Overlooking the River Thames, Marlow is a historic market town on the road that links Reading with High Wycombe. It’s renowned for its lock that has existed since the 14th century and is traversed by the Thames Path, a long-distance walking trail that links Kemble to the Thames Barrier at Charlton.
Things to do in Marlow
One of Marlow’s most impressive buildings is its former Town Hall, a Neoclassical landmark that watches over Market Square. Designed by Samuel Wyatt and completed in 1807, it features a 17th-century clock tower from the Old Market House. The Marlow Town Hall is a short stroll from Riley Park and its children’s playground.
Spanning the River Thames is the Marlow Suspension Bridge, a Grade I-listed landmark that was designed by William Tierney Clark in 1832. A bridge has stood at the site since 1309, with the original being partly destroyed by a Parliamentarian army. The bridge lies upstream from the Marlow Lock and is ideally visited on board a pleasure cruise.
For insight into the local history, pay a visit to the Marlow Museum, where you’ll find changing displays about the people, events and industries that have shaped the town. Get up close to the Higginson Drum and see an 1830 map of Marlow, then learn about the town’s history as a centre for lace making. The Marlow Museum stands on the edge of Higginson Park, a riverfront green space with an inviting cafe.
Getting around Marlow
Marlow is around 30 minutes’ drive from Reading and just under an hour from the centre of London. Heathrow Airport is 25 minutes away. Regular trains connect from Maidenhead to the Marlow railway station and buses travel to neighbouring towns and villages. Marlow is small enough to explore on foot.