River Thames | History, Map, & Facts

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data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames">River Thames</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <ul class="list-unstyled my-0" data-level="h1"><li data-target="#ref1"><div class="pl-25"><a class="link-gray-900 w-100" href="/place/River-Thames">Introduction</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref92862"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/River-Thames#ref92862">Physical features</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref92863"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/River-Thames/Touring-the-Thames">Touring the Thames</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li><li data-target="#ref92864"><div class="d-flex align-items-center"><div class="ml-25"></div><a class="w-100 link-gray-900" href="/place/River-Thames/Touring-the-Thames#ref92864">Economic factors</a></div><div class="ml-40 toc-drawer sub-toc-drawer"></div></li></ul> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/River-Thames">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames/images-videos">Images & Videos</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/18796-050-01BBFC09/London-East-End-detail-map-edition-River.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/16208" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/18796-004-DEEB94A1/London-East-End-detail-map-edition-River.jpg" alt="East End of London, c. 1900" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/241232-050-D9F9E2D0/Locator-map-River-Thames.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/280895" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/241232-004-4B04434C/Locator-map-River-Thames.jpg" alt="River Thames" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/18518-004-5DBF39B4/Tower-of-London-River-Thames-part-fortification.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/16173" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/18518-004-5DBF39B4/Tower-of-London-River-Thames-part-fortification.jpg" alt="Tower of London" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/22196-050-017B59F9/gates-Thames-Barrier-face-piers-gate-barrier.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/316" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/22196-004-EE0E591C/gates-Thames-Barrier-face-piers-gate-barrier.jpg" alt="Thames Barrier" height="50" /> </a> <a href="/video/Flood-control-London-Thames-Barrier/16691" data-href="/media/1/589890/16691" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <div class="position-relative --aspect-ratio: 16/9"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/21889-138-96275E8F/Flood-control-London-Thames-Barrier.jpg?w=400&h=225&c=crop" alt="See how London's Thames Barrier combats flooding caused by the reversal of water flow in the River Thames when levels rise in the North Sea" class="col-100" /> <div class="btn btn-sm btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; left:50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%)"> <em class="material-icons font-14" data-icon="play_arrow" > </em> </div> </div> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/136864-050-D946A79B/Boats-River-Thames-London-Tower-Bridge.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/160951" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/64/136864-004-F4F72CC3/Boats-River-Thames-London-Tower-Bridge.jpg" alt="Tower Bridge" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/41304-004-FC1CB5E7/Henley-Royal-Regatta-South-Oxfordshire-Henley-on-Thames-River.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/33875" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/04/41304-004-FC1CB5E7/Henley-Royal-Regatta-South-Oxfordshire-Henley-on-Thames-River.jpg" alt="Henley Royal Regatta" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/87/136887-050-E033A197/Millennium-Bridge-St-Pauls-Cathedral-London-background.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/160929" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/87/136887-004-7DCE8DCC/Millennium-Bridge-St-Pauls-Cathedral-London-background.jpg" alt="Millennium Bridge" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/18521-004-8AA00F26/Pedestrians-motor-traffic-River-Thames-London-Tower.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/16176" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/21/18521-004-8AA00F26/Pedestrians-motor-traffic-River-Thames-London-Tower.jpg" alt="Tower Bridge" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/99/136899-050-3BAA46FD/Thames-Barrier-London.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/160952" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/99/136899-004-37A51572/Thames-Barrier-London.jpg" alt="Thames Barrier" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-student-links"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-10 mb-10"> For Students </div> <div class="imagelink-with-image-on-the-side card card-horizontal tlr-img-with-side-link ml-15 link-gray-900 mb-10" 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The docks of the Port of London remained the principal gateways of the British Empire until the 1940s and '50s.</span></span> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <span class="link-blue">(more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </figcaption> </figure> </div><div class="topic-header"> <div class="d-flex align-items-top justify-content-between"> <div class="d-flex flex-column"> <div> <div> <h1>River Thames</h1></div> </div> <div class="topic-identifier font-16 font-md-20">river, England, United Kingdom</div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-flex flex-row"> <div class="mr-10 mb-15"> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="d-none d-sm-block md-topic-tools qa-action-buttons mb-15" data-topic-id="589890"> <button class="js-tooltip btn btn-sm btn-outline-blue border pr-10 border-2" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> More Actions </button> <div class="md-more-popover popover popover-sm p-0 font-14 z-1"> <div> <button class="js-print-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=589890] .md-print-modal" > <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="print"></em> Print </button> <div class="md-print-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">print</em> Print </div> <div class="mt-20 mb-10"> Please select which sections you would like to print: </div> <form action="/print/article/589890" method="post" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <div class="print-box-items"> <ul class="list-unstyled"> <li><label><input class="mr-10" type="checkbox" name="sequence[]" value="0">Table Of Contents</label></li> </ul> </div> <input type="submit" class="btn btn-blue md-disabled" value="Print" /> </form> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=589890] .md-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="md-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="Michael John Hebbert" data-title="River Thames" data-published-date="24 Nov. 2024" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=589890] .md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="River Thames" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames">https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames</a> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-feedback-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal=".md-feedback-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="message"></em> Feedback </button> </div> <div> <button class="qa-external-website-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool font-weight-bold btn-link" data-modal="[data-topic-id=589890] .md-websites-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 mr-5" data-icon="link"></em> External Websites </button> </div> </div> <div class="md-feedback-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom"> Feedback </div> <form method="post" action="/submission/feedback/589890"> <div class="my-20"> Corrections? 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Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). </div> <div class="type-menu"> <label for="feedback-type" class="label mb-10">Feedback Type</label> <select id="feedback-type" class="form-select mb-30" name="feedbackTypeId" required> <option value="" selected="selected">Select a type (Required)</option> <option value="1">Factual Correction</option> <option value="2">Spelling/Grammar Correction</option> <option value="3">Link Correction</option> <option value="4">Additional Information</option> <option value="5">Other</option> </select> </div> <label for="feedback" class="label mb-10">Your Feedback</label> <textarea id="feedback" class="form-control mb-30" name="feedback" maxlength="3000" rows="7" required></textarea> <button class="btn btn-blue" type="submit">Submit Feedback</button> </form> <div class="success-messaging d-none mt-30"> <div class="title">Thank you for your feedback</div> <p>Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="md-websites-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif pb-15 border-bottom font-weight-bold"> External Websites </div> <div class="pb-20"> <ul class="list-unstyled mt-20 lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.visitthames.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">Official Tourism Site of River Thames</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://www.british-history.ac.uk/old-new-london/vol3/pp287-299" target="_blank" rel="noopener ">British History Online - The river Thames</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/Thames-River/353851" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thames River - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/Thames-River/277313" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Thames River - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="caption alternate-titles">Also known as: River Isis, Tamesa, Tamesis</div> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/contributor/Michael-John-Hebbert/4181" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">Michael John Hebbert</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 clamp-description text-black">Professor of Town Planning, Victoria University of Manchester, England. Coeditor of <em>The London Government Handbook </em>and others; author of <em>London: More by Fortune than Design</em>.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> Michael John Hebbert</span></div> <div class="font-serif font-12 text-gray-700"> <span class="qa-fact-checked-by">Fact-checked by</span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 font-12" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link font-12 "> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-24T00:00:00CST" >Nov 24, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Thames/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Ancient: </dt> <dd>Tamesis or Tamesa</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> </div> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Also called (in Oxford, England): </dt> <dd>River Isis</dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/River-Thames"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><div class="bg-gray-50 p-15 rounded module-spacing recent-news d-flex flex-column float-false"> <div> <h2 class="font-weight-bold font-14 m-0 d-inline"> News <span class="text-gray-600">•</span> </h2> <div class="recent-news-item first-recent-news-item d-inline"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.dw.com/en/police-conduct-controlled-explosion-near-us-embassy-london/a-70857199" rel="nofollow">Police conduct controlled explosion near US Embassy, London</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 22, 2024, 9:43 PM ET (Deutsche Welle) <button class="btn btn-link d-inline p-0 font-12 js-toggle-recent-news"> <span class="text-gray-500">...</span><span>(Show more)</span> </button> </span> </div> </div> <div class="rest-of-recent-news-items"> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2024/11/18/uk-water-firms-risk-financial-ruin-thames-warns-barclays/" rel="nofollow">Every UK water firm risks financial ruin like Thames, warns Barclays</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 18, 2024, 9:38 PM ET (The Telegraph) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgewnlxg27o" rel="nofollow">Oxford: E-scooter rider attacks cyclist on river Thames towpath</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 11, 2024, 6:50 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/nov/06/london-heat-network-low-carbon-heating-westminster" rel="nofollow">Heat from sewers, tube and Thames could soon warm London buildings</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Nov. 6, 2024, 9:31 AM ET (The Guardian) </span> </div> <div class="recent-news-item mt-5"> <a class="font-14 gtm-ap-news-link" href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yxgrq3lqlo" rel="nofollow">Thames boat owners fined for not registering vessels</a> <span class="font-14 text-gray-600"> <span>•</span> Oct. 30, 2024, 7:04 AM ET (BBC) </span> </div> <button class="js-toggle-recent-news d-flex btn btn-unstyled font-14 pr-10 rounded-sm mt-10" aria-label="Toggle additional news items"> Show less <em class="material-icons" data-icon="expand_less"></em> </button> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref654074"></span>River Thames</strong>, chief <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/river" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">river</a> of southern <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">England</a>. Rising in the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cotswolds" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cotswold Hills</a>, its <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="basin" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/basin" data-type="EB">basin</a> covers an area of approximately 5,500 square miles (14,250 square km). The traditional source at Thames Head, which is dry for much of the year, is marked by a stone in a field 356 feet (108.5 metres) above <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/sea-level" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">sea level</a> and 3 miles (5 km) southwest of the town of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cirencester" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cirencester</a>. Some think a tributary, the River Churn, has a better claim to being the source; it rises near the village of Seven Springs (700 feet [213 metres] above sea level), just south of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Cheltenham-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Cheltenham</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="marker h2"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref92862"> <h2 class="h1">Physical features</h2> <span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="280895" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/241232-050-D9F9E2D0/Locator-map-River-Thames.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/589890/280895"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/241232-050-D9F9E2D0/Locator-map-River-Thames.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/241232-050-D9F9E2D0/Locator-map-River-Thames.jpg?w=300" alt="River Thames" data-width="2000" data-height="2000" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/241232-050-D9F9E2D0/Locator-map-River-Thames.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/280895">River Thames</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The Thames is some 205 miles (330 km) long, running 140 miles (226 km) from the source to the tidal waters limit—i.e., from Thames Head to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Teddington" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Teddington Lock</a>—and, as an <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/estuary" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">estuary</a>, a further 65 miles (104 km) from there to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Nore" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">The Nore</a> sandbank, which marks the <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="transition" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/transition" data-type="EB">transition</a> from estuary to open sea. Its basin, which receives an annual average precipitation of 27 inches (688 mm), has a complex structure. In its upper course the river drains a broadly triangular area defined by the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/chalk" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">chalk</a> escarpment of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Chiltern-Hills" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Chiltern Hills</a> and the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Berkshire-county-England" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Berkshire Downs</a> to the east and south, the Cotswolds to the west, and the Northamptonshire uplands to the north. At Goring Gap it cuts through the chalk escarpment and then drains the land lying north of the dip slope of the North Downs. Its last great tributary, the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/River-Medway" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">River Medway</a>, drains much of the low-lying <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/The-Weald" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Weald</a> area of <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Kent-county-England" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Kent</a> and Sussex to the south of <span id="ref654075"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/London" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">London</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="16173" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/18518-004-5DBF39B4/Tower-of-London-River-Thames-part-fortification.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/589890/16173"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/18518-004-5DBF39B4/Tower-of-London-River-Thames-part-fortification.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/18518-004-5DBF39B4/Tower-of-London-River-Thames-part-fortification.jpg?w=300" alt="Tower of London" data-width="500" data-height="282" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/18/18518-004-5DBF39B4/Tower-of-London-River-Thames-part-fortification.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/16173">Tower of London</a><span>The Tower of London and the River Thames. The earliest part of the fortification, the White Tower (centre right), was built in the 11th century and was later topped by four cupolas; the Traitors' Gate (centre left) dates from the 13th century.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Flowing through gently rolling lowlands, the distinctive character of the Thames is <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="pastoral" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/pastoral" data-type="EB">pastoral</a> and undramatic. Its average fall between Lechlade and London is less than 20 inches per mile (32 cm per km). The tides and surges of the sea, moreover, have a profound effect on the water level of the river’s lower course. This tidal influence begins to be felt intermittently, for some three hours during a high <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/tide" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">tide</a>, at Teddington in the west suburbs of London. The transition from freshwater to estuarine reaches occurs closer to central London, around <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Battersea" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Battersea</a>. At <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Old-London-Bridge" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">London Bridge</a>, in the heart of the metropolis, the river rises 22 feet (7 metres) on the spring tides and 18 feet (5.5 metres) on the neap tides.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span> <span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="316" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/22196-050-017B59F9/gates-Thames-Barrier-face-piers-gate-barrier.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/589890/316"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/22196-050-017B59F9/gates-Thames-Barrier-face-piers-gate-barrier.jpg"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/22196-050-017B59F9/gates-Thames-Barrier-face-piers-gate-barrier.jpg?w=300" alt="Thames Barrier" data-width="1600" data-height="670" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/96/22196-050-017B59F9/gates-Thames-Barrier-face-piers-gate-barrier.jpg" data-href="/media/1/589890/316">Thames Barrier</a><span>The Thames Barrier consists of 10 movable gates separated by 9 piers. Each gate has a curved face that lies in a recessed chamber in the riverbed when the barrier is fully open. When the signal is given, the gates rotate 90° to a closed position, blocking the path of the surge tide in less than 30 minutes.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="16691" data-asm-type="video"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="video" video-id="21889"><a data-id="21889" class="gtm-assembly-link d-flex justify-content-center" style="--aspect-ratio: 16/9" href="/video/Flood-control-London-Thames-Barrier/-16691"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/89/21889-138-96275E8F/Flood-control-London-Thames-Barrier.jpg?w=800&h=450&c=crop" alt="See how London's Thames Barrier combats flooding caused by the reversal of water flow in the River Thames when levels rise in the North Sea" loading="lazy"><script type="application/json"> { "sources": [ { "file" : "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/nzy3p2BY.m3u8" } ], "image": "https://cdn.britannica.com/89/21889-138-96275E8F/Flood-control-London-Thames-Barrier.jpg" ,"tracks": [ { "file" : "//assets-jpcust.jwpsrv.com/tracks/b7RKitsV", "label": "English" } ] ,"adfile": "//content.jwplatform.com/manifests/Nnw1S2W7.m3u8" } </script><div class="btn btn-xl btn-white btn-circle position-absolute shadow" style="top: 50%; transform: translateY(-50%)"><em class="material-icons" data-icon="play_arrow"></em></div><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><span class="md-assembly-title font-weight-bold mr-5 d-inline font-sans-serif md-video-caption" video-control="21889">See how London's Thames Barrier combats flooding caused by the reversal of water flow in the River Thames when levels rise in the North Sea</span><span>Flood control downstream of London: the Thames Barrier.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><a class="font-14 mt-10 d-inline-block" href="/place/River-Thames/images-videos">See all videos for this article</a></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The average flow at the upper limit of the tideway, at Teddington, is 1,856 cubic feet (53 cubic metres) per second, rising to 4,640 cubic feet (130 cubic metres) per second after winter rain. In extreme floods (e.g., March 1947) the discharge at Teddington Weir may be as much as 20,900 cubic feet (590 cubic metres) per second. Reputedly, an average of 31,310 cubic feet (887 cubic metres) per second passed over it one day after heavy storms in 1894. The river in spate can upset tidal flows for some distance below Teddington, overpowering the incoming tide and causing the stream to run seaward continuously for days on end. Conversely, high spring tides can overtop the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/technology/weir-engineering" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">weir</a> and affect the river flow as far as 2 miles (3.2 km) upstream of Teddington. The catastrophic potential of tidal surges for <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/London-Underground" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">London’s underground</a> <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="infrastructure" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infrastructure" data-type="MW">infrastructure</a>, buildings, and population prompted the construction of the Thames Barrier at Silvertown (completed 1982) and extensive complementary <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/flood" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">flood</a> defenses along the entire tideway.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/water-and-its-varying-forms" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/02/157502-131-7C5D3A67/water-glass-background.jpg" alt="water glass on white background. 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River Thames | History, Map, & Facts | Britannica