Thames Path National Trail

Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Gtr London, Oxfordshire, Reading, Surrey, Swindon, W Berkshire, Wiltshire, Windsor & Maidenhead, Wokingham

This National Trail, unique insofar as it is the only one mainly following a river, was officially opened in 1996. From the source the Trail meanders through Cricklade, Lechlade, Oxford, Abingdon, Windsor, Reading, Henley, Marlow and Maidenhead, and passing Windsor Castle and the palaces of Hampton Court and Kew, and Richmond. It then traverses central London with options on either bank, to reach the Thames Barrier and onwards to the Woolwich Foot Tunnel. Kew Gardens, sites at Westminster, the Tower, and Maritime Greenwich, all close to the route, are World Heritage Sites.

There is extensive public transport availability along the route by way of rail, bus and river boat. For some sections it is necessary to check tide times. The interactive map on the National Trails website gives details of current diversions.

The waymarked Thames Down Link (15 miles and on OS mapping) provides a link from Kingston upon Thames to Westhumble on the North Downs Way National Trail. The waymarked Beeches Way (16 miles and on OS mapping) makes a link with the Grand Union Canal at West Drayton. The Green Trail (Richmond) (15 miles) links with the Thames Path at Hammersmith Bridge and Hampton going via Barnes Common, Richmond Park, Ham Common, Bushey Park and Home Park.

UPDATE 2022: In January the Thames Path was extended for just over one mile from the Thames Barrier to the Woolwich Foot Tunnel. Here it joins up with the England Coast Path which can be followed to Grain in Kent to give a complete 'source to sea' route along the River Thames.

UPDATE May 2022: A reported diversion at Marsh Lock, south of Henley-on-Thames, due to closure of a bridge ('Donkey Bridge') across the lock for safety reasons. The diversion uses a permissive path and track and may be changed, but is reported to be clearly signed. It is expected to last 'for the duration of the summer'. See
https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/thames-path-marsh-lock-footbridge-closure-and-diversion/

UPDATE May 2022: Due to flood defences work in London, the National Trail is closed between Barnes Bridge and Jubilee Gardens from the 3rd of May to the end of August 2022. A signposted diversion (in blue on the map) is in place along Mortlake High Street.
https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/diversion-for-barnes-and-mortlake-project-starting-4th-april/

The LDWA National Trails Register offers certificates for completers of several British National Trails.

See also E-Routes (E2).

---

Details:

Path Type:	National Trails (England & Wales)
Waymark:	National Trail Acorn
Attributes:	National Trail (England and Wales) Easy River Urban World Heritage Site Heritage
Start:	ST981995 - Thames Source near Kemble, Gloucestershire
Finish:	TQ433793 - Woolwich Foot Tunnel, Gtr London
Open Date:	1996
Web Sites:	National Trails - Thames Path TfL - Thames Path Port of London - Tide Tables Camino Adventures - Thames River Path (2021) [blog] John Tippetts - Thames Path (2020) [blog] Brian's Walks - Thames Path (2018) [blog] Rambles & Brambles - Thames Path (2015) [blog] Rambling Man -Thames Path (2013) [blog] Jason McDonald's Walking Pages - Thames Path National Trail (2011) [blog] Trailplanner - Thames Path (2011) [blog] Tim Bertuchi - Thames Path (2011) [blog] British Walks - Thames Path (2006) [blog]

---

Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Thames Path : Thames Head to the Thames Barrier  (Trailblazer Publications  - 2018 )
Guidebook	Thames Path : in the Country : from the source to Hampton Court : National Trail Guide  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2016 )
Guidebook	Thames Path : in London : from Hampton Court to Crayford Ness : 50 miles of historic riverside walk : National Trail Guide  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2018 )
Guidebook	Walking the Thames Path National Trail : from London to the river's source in Gloucestershire  (Cicerone Press  - 2021 reprint )
Guidebook	London Thames Path  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2015 )
Guidebook	Thames Path: Companion  (Walking Books  - 2013 )
External download	Surrey County Council - Thames Down Link  (Surrey County Council )
General Interest Book	Grand Union, Oxford & the South East: Waterways Guide 1 (Collins Nicholson Waterways Guides)  (HarperCollins  - 2020 )
General Interest Book	From source to sea : notes from a 215-mile walk along the River Thames  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2018 )
General Interest Book	Walks of a Lifetime : extraordinary hikes from around the world  (Falcon Guides (an imprint of Globe Pequot)  - 2017 )
General Interest Book	National Trails : 19 long-distance routes through England, Scotland and Wales  (Cicerone Press  - 2015 )
General Interest Book	Story of the Thames  (Amberley Publishing  - 2013 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of the south  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2010 )
General Interest Book	With rucksack and bus pass  (Matador (an imprint of Troubadour)  - 2010 )
General Interest Book	Big walks of Great Britain  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2007 )
Badge	Badge for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Trails Shop )
Certificate	Certificate for National Trails  (Long Distance Walkers Association )
Other	National Trail mug  (Trails Shop )

Click to showhide 15 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

---