ex navy).
Have to agree with Deleted User, I can't wait to cruise along the Thames past the Houses of Parliament etc. We're writing a travel blog and that is just fantastic imagery.

 

[Tranona]

Yes, Cowes is worth visiting as is Portsmouth. Plenty of choice of marinas in each location. Suggest you buy a Pilot book for the south coast. Any of the on line chandlers stock them.. Most marinas will take bookings over the phone, but they tend to fill up on days with nice weather and at weekends.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thanks everyone. We've secured a berth at Chelsea Harbour Marine so London is taken care of. Any recommendations for marinas along the way?

Once you get out of the Solent heading east, to be blunt the cruising is not that interesting. Brighton as a town is quite lively so may be worth a stop there. Then Ramsgate is a good jumping off point to time your departure to catch the incoming tide up the Thames estuary or you could spend a night in one of the Medway marinas before heading off up the Thames. The Thames estuary itself is pretty boring until you reach the Barrier and the most interesting bit is avoiding the many sand banks so make sure you have the latest chart card on your plotter and its probably wise to carry paper charts too

Whatever you do, you must time your arrival at Chelsea for around HW to get through the lock but check with the harbour master about opening times on the day of your intended arrival. It is a few years since I visited Chelsea harbour by boat but then there were some waiting pontoons outside the lock but manouvering your boat on to these pontoons was tricky with any tide running. Be aware that HW is later the further up the river you go so you need to check exact HW times at Chelsea not just assume its the same as lower down the river

 

[Sunshine Coast]

Thanks for all the information guys, really appreciate it. Not so worried about it being a boring trip because I've cruised the Queensland coast several times that that is really boring (so much distance between ports). We seem to have plenty of times up our sleeve so might spend a few days in some of the places mentioned and explore a bit. Our original plan was to just pick up the boat and take her across to France, but then Wimbledon came up and I'm doing some work for the Scottish Commonwealth Games team at the moment and they've invited us to the last night of the Tattoo in Edinburgh, so we decided to make our first cruising season and English one. If you see a boat called Sunshine Coast come and have a "sundowners" drink with us.

 

[TwoHooter]

Has anyone mentioned Chichester? Nothing nicer than a few nights at anchor there, and a trip ashore in the tender to the walks and pubs around Itchenor.

 

[markc]

Hi

I have done this trip plenty of times and echo what most others have said Solent - to Brighton (only if you really want to stop there) or just head straight to Ramsgate for fuel top up. Ramsgate is an old fashioned seaside town that was quite run-down last time I visited more than 10 years ago, but could be full of hipsters now. but was very charming nonetheless so worth a visit. I'm not a fan of the Medway, but Chatham might interest you with the
Historic Dockyard (you mentioned Navy) - it's a good boaty day out. As others have said , St Katherine Dock is worth a stay for a couple of nights - right next to Tower Bridge, it has a fantastic atmosphere. Chelsea is fine as a base. It is tricky going in and out with a tide running, so be prepared to give it some beans and have your wits about you! If you venture upstream, again it's worth it - you can get a visitor permit at Teddington Lock for up to 2 weeks. When you head back, I would take the tide down and stop at Ramsgate then finish off the trip the following day. If the tides are in your favour, it's do-able in one go from Teddington to the Solent if you can cruise at 23 knots, but it's a very long day!