Thames Path

The history of England and indeed, given the Brits propensity for trade and colonisation, many other countries is inextricably tied up with the history of the Thames. This great river tidal for many miles of its length and navigable right up into the heart of the country has been a focal point for Englands royal, industrial, voyaging and artistic life for two thousand years, and remains (of castles, palaces, abbeys, villas, houses of parliament, peaceful trading towns, towering cranes) from every phase of the countrys civilisation can still be seen along its banks.

The Thames Path national trail covers 184 miles of the rivers length, from the trickle of its source north of Kemble, Gloucestershire, to the great silver flood barrier downstream of London. In between, it traverses a wonderful swathe of the sort of lush, rolling green farmland, and passes through the ancient towns and cities, that grace the fronts of English Tourism brochures. Despite its industrial heritage, the Thames is the cleanest major-city river in the world, and hosts a huge variety of wildlife both on its banks and in its water all the way to the sea; and easy-walking towpaths, remnants of the rivers function as a major cargo route, run much of the way up to Lechlade, Gloucestershire. It is also one of Britains more popular leisure waterways, with canal-boats, houseboats, kayaks, anglers and swimmers mucking around on much of its length.

 With hundreds of entry-points, the Thames is a great place for easy, all-generation walks through fascinating, gentle landscape that changes rapidly and dramatically with the seasons. Allow a fortnight to walk the whole path; theres simply too much to see along the way to do it any faster.

There is much to delight throughout its length, but the best sections include:

• Section 1: Source to Cricklade.
• Section 3: Lechlade to Newbridge.
• Section 4: Newbridge to Oxford.
• Parts of Sections 12 and 13: Hampton Court to Richmond / Richmond to Putney.
• Parts of Section 14: Chelsea Bridge to Tower Bridge.

See Routes below for more information.