Towns & Cities on the River Thames

The rural River Thames winds its way across the counties of Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey and through The Chilterns, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  After Teddington it widens and deepens as it becomes the tidal river flowing through the heart of London.

From its source in the Cotswolds to the outskirts of London, there are many towns and villages to visit along the river, each with their own character and the landscapes provide a calm and rural backdrop. As it flows through London the nature of the river changes and it becomes the river of trade and where many of the cities architectural monuments and the seat of Parliament can be found.

Outside of London, discover the royal River Thames with sophisticated Windsor, home to Windsor Castle, Eton College and LEGOLAND Windsor. Enjoy walks and tours, boat trips, events and excellent dining. The Royal Borough is also home to delightful market towns and villages: Bisham, Bray, Cookham, Eton and Maidenhead.

With a pleasant mix of ancient and modern, there's plenty to do in the city of Oxford. Dubbed ‘The City of Dreaming Spires’, the city has been home to royalty and scholars for over 800 years.

Reading is famed for its annual music festival, but there's much more to discover.  It has a strong cultural scene and surprising heritage, a diverse shopping offer and is situated on two rivers; the Thames and the Kennet. 2021 is the 800th anniversary of Reading Abbey, take a tour of the Abbey Quarter.

The Thames has an abundance of market towns along its banks offering historic high streets with independent shops, gastropubs, markets selling local produce, and walks along the Thames Path, making for the perfect short break. Enjoy a slower pace!

Henley-on-Thames - home of the famous royal regatta, has so much to offer visitors. A charming Georgian town, with one of the oldest bridge along the Thames, has plenty of ‘not-on-the-high street’ shops.  Henley is also home to the River & Rowing Museum and one of the oldest boat operators on the Thames Hobbs of Henley.

Marlow - set amongst the rich meadows of the river valley and alongside the woodlands of the Chiltern Hills is a charming Georgian market town . Spend an afternoon wandering its historic streets with an abundance of boutique shops, restaurants, cafes and bistros  or stroll down to the suspension bridge which spans the River Thames and joins the counties of Buckinghamshire and Berkshire.

Wallingford is an historic Saxon market town, with antique shops and plentiful murder mystery fiction connections. Agatha Christie lived and worked in Wallingford, taking influence from local landmarks and residents. Wallingford is the location of Causton in the TV series Midsomer Murders. 

Abingdon-on-Thames is a lively market town with ancient streets, riverside walks, gourmet delights, a 400 year-old market place and architecture with some thirty-four 17th century buildings, while twenty-two are even older. 

Faringdon is a beautiful old market town, with a rich and vibrant history and panoramic views over the Cotswolds. It is famed for its100ft high, Folly Tower, built in 1935 and the last major Folly to be built in England.

Explore the historic towns of Henley on Thames, Marlow, Cookham or Windsor and Eton in a fun-filled and challenging game – A Scavenger Challenge organised by Team Activity Group. Teams of up to six people are challenged to reach certain goals by performing various missions around the town. Find out more...

As well as the above, there are many places where you can relax and enjoy a slower pace too, whether it’s the beautiful countryside around Cricklade, or stay in Streatley-on-Thames where the river runs through a gap in the Chiltern Hills and the Berkshire Downs and enjoy beautiful views from the top of Streatley Hill.