Great Western Coffee Shop

Inspired by a post from TonyN ... GWR Served Stations close to the River Thames

Windsor and Eton Central
Maidenhead
Cookham
Bourne End
Marlow
Henley-on-Thames
Shiplake
Wargrave
Reading
Tilehurst
Pangbourne
Goring and Streetley
Appleford
Oxford
Kemble



There are many other stations close to The River downstream of Windsor and Eton - from Windsor and Eton Riverside all the way to Shoeburyness - with different operators.  The River can be reached in London by bus or underground from Paddington station served by GWR

If people like this page, we could follow on with stations close to other navigable waterways - different rivers, tributaries and canals.  I think we have just the expert on our team, too.

Well.....

Slough (Slough Arm, Grand Union Canal)
Langley (Slough Arm, Grand Union Canal)
Iver (Slough Arm, Grand Union Canal)
West Drayton (Grand Union Canal)
Hayes & Harlington (Grand Union Canal)
Greenford (Grand Union Canal, Paddington Branch)
Paddington (Grand Union Canal, Paddington Branch)
Old Oak Common (Grand Union Canal, Paddington Branch)

I guess it depends how far is "close"-

Taplow, Cholsey, Culham & Radley might also qualify?

Couldn't possibly comment... :D

(The eastern and western Kennet & Avon are easy to explore by train, for starters. It does rather wander off in the middle though!)

I did cycle from Paddington to Slough recently. After the opulence of the Paddington basin, and the Paddington arm of the Grand Union, the Slough Arm is a resource that could be developed (massive understatement). As for the Slough basin it is almost indescribably awful.

Would a change of name help? After all, "Slough basin" is itself about as bad as a name could be, marketingwise. And I wasn't thinking of "Dess Pond", either.

The Slough arm near the Slough end does seem very popular with Eastern European beer drinkers judging by the brand names on the cans littered about.

Yes - a further useful waterside walk / cycle between stations

I know the Slough Arm only by reputation ... Grand Union Paddington Arm and Paddington Basin much better; onward section through Regent's Park and Camden Lock fascinating, with more of interest as it carries on through Islington.

I did the Regents Canal from Paddington to The River Lee (via Hertford Union) in 2019. My cousin had to moor overnight around Old Oak, he couldn't book a place in Paddington Basin. He had great difficulty picking us up from Paddington Basin the following morning. We then criused to end of the Hertford Union (River Lee). We got the last spot at the end of the Hertford Union .

IMO the whole  route was spoiled by the  numerous residential boats mored up to 3 abreast. We were not able to stop for lunch at any of the offical mooring as they were occupied.