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.

For National Trails website alerts see 'Thames Path Interactive Map (National Trails UK)' below.

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 Path Passport 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 Thames Path Interactive Map (National Trails UK) TfL - Thames Path Port of London - Tide Tables Outdoor Scott - Guide to Walking the Thames Path [blog] Thames Path National Trail (MyWalks John Tippetts) Brian's Walks - Thames Path (2018) [blog] Rambles & Brambles - Thames Path (2015) [blog] Rambling Man - Thames Path (2013) [blog] Peter Gates' Personal Website - Walking the Thames [blog] GoJauntly Collections London Thames Path

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Publications, Badges and Certificates:

Guidebook	Walking the Thames Path National Trail  (Cicerone Press  - 2025 reprint )
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 )
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	National Trails : 19 long-distance routes through England, Scotland and Wales  (Cicerone Press  - 2015 )
General Interest Book	Story of the Thames  (Amberley Publishing  - 2013 )
E-Book	Big walks of the south  (Summersdale Publishers  - 2010 )
General Interest Book	With rucksack and bus pass  (Matador  - 2010 )
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 )
Path Passport	Thames Path Passport  (Walk the Thames )
General Interest Book	Big Trails: Great Britain & Ireland  (Vertebrate Publishing  - 2020 )

Click to showhide 15 more Publications, Badges and Certificates

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