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, 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. See https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/thames-path-marsh-lock-footbridge-closure-and-diversion/

UPDATE December 2022: Due to closure of Benson Weir "following an impact from a large floating object", a 2km stretch of the National Trail has had to be closed between Wallingford and Benson, South Oxfordshire, and diverted along a route to the east of the river which includes a main road (which reportedly has a footway). The Environment Agency expect the walkway across the weir to remain closed "during the winter months", but are exploring options such as an upstream protective barrier while repairs are carried out. See https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/thames-path/trail-information/
UPDATE May 2023: The Environment Agency report that the closure and diversion will remain in place "for the foreseeable future".
UPDATE November 2023: The Environment Agency and Oxfordshire CC have confirmed that the Weir remains closed until the end of 2025, while the structure is completely replaced. During 2023 a ferry (07375 677823) operated between the marina and the other side of the lock, but this may have been on selected days between April and October.

UPDATE May 2023: Natural England have extended the route of the Thames Path eastwards from the Woolwich Foot Tunnel to the Isle of Grain, making the Thames Path a 'Source to Sea' route. The 47-mile extension makes use of Woolwich to Grain stretch of the England Coast Path (ECP). It is not proposed to amend our GPX and other format track files to include this optional extension, as it is already part of the ECP.

JUNE 2023: The Environment Agency reported in June 2023 that a 3 km stretch of the National Trail has been closed between Temple Footbridge (SU 835843) and Marlow Bridge in Buckinghamshire due to ?faster than expected degradation of the footbridge?s deck boards?. There is an approximately 4 km diversion in place along the south side of the river which follows both a minor road between Temple and Bisham and an unclassified road between Bisham and Marlow. See https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/short-routes/temple-bridge-closed-thames-path-on-diversion-may-2023-onwards/?trail=thames-path.

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

See also E-Routes (E2).

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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 - Guide to Walking the Thames Path [blog] John Tippetts - Thames Path 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] Peter Gates' Personal Website - Walking the Thames [blog] GoJauntly Collections London Thames Path Cotswolds.org - River Thames [blog]

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Walking the Thames Path National Trail: from London to the river's source in Gloucestershire  (Cicerone Press  - 2023 )
Guidebook	Thames Path: Thames Head to Woolwich (London)  (Trailblazer  - 2022 )
Guidebook	Thames Path in London: from Hampton Court to Crayford Ness  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2018 )
Guidebook	Thames Path : in the Country : from the source to Hampton Court : National Trail Guide  (Aurum Press (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2016 )
Guidebook	London Thames Path  (Frances Lincoln (an imprint of Quarto)  - 2022 )
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  - 2024 )
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 )
General Interest Book	Tales from the Big Trails  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2021 )

Click to showhide 16 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

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