Welcome to City Barge

City Barge Boat Club rows Venetian and other unusual boats in Oxford and beyond, and enjoys social events connected with rowing for pleasure.

Our Venetian Fleet

City Barge has a collection of nine Venetian boats, ideally suited for rowing on Oxford waters—and beyond.

Longbridges Boathouse

is the home of City Barge, for our boats, and for social and rowing events.

Bringing a taste of Venice to the Oxford Thames.

It’s how we row

The aim of City Barge is to promote the amateur sport of rowing, particularly VENETIAN boats and their unique rowing style, the voga alla veneta, made iconic by the Venetian gondoliers. Venetian rowing is social rowing, and City Barge organizes outings, excursions and a variety of rowing events for rowers, and even non-rowing associates.

And where we row

City Barge rows in and around Oxford, around the UK, in Venice, and beyond. We enjoy many social events connected with rowing for pleasure, and our different groups of rowers and supporters enjoy not only rowing, but spreading the interest in these extraordinary boats.

Fancy a taste?

Membership is open to men, women, and rowing enthusiasts of all types. Contact us to arrange to meet at the Longbridges Boathouse in Oxford. Here you can see our facilities, meet some of our existing members, and give rowing a try yourself.

What’s been happening at City Barge?

2023 CIVV Rally in England

2023 CIVV Rally in England

I would like to report on a stupendous event which has just taken place in Oxford. Thirty-one rowers and four supporters travelled by air to take part in the annual rally of the International Community of Venetian Rowers, or CIVV—this year in England and hosted by City Barge.