Thames Path

Thames Path
The Thames Path sign near the end of the walk, by the Thames Barrier
Length	185 mi (298 km)
Location	Southern England, United Kingdom
Designation	UK National Trail
Trailheads	Kemble, Gloucestershire and Woolwich
Use	Hiking, cycling
Elevation change	110m
Highest point	110m
Lowest point	0m
Difficulty	Easy
Season	All year
Sights	London, Hampton Court, Windsor, Oxford, Lechlade, Cricklade
Hazards	flooding

National Trails
Acorn symbol used to guide the route of National Trails
England Cleveland Way Coast to Coast Cotswold Way England Coast Path Hadrian's Wall Path North Downs Way Peddar's Way and Norfolk Coast Path Pennine Bridleway The Ridgeway South Downs Way South West Coast Path (longest) Thames Path Yorkshire Wolds Way (shortest)
Wales Glyndŵr's Way Pembrokeshire Coast Path
Cross-border Offa's Dyke Path (Wales and England) Pennine Way (Scotland and England)
v t e

The Thames Path is a National Trail following the River Thames from one of its sources near Kemble in Gloucestershire to the Woolwich foot tunnel, south east London. It is about 185 miles (298 km) long.^[1][2] A path was first proposed in 1948 but it only opened in 1996.^[3][4]

In theory, the Thames Path's entire length can be walked, and a few parts can be cycled, but certain sections are closed for an indefinite period, including Temple Bridge at Hurley and Marsh Lock in Henley. Some parts of the Thames Path, particularly west of Oxford, are subject to flooding during the winter. The river is tidal downstream from Teddington Lock and the lower parts of these paths may be underwater if there is a particularly high tide, although the Thames Barrier protects London from catastrophic flooding.

The Thames Path uses the river towpath between Inglesham and Putney and available paths elsewhere. Historically, towpath traffic crossed the river using many ferries,^[5] but few of these crossings exist now and some diversion from the towpath is necessary.