The Thames Path is a long-distance walking trail, following England’s best known river for 185.2miles (298 km) as it meanders from its source in the Cotswolds through several rural counties and on into the heart of London.
Some fast facts for you….
- Start: The source of the Thames is in the Cotswolds
- End: It ends in Woolwich, London
- Length: 185 miles (298 km)
Due to the length of our trail you can experience both rural and urban areas as you follow the riverside trail. In the upper reaches you’ll see peaceful water meadows rich in wildlife, then as you move away from the source you’ll pass historic towns like Oxford, cities such as Reading until finally you reach London and the end of our trail in Woolwich, just a few miles from the sea.
The Thames Path is a gentle Trail, mostly flat and one of the easier trails to navigate. This National Trail can be enjoyed in many ways, whether for an afternoon’s stroll, a weekend’s break or a full scale, but relatively gentle, trek of its whole length. It is very well way-marked so following the route is easy, but it’s always a good idea to take a guidebook or map.
The best months to visit are spring through to the end of autumn – the trail can become flooded in the winter months, so be sure to check our social media pages before walking in winter.
On the 12th January 2022 the England Coast Path from Grain to Woolwich was officially opened at the Woolwich Foot Tunnel, 1.2 miles east of the Thames Barrier. This now connects with the Thames Path National Trail to create a continuous ‘Source to Sea’ National Trail along the length of the River Thames from the Cotswolds to the North Sea.
The entire ‘Source to Sea’ trail is 232 miles (374 km) following the south bank of the River Thames in London. In total the Thames Path National Trail is now 185.2miles (298 km) from the source of the River Thames to Woolwich.
For a video overview on The Thames Path and England Coast Path – Source to Sea – Please visit Thames Source to Sea – YouTube.
