Olympics 2012

The River Thames is looking forward to welcoming the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to Eton Dorney Lake, which will host the rowing, Paralympic rowing and canoe sprint events.

Running west out of the capital, the River Thames provides a vital gateway between London and Eton. Whether you're cruising up river, or using the major road and rail networks, you'll find the action at is easily accessible from London. Take a look at the Environment Agency's Olympics 2012 page for information on navigating the river during the Olympics.

Dorney Lake will host the rowing, flatwater canoeing and Paralympic rowing in the summer of 2012. Dorney is a 2,200m, 8 lane course with a separate return lane. The rowing events will take place from 28 July until 4 August, the canoeing from 6 August until 11 August and the Paralympic rowing from 31 August to 2 September.

And when you're not watching the Olympics, the River Thames will keep you entertained. The river itself is a ‘must visit' destination; as well as being home to several historic cities, towns and villages, the Thames Path National Trail and a host of visitor attractions. There is also a full range of accommodation along the river to suit all requirements, whether that's a guest house, campsite or 5 star hotel. Windsor, Maidenhead and Reading are all ideally situated to offer easy access to Dorney Lake.

To help, you make the most of what the river has to offer during the Olympics in 2012, we have developed a set of itineraries for those new to the area, exploring the best bits of what the River Thames has to offer. If you are short for time, why not try one of our one day or half day itineraries? There are lots of ideas to help you discover this wonderful part of Britain - from peaceful walks through stunning scenery to city breaks and time spent watching the world glide by on a boat.

Of course, you don't need to be new to the River Thames to make use of these great trip ideas - if you live near the river, may be explore a little further afield or take a short break somewhere new? Or you could take time out with a relaxing boating holiday for a real taste of  this majestic river. 

To find an itinerary simply choose how long a break you would like and then take your pick from the list of places to visit. Each itinerary can be downloaded and printed off so you can take it with you on your trip.