Tonbridge River Boat Trips & Boat Info.



Our Medway Boat Trips

Based at the Big Bridge in Tonbridge High Street, come and see Tonbridge from the perspective of the river. Our quiet, green, sedate, electric launch, will take you around the town and out in to the countryside, the skipper will provide some local history and point out any wildlife as we go whilst you enjoy the peace and relax.

  • Trips run 1100 to early evening... (weather and river permitting)
  • See home page for schedule
  • Strictly limited to a maximum of 12 passengers
  • There is no minimum number of passengers
  • Run on bookings first then first come - first served basis.
  • Trips are up to 50/55 minutes
  • Booking is advised to avoid disappointment
  • The days trip schedule is displayed on the sailing board
  • Priced at £10 for adults and £5 for under 16's
  • Available during days as advised above
  • You may bring your own refreshments onboard
  • Well behaved dogs are welcome



Book Scheduled trip

As the scheduled trip but exclusive to you and your party, a cruise around Tonbridge and the countryside to enjoy the peace, scatter ashes, just to relax, or to celebrate an anniversary. Historical info is available from the skipper if that's your thing, maybe spot a kingfisher

The boat can be booked in advance for special and exclusive use, just a few ideas:-

  • Picnic trips - we recommend Boxes by Lisa They can be ordered and waiting on board.
  • Ferry to Haysden Park
  • Photography
  • Celebrations
  • Wedding carriage
  • evening bat trips
  • Scattering ashes
  • Relaxation
  • Exclusive use


The following should be considered when booking:

  • maximum number of passengers 12 (larger parties can be catered for only by splitting the group)
  • there is no minimum number of passengers
  • no toilet facilities
  • cost is based on £100 for the trip
  • you may bring your own refreshments onboard
  • Trips to the Leigh Flood barrier take about 1 hour


Book Exclusive trip

An exclusive cruise of more than 1 hour, around Tonbridge and the countryside and/or going further afield down through 1 or 2 locks to enjoy the peace, experience a lock, or to celebrate an event, email your ideas thoughts or requests or to discuss options and timings before booking. Email to request trips outside scheduled dates and times

The boat can be booked in advance for special and exclusive use, just a few ideas:-

  • Picnic trips - we recommend Boxes by Lisa They can be ordered and waiting on board.
  • Lock Experience
  • Widllife
  • Hen or Stag
  • Ferry to Haysden Park
  • Photography
  • Celebrations
  • Wedding carriage
  • Evening bat trips
  • Scattering ashes
  • Relaxation
  • Exclusive use


The following should be considered when booking:

  • maximum number of passengers 12
  • there is no minimum number of passengers
  • no toilet facilities
  • cost is based on £100 per hour
  • you may bring your own refreshments onboard
  • Trips to the Leigh Flood barrier take about 1 hour
  • Down river trips minimum 2 hours maximum 4 hours


Book Special trip

If it is wildlife you are interested in seeing it is possible to spot some on the day time cruises but for a better chance we recommend you book to join one of our wildlife experiences, we have the early morning Dawn Chorus Experience, the evening Down River Experience or the late evening Bat Experience to choose from, all experiences are about 2 hours in length and are Ecologist lead. Of course this is "wild" life so nothing can be guaranteed but if nothing else it is a wonderful trip in the Kent countryside with a sunrise or sunset thrown in

We run wildlife experiences with an ecologist on board who is well versed in the local flora and fauna:-

  • 3 types of experience, Dawn Chorus, Down River, and Bat watching
  • all experiences are about 2 hours
  • cost £25 per head
  • hot drink and biscuits provided
  • Bat detectors provided (on the Bat Experience)
  • Booking essential
  • Email us to get on the mailing list
  • Dawn Chorus early morning starts before dawn
  • Down River early evening starts at 6:30pm
  • Bat Experience late evening start just before sunset
Wildlife Experiences Info

By prior arrangement we can take you from the Big Bridge mooring to Haysden Country Park, and by prior arrangement we can pickup from Haysden Park and bring you back to the Big Bridge mooring

The choice is yours, a one way trip or a round trip from either the Big Bridge or Haysden Park, with or without a stop over.
As our trips are scheduled to run on the hour from the Big Bridge, they will stop at Haysden at either 25 or 35 minutes past the hour if requested.

To request a stop at Haysden please email (below) at least a day in advance or call the skipper on the number on the home page.
Send us an email

  • Trips to or from Haysden depend upon availability
  • cost £10 per Adult £5 per Child one way or return
  • Email us well in advance for availability and booking

We are very sorry for your loss and will do our utmost to provide a suitable and respectful journey and location for scattering the ashes on the river Medway near Tonbridge.

Scattering ashes can usually be done within our normal operating schedule but please contact us with your wishes.

We can take a maximum of 12 passengers at a time on our electric boat to a quiet, peaceful and scenic part of the river, ideal for scattering ashes.

You are more than welcome to bring along drinks and nibbles for the journey (Note there is no loo on board) and it is fine if you want to play some music from a mobile phone or scatter flowers or petals along with the ashes.

Please book an exclusive trip and add a note that it is for scattering ashes.



Book Exclusive trip

Gift cards can be purchased and emailed to the recipient so they can book and pay using the card.
Gift cards are valid for a year from issue.








gift card (90K)

If you have any questions or unusual requests, please do not hesitate to send us an email

To avoid disappointment please book in advance.

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River TRIPS - Terms and Conditions
Ver 15 Sept 2022

  1. Bookings can be made for any number up to 12 on scheduled trips.
  2. Bookings cannot be made online for today - contact the skipper (details on home page) by phone.
  3. Bookings can be made for exclusive use of the boat or to join others on scheduled trips.
  4. Children (under 16) and vulnerable adults MUST be accompanied by a responsible adult (16+).
  5. The charges for scheduled trips are £10 for adults £5 for under 16's, under 2's and carers are free. Exclusive bookings are £100 for an hour, for up to 12 passengers. Special trips are £100 per hour for up to 12 passengers for trips of longer than 1 hour.
  6. You should contact Tonbridge River Trips by email (as above) to arrange or enquire about special bookings.
  7. The trip starts and ends from the Big Bridge in Tonbridge High Street access via the steps, please arrive 5 minutes before departure and wait in the area above the mooring, away from the gate and steps.
  8. Once the boat and mooring are ready you will be invited down to the boat.
  9. Tonbridge River Trips reserves the right to refuse any person(s) without prejudice, explanation, or refund.
  10. All water activity carries a risk, we aim to minimise the risk but when you book you are accepting this as your own risk
  11. Tonbridge River Trips will try to keep to schedules as advertised but be aware that events and conditions can cause this to vary, where and when possible we will attempt to contact you and advise.
  12. You can request to change (the date and/or time) of your booking, or cancel your booking by emailing (as above) Please provide a minimum 1 days' notice.
  13. No refund will be given for missed departures
  14. In the event that the trip cannot proceed, for any reason, other than your non-attendance, we can change the booking to another date of your choice, issue a gift card for later use, or provide a refund.
  15. Tonbridge River Trips reserves the right to alter these terms and conditions at any time.


Click the pdf image to download the Trips - Terms & Conditions

pdf (59K)




Our Boat "Enid May"

A new electric powered launch built in 2015, a Phoenix21 built at Potter Heigham on the Broads, the motor is a 3.5kW brushless induction engine that drives the boat at 5Kts (the speed limit) for about 14 hours on a single charge. This makes this boat very quiet and peaceful for guided trips on the Medway around the Tonbridge area.

Below are links to 3 short videos of our boat and trips