The River Thames
flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in
England and the second longest in the United Kingdom, behind the River Severn.
While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London,
the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,
Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Windsor, Kingston upon Thames, and Richmond.
The river gives its name to several geographical and
political entities, including the Thames Valley, a region of England around the
river between Oxford and west London, the Thames Gateway, the area centered on
the tidal Thames, and the Thames Estuary to the east of London. The tidal
section of the river is covered in more detail under Tideway.
With a total length of 215 miles (346 km), the Thames is the
longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom.
It rises at Thames Head in Gloucestershire, and flows into the North Sea at the
Thames Estuary via London, the country's capital, where it is particularly deep
and navigable; the Thames drains the whole of Greater London. Its tidal section
includes most of its London stretch with a rise and fall of 7 meters (23 ft);
tides reaching up to Teddington Lock. Along its course are 45 navigation locks
with accompanying weirs. Its catchment area covers a large part of South
Eastern and a small part of Western England and the river is fed by 38 named
tributaries. The river contains over 80 islands. Having both seawater and
freshwater stretches, the River Thames supports a variety of wildlife.
Human activity along points from its source to its mouth is
evidenced for thousands of years in places; now it provides dwelling places,
water power, food and drink. A major highway is formed for much of its length
for shipping and supplies: through the Port of London for international trade,
internally along its length and by its connection to the British canal system.
The river’s strategic position has seen it at the centre of many events and
fashions in British history, earning it a description by John Burns as “Liquid
History”. It has been a physical and political boundary over the centuries and
generated a range of river crossings. More recently, the river has become a
major leisure area supporting tourism and pleasure outings as well as the
sports of rowing, sailing, skiffing, kayaking, and punting. The river has had a
special appeal to writers, artists, musicians and film-makers and is well
represented in the arts. It is still the subject of various debates about its
course, nomenclature and history.
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