"A river seems a magic thing. A magic, moving, living part of the very earth itself." (Laura Gilpin)
The Thames Barrier (Section 1)
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The London Eye
(Section 2)
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London Planes (Section 3)
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Hampton Court (Section 4)
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Chertsey Bridge (Section 5)
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Windsor Castle (Section 6)
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Railbridge at Eton (Section 7)
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Riverside at Cookham (Section 8)
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Bisham Church (Section 9)
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Henley Promenade (Section 10)
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The Thames Path
The Thames Path is a National Trail which runs for 184 miles from the source of the river Thames near Kemble in the Cotswolds to the Thames Flood Barrier in Charlton, East London. The trail was officially launched in 1996 but of course walking along the river on the old towing path has been popular for a lot longer than that. Footbridges have been built where ferries used to cross the path and I am sure that a lot of other work has been carried out to join up and improve paths to establish this continuous walk.
There is something very appealing about walking the length of a great river from source to sea and the Thames Path makes this possible. Recently the path has been extended to Crayford which I think is near the Thames estuary.
The path can of course be walked in either direction. I started at the Thames Barrier - the official start.
Section 1: Thames Barrier to Wapping
Section 2: Wapping to Putney Bridge
Section 3: Putney Bridge to Twickenham
Section 4: Twickenham to Shepperton
Section 5: Shepperton to Staines
Section 6: Staines to Windsor
Section 7: Windsor to Maidenhead
Section 8: Maidenhead to Marlow
Section 9: Marlow to Henley
Section 10: Henley to Reading
Section 11: Reading to Streatley
Section 12: Streatley to Cholsey
Section 13: Cholsey to Shillingford
Section 14: Shillingford to Abingdon
Section 15: Abingdon to Oxford
Section 16: Oxford to Swinford (Eynsham Lock)
Section 17: Swinford (Eynsham Lock) to Newbridge
Section 18: Newbridge to the Source (3 days)
Thames Path Extension: Thames Barrier to Crayford Ness
There is something very appealing about walking the length of a great river from source to sea and the Thames Path makes this possible. Recently the path has been extended to Crayford which I think is near the Thames estuary.
The path can of course be walked in either direction. I started at the Thames Barrier - the official start.
Section 1: Thames Barrier to Wapping
Section 2: Wapping to Putney Bridge
Section 3: Putney Bridge to Twickenham
Section 4: Twickenham to Shepperton
Section 5: Shepperton to Staines
Section 6: Staines to Windsor
Section 7: Windsor to Maidenhead
Section 8: Maidenhead to Marlow
Section 9: Marlow to Henley
Section 10: Henley to Reading
Section 11: Reading to Streatley
Section 12: Streatley to Cholsey
Section 13: Cholsey to Shillingford
Section 14: Shillingford to Abingdon
Section 15: Abingdon to Oxford
Section 16: Oxford to Swinford (Eynsham Lock)
Section 17: Swinford (Eynsham Lock) to Newbridge
Section 18: Newbridge to the Source (3 days)
Thames Path Extension: Thames Barrier to Crayford Ness
Maps/Guidebooks
- Waterways Series: The Thames (published by Heron Maps)
- London A-Z
- Official National Trail Guides (Thames Path in London and Thames Path in the Country)
- Three Men in a Boat (Jerome K. Jerome)
The Path near Tilehurst (Section 11)
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Streatley (Section 12)
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Benson (Section 13)
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Day's Lock (Section 14)
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Iffley Lock (Section 15)
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Rowers at Port Meadow (Section 16)
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Paddler near Northmoor (Section 17)
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Meandering Thames (Section 18, day 1)
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The Round House (Section 18, day 2)
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The Source (Section 18, day 3)
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