Significance of the Thames for London
The Thames has been vital to London’s development and identity. It has provided a means of transportation, worked as a boundary, and offered fresh water for Londoners. The river has facilitated trade and communication, helping London grow from a Roman settlement into a major city. The ports in London along the Thames were some of the busiest in the world during the height of the British Empire. Due to the easy transportation of materials, many significant buildings have been constructed on the banks of the Thames.
How long is the River Thames?
The length of the River Thames is 346 km, starting from Gloucestershire and flowing through Oxford and Reading before Central London and ending in the Thames estuary in the North Sea. It is also quite wide, as it’s over 200m wide in Central London, and there’s also a strong current. The Thames is affected by the strong tides from the North Sea, and the water level varies some 6 metres between the low and the high tide. During the low tide, some sections of the river bottom are accessible, for example, near the South Bank or the Old Royal Naval College. You might even catch an orchestra playing on the riverbed near South Bank.
Interesting Historical Facts about the Thames
Thames has always played a big role in London’s history. London Bridge was the only bridge crossing the river for a long time, making the surrounding area even more important.
Railway Tunnels
The first tunnel under the Thames was built in the early 19th century, converted, and opened for rail use in 1869.
Frozen Thames - Frost Fairs
Thames has frozen over during about twenty winters, mainly during the Little Ice Age between the early 17th century and the early 19th century. During these winters, frost fairs were organised on the frozen river, and some artworks depict people skating on the river. Some factors made the freezing of the river more likely, such as the river being wider due to banks not having been built yet and the old London Bridge slowing the river’s flow down.
Crossing the River
Nowadays, many bridges cross the Thames, even though you won’t find another bridge east of the Tower Bridge in London. Some of these are for pedestrians only, such as the Millennium Bridge between Tate Modern and St. Paul’s Cathedral and the Golden Jubilee Bridge between Embankment and Southbank. Tube lines use tunnels to get to the other side of the river.
There are tunnels for vehicles and pedestrians further away from Central London. Several train lines coming from the south have terminals across the river, such as Charing Cross and Cannon Street. Thameslink is the only train service that operates across the river to places such as Gatwick Airport.
What should you do at the Thames?
There are several things that you can do on the near the Thames. There are river cruises that offer sightseeing and dinner opportunities. A popular way to travel along the Thames is the Uber Boats by Thames Clipper service that starts from Putney in the West and continues to Barking in the East. Speed boat cruises are also available if you are into that kind of thing.
Thames Clipper
The Thames Clipper service is divided into three zones: West, Central, and East. The prices vary depending on whether you travel within or across a zone. It is a great way to combine utility with pleasure, and commuters and tourists use it. It’s a good way to get around London, providing great views of many sights along the Thames. Here is a list of some of the places you can see from the boats (starting from east):
- Thames Barrier
- The O2
- London Cable Car
- Canary Wharf
- Tower Bridge and the Tower of London
- Millennium Bridge
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- London Eye
- Westminster Palace & Big Ben
- Battersea Power Station
The boats have piers in many important locations, making visiting one of the listed places easy. Single and day tickets are available, and a day ticket allows you to visit several places in one day.
Thames Path Walking Route
In addition to sightseeing from one of the boats or visiting one of the sights in Central London, you can also hike along the Thames Path, which runs from the source of the Thames to Woolwich in the east.
