Witney to Westminster Challenge

Witney to Westminster is the longest Charity Canoe Marathon in the UK, taking you right into the heart of London and raising funds for our strategic Adventure youthwork and particularly building our new Adventure Base.

This 127-mile challenge will take place from Monday, 29th April to Saturday, 4th May 2024, in 6 stages – including a celebratory reception on Friday 3rd. We invite individuals, teams and groups of all kinds to join us at this unique event. You can join us for anything from one to six days, depending on how big a challenge you want.

Witney to Westminster Logo

Take a look at the route points for our 2022 edition right here and our Facebook posts from April 2022 for the 6 days’ updates.

A+ provides the canoes and kit you need (unless you have your own). We regularly get 32 participants in 16 canoes. Our qualified instructors paddle every mile of the journey with you.

Can anyone join in?

Participants do not need any previous canoeing experience before they join us for the three pre-event practice sessions. Our valiant participants have ranged from pre-teenagers to those in their 60’s+. Each night we stay with generous organisations such as churches and canoe clubs that provide a warm evening meal and space for ‘indoor camping’, as a team.

Please get in touch with us to register interest in our 2024 journey.

Canoes in front of Houses of Parliment

Sponsorship

The challenge is more than just the paddling. We would love each paddler to aim to raise sponsorship as follows please:

All 6 days: £1,000 // 1 day: £250 // 2 days: £450 // 3 days: £550 // 4 days: £700 // 5 days: £850

Children and young people

Many families join the challenge as teams – parents and children or friendship groups. We have set a minimum age of ten, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult (or join as part of a supervised group). Registration fees and sponsorship targets are 50% of those for adults. Due to strong tides, the final day is more challenging and minimum age for that day is 14. It is not possible for people to join for the final day only.

Walk/Run

Some very courageous participants choose to walk or run from Witney to Westminster along the towpaths meeting the boats at the scheduled stops during the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you would like to know more about the practicalities of our Witney to Westminster canoe marathon take a look through these frequently asked questions and be sure to get in touch if you need any further information.

Adult male in canoe with Big Ben in background

Checklist

Have a look at this checklist to give you an idea of what you will need to bring along.

Group of people under a Witney to Westminster banner on the banks of the Thames