Walking along the Thames Path
Walking along the Thames offers a variety of walking routes through peaceful water meadows rich in wildlife, historic towns and cities such as Oxford, Reading, Henley, Marlow and Windsor, many lovely villages and some of the best known landmarks of London. Whether you’re looking for a short accessible stroll, a dog friendly route, a pub walk, a walk for all the family, a wildlife or historic walk, or a guided walk along the Thames, there’s plenty of choice.
The Thames Path National Trail is a wonderful way to explore the River Thames. This long distance walking route starts at the source of the river in a field in the Cotswolds and follows the banks of the Thames for 185.2 miles (298km) through several rural counties before entering the City of London and finishing in Woolwich just a few miles from the sea. The England Coast Path from Grain to Woolwich 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.
Important information: During the winter months the Thames Path can experience flooding. If this is the case, do not enter floodwater, please postpone your walk until conditions have improved. Check here for latest information.
Thames Path National Trail Winter Newsletter
Find out what's happening on the Trail... Resurfacing Success! New Fingerpost at the Source of the Thames.
Top walks along the River Thames
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Reading Step Free - 3 Bridges Walk 2 miles) - Although this is an urban stretch of the Thames Path, the green spaces of Christchurch Meadow make this a very picturesque walk. You will see three of Reading’s six bridges – Christchurch, Caversham and Reading Bridge. This walk is step-free, making is accessible…
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Henley Short Walk (2 miles) - A lovely family friendly short loop from Henley train station that takes you through the green spaces of Mill Meadows and along the Thames Path National Trail on the banks of the river Thames.
Choose your walk
Walking Highlights
Henley Walkers Are Welcome
Henley is a ‘Walkers are Welcome’ town, part of a nationwide initiative to encourage towns and villages to be ‘welcoming to walkers’. Henley is easily reached by train and bus.
Walking Up A Thirst
Brakspear's mobile app includes over 200 circular pub walks that shows your position as you walk to guide you on your way and get you back to the pub again.
Walking routes to follow
Although this is an urban stretch of the Thames Path, the green spaces of Christchurch Meadow make this a very picturesque walk. You will see three of Reading’s six bridges – Christchurch, Caversham and Reading Bridge. This walk is step-free, making is accessible…
A lovely family friendly short loop from Henley train station that takes you through the green spaces of Mill Meadows and along the Thames Path National Trail on the banks of the river Thames. Entertainment stops are available at several points on this walk; the River and Rowing…
The Thames Path team have teamed up with Go Jaunty to bring you this series of walks in our grand Capital city. Follow the South Bank of the famous River Thames all the way from Hampton Court to Greenwich. The route is broken down into 6 chunks, so you can pick the one…
This fabulous nature walk has been devised by Chiswick Pier Trust and Brenna Boyle of Wild Capital. The 6km route allows you the opportunity to spot various flora and fauna of the area, proving that nature is truly flourishing in our capital city! A relatively flat walk with…
This five-mile circular walk uses the Thames Path from Medley to Godstow and the Oxford Canal towpath from Wolvercote to Jericho. Port Meadow is on the northwest side of Oxford and is a natural floodplain of the River Thames. It is also one of the largest open spaces in the north…
The Thames Path team have teamed up with Go Jaunty to bring you this series of walks in our grand Capital city. Follow the North Bank of the famous River Thames all the way from Hampton Court to Greenwich. The route is broken down into 6 chunks, so you can pick the one…
This lovely circular route includes some of Wallingford centre and also gives great views of the town and Oxford University Boat Club from the opposite bank as you walk through the Riverside Meadows. This is certainly a walk for architecture or church lovers because you…
This family friendly circular walk will take you from Donnington Bridge to Iffley Lock and back. You’ll have the option of visiting St Mary the Virgin Church with its stunning stained-glass window by John Piper.
This route follows the Thames Path for a little over half the walk. You can take a short detour at the halfway point to stop for refreshments at the famous Trout Inn at Godstow, overlooking the river. The return route takes you across pretty meadows and skirts Wytham Great…
This walk starts at Goring and Streatley Station, located in the lovely town of Goring which boasts plenty of places for refreshments and shopping. Alog the route there is plenty of history, an optional stop off at a nature reserve and some stunning views across the River Thames…
This walk has plenty for history lovers – the oldest building on Eton High Street, Windsor Castle, with 1,000 years of royal history and the architecture of the Church of St John the Evangelist. The walk starts at Windsor Bridge, crosses the River Thames walking…
From Reading this walk will take you downstream walking towards Sonning, and on to Shiplake on a section of the Thames Path that takes us through some lush woodlands and beautiful rural countryside. Along the way you will pass you’ll pass Horseshoe bridge which crosses the…
This stretch of the Thames Path is arguably the most beautiful of the Thames Valley with the wooded slopes of Winter Hill rising on the opposite bank as you leave Marlow. In Marlow you will see the lovely suspension bridge designed by William Tierney Clark who also designed…
The artist J.M.W. Turner’s paintings of the river Thames and its surrounding idyllic landscapes are world renowned – follow in his footsteps on this walk around St Margarets in Twickenham, where Turner built a house that he resided in between 1812 to 1826…
Buscot village is located in a tranquil and unspoilt stretch of the River Thames making it a haven for wildlife – you will see a beautiful array of flora and fauna on this walk, and if you are lucky, you may see kingfishers and otters too! You can use the National Trust car…
A lovely walk to search out the source of the river Thames. Setting off from Kemble Station car park you will meander through pleasant meadows until you reach the marker stone for the source of the great River Thames. This is a flat walk, but mostly on grassy or…
Marlow is a bustling, fashionable town that sits on the Thames halfway between Oxford and London. On this walk there are plenty of off-lead opportunities for your four-legged friends, but please always ensure dogs are on leads near livestock. This walk explores the riverside from…
Zoom to a particular location in the bottom right corner and scroll north, south, east or west as you would with any other google map. Click or tap on the menu item to bring up a list of some of the best accommodation , activities and places to eat lunch or dinner on the Thames…