View source for Tideway

{{Short description|Part of the River Thames subject to tides}}
{{about|the tidal Thames|the tunnel to divert sewage from the Thames|Thames Tideway Scheme}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=September 2017}}
[[File:Teddington Lock 2.jpg|right|thumb|Teddington Weir marks the start of the Tideway]]
The '''Tideway''' is the part of the [[River Thames]] in [[England]] which is subject to [[tide]]s. This stretch of water is downstream from [[Teddington Lock]]. The Tideway comprises the upper [[Thames Estuary]] including the [[Pool of London]].

==Tidal activity==
Depending on the time of year, the river tide rises and falls twice a day by up to 7&nbsp;m (24&nbsp;ft). Because the tide goes against the outflow of fresh water from the [[Thames Basin]], {{clarification needed span|text=it takes longer to subside (6–9 hours) than it does to flow in (4–5 hours).|reason= This appears to be the mirror opposite of what would make sense: water going with an outflow will travel faster than water going against one.|date=July 2023}}{{cn|date=July 2023}}

[[London Bridge]] is used as the basis for published [[tide table]]s giving the times of [[Tide|high tide]]. High tide reaches [[Putney]] about 30 minutes later.

Low-lying banks of London are naturally vulnerable to flooding by [[storm surge]]s. The threat has increased mostly due to the rise in sea levels caused by [[climate change]], but some is also due to the extremely slow 'tilting' of Britain (up in the north and down in the south) due to [[post-glacial rebound]].
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sealevel.nasa.gov/sea-level-evaluation-tool?psmsl_id=255 |title=sealevel.nasa.gov/sea-level-evaluation-tool |publisher=NASA |access-date=2025-06-07}}</ref> The city and state have erected defensive barriers, including the [[Thames Barrier]], which was constructed across the Thames at [[Woolwich]] to deal with this threat.

==Responsibilities==
[[File:police.boat.london.arp.jpg|thumb|right|A Fast Response Targa 31 boat of the Marine Support Unit of the Metropolitan Police]]
The Tideway, often referred to as the [[Port of London]], is managed by the [[Port of London Authority]] (PLA). The upstream limit of this authority is marked by an obelisk just short of [[Teddington Lock]] and to seaward by the [[London Stone (riparian)|London Stone]] at Yantlet Creek. The PLA is responsible for one lock on the Thames: [[Richmond Lock]].

Within Greater London, the Tideway is secured by the [[Metropolitan Police Marine Policing Unit]]. 
East of Crayford Ness, [[Essex Police]] and [[Kent Police]] assume responsibility in their respective jurisdictions. 21st-century criminal investigations have included the [[Roberto Calvi]] and [[Torso in the Thames]] cases. 

[[London Fire Brigade]] maintains a fire boat on the river in central London.

[[File:RNLI Chelsea Pensioner.jpg|thumb|right|[[RNLI]] [[E class lifeboat]] based at Chiswick Pier performing a rescue]]
As a result of the [[Marchioness disaster]] in 1989, when 51 people died, the [[UK government|Government]] asked the [[Maritime and Coastguard Agency]], the [[Port of London Authority]], and the [[Royal National Lifeboat Institution]] (RNLI) to work together to set up a dedicated Search and Rescue service for the tidal River Thames. Since 2002, four lifeboat stations have been established on the Thames, at: [[Teddington Lifeboat Station|Teddington]], [[Chiswick Lifeboat Station|Chiswick]], [[Tower Lifeboat Station|Tower Pier]], and [[Gravesend Lifeboat Station|Gravesend]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/1739401.stm |title=ENGLAND &#124; Thames lifeboat service launched |publisher=BBC News |date=2002-01-02 |access-date=2014-04-17}}</ref>

==Navigation==
{{Main|Port of London}}
[[File:Waterloo Pier 1.jpg|thumb|right|River traffic around Waterloo Pier in 2008]]
[[File:Thames Lock, Brentford, Spring Tide, Twilight, 20050113.jpg|thumb|The Thames Lock on the [[Grand Union Canal]] at Brentford in 2005]]
The River is navigable to large ocean-going ships as far as the [[Pool of London]] at [[London Bridge]]. The [[Port of London]] is the United Kingdom's second largest port by tonnage.<ref>[http://www.whitehallpages.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103600 (DFT) Provisional Port Statistics and Sea Passenger Statistics 2007 – Amended version] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724131015/http://www.whitehallpages.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=103600 |date=24 July 2011 }}</ref> Today, little commercial traffic passes above the Thames Barrier. Central London is visited occasionally by [[cruise ship]]s or [[naval ship|warship]]s, which moor alongside ''[[HMS Belfast]]'', and a few smaller [[Construction aggregate|aggregate]] or [[waste|refuse]] vessels, operating from [[wharf|wharves]] in the west of London. Most trade is handled by the [[Port of Tilbury]], [[roll-on/roll-off]] ferry terminals at [[Dagenham]] and [[Dartford]], and petroleum products handling facilities at [[Purfleet]], [[Coryton Refinery|Coryton]] and [[Canvey Island]].

There is a speed limit of {{convert|8|kn|km/h|0}} west of [[Wandsworth Bridge]] and in tributary creeks, and except for authorised vehicles, {{convert|12|kn|km/h|0}} between Wandsworth Bridge and Margaretness.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pla.co.uk/assets/NEW_Inner_PRINT_FINAL.pdf|title=The Port of London Authority Tidal Thames Recreational Users Guide}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025}}</ref>

The [[tidal river]] is used for leisure navigation. In London sections there are many sightseeing tours in tourist boats past riverside attractions such as the [[Houses of Parliament]] and the [[Tower of London]], as well as regular riverboat services provided by [[London River Services]]. This section is not suitable for sporting activity because of the strong stream through the bridges.

[[Sport rowing|Rowing]] has a significant presence upstream of Putney Bridge, while [[sailing]] takes place in the same area and also along the coasts of the Estuary. The annual [[Great River Race]] for traditional rowed craft takes place over the stretch from [[Greenwich, London|Greenwich]] to [[Ham, London|Ham]]. [[Thames meander]] challenges along the length of the Thames from [[Lechlade]] often pass through the London sections and finish well downstream, for example at [[Gravesend, Kent|Gravesend]] Pier.

The [[Grand Union Canal]] joins the river at [[Brentford]], with a branch – the [[Regent's Canal]] – joining at [[Limehouse Basin]]. The other part of the canal network still connecting on the Tideway is the [[River Lea Navigation]] via [[Bow Lock]].

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Thames Reaches east of Westminster 
|-
|'''Reach 1''' Upper Pool, Lower Pool and Limehouse Reach
|-
|'''Reach 2''' Limehouse, Greenwich and Blackwall Reach
|-
|'''Reach 3''' Bugsby's and Woolwich Reach
|-
|'''Reach 4''' Gallions and Barking Reach
|-
|'''Reach 5''' Halfway and Erith Reach
|-
|'''Reach 6''' Erith Reach, Erith Rands and Long Reach
|-
|'''Reach 7''' Long Reach and Fiddler's Reach
|-
|'''Reach 8''' Northfleet Hope
|-
|'''Reach 9''' Gravesend Reach
|-
|'''Reach 10''' The Lower Hope
|-
|'''Reach 11''' Sea Reach
|}

==Environment==
[[File:Thames flooding at Chiswick Lane South, London W4 (2).jpg|thumb|right|The River Thames flooding at [[Chiswick]] Lane South in 2006]] Narrow low-lying belts beside the tidal section of the Thames regularly flood at spring tides, supporting brackish plants. One such example is at [[Chiswick]] Lane South, where the river, as pictured, overflows this road a few times per year. (Picture taken in 2006).

Although water quality has improved over the last 40 years and efforts to clean up the Tideway have led to the reintroduction of marine life and birds, the environment of the Tideway is still poor. Heavier rainfall in London causes overflows from pipes on the river banks from the standard type of sewer in the capital, the [[combined sewer]]. Around {{convert|39000000|m3|L|abbr=on}} or 39&nbsp;million tonnes of untreated sewage mixed with rainwater are released into the Tideway each year from sewage treatment works and combined sewer overflows (CSOs), averaging {{convert|106849|m3|L|abbr=on}} per day or 106,849 tonnes per day.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk/|title=Thames Tunnel Consultation|publisher=Thames Tunnel partnership|access-date=9 March 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130730062359/http://www.thamestunnelconsultation.co.uk/|archive-date=30 July 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>[http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/34091.aspx Environment Agency, February 2009 ‘’London State of the Environment Report: Water Quality’’] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090531221315/http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/library/publications/34091.aspx |date=31 May 2009 }}</ref> These CSOs can cause the deaths of marine life and health hazards for river users.

The [[Thames Tideway Scheme]], under construction, aims to divert most of the overflow from sewers into a tunnel under the river.

==Thames Estuary==
{{Main|Thames Estuary}}

The Thames Estuary is bordered by the coast and the low-lying lands upstream between the mouth of the [[River Stour, Suffolk|River Stour]] on the [[Essex]]/[[Suffolk]] border and [[The Swale]] in north [[Kent]]. It is now usually designated the Greater Thames Estuary and is one of the largest inlets on the coast of [[Great Britain]]. The water can rise by 4 metres moving at a speed of 8 miles per hour.

The estuary extends into London near Tower Bridge, and can be divided into the Outer Estuary up to the Swale at the west end of the [[Isle of Sheppey]], and the Inner Estuary, designated the Thames Gateway above this point. The shore of the Outer Estuary consists of saltmarshes and mudflats, but there are manmade embankments along much of the route. Behind these, the land is cultivated or used for grazing. Parts of the Outer Estuary are on a major shipping route.

==Thames Gateway==
{{Main|Thames Gateway}}
[[File:Grain4973.JPG|thumb|The Grain Tower (constructed in 1855) and causeway, [[Isle of Grain]], seen at low tide, 2008]]
[[File:Queen Elizabeth II bridge Penny Mayes.jpg|thumb|right|The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge; opened in October, 1991]]
The Gateway is some {{convert|70|km|mi}} long, stretching from the [[Isle of Sheppey]] to [[Limehouse]] in [[London Borough of Tower Hamlets|Tower Hamlets]]. Its boundary was drawn to capture the riverside strip that formerly hosted many land extensive industries, serving London and the South East. The decline of these industries has left a legacy of large scale dereliction and [[contaminated land]], but an opportunity for major redevelopment. The area includes the [[London Docklands]], [[Millennium Dome]], [[London Riverside]] and [[Thames Barrier]].

===Major crossings===
*[[Dartford Crossing]] including two Dartford Tunnels (1963 and 1980) and the [[cable-stayed bridge|cable-stayed]] [[Queen Elizabeth II Bridge]] (1991)
*[[Blackwall Tunnel]]s ([[Alexander Binnie]], 1897; second bore 1967)
*[[Jubilee line]] and [[Docklands Light Railway]] tunnels
*[[Greenwich foot tunnel]] ([[Alexander Binnie]], 1902)
*[[Rotherhithe Tunnel]] ([[Maurice Fitzmaurice]], 1908)

===Tributaries===
*[[Pitsea Creek]], [[Mar Dyke]] and [[River Ingrebourne]]
*[[River Rom]] (lower reaches known as the Beam) and River Dart
*[[River Roding]] ([[tidal reach]] known as '[[Barking Creek]]')
*[[River Lea|River Lea or Lee]] ([[tidal reach]] known as '[[Bow Creek (England)|Bow Creek]]')
*[[River Ravensbourne|Ravensbourne]] ([[tidal reach]] known as '[[Deptford Creek]]')

===Islands and peninsulas===
*[[Isle of Grain]]— actually a peninsula
*[[Two Tree Island]]
*[[Canvey Island]]
*[[Lower Horse Island]]
*[[Frog Island, London|Frog Island]], [[Rainham, London|Rainham]]
*[[Isle of Dogs]] — actually a peninsula

==Pool of London==
{{Main|Pool of London}}
[[File:TowerBridgeopen.jpg|thumb|right|Tower Bridge open to admit {{HMS|Northumberland|F238|6}} in April, 2007]]

The Pool of London is divided into two parts, the Lower Pool and Upper Pool. The Lower Pool traditionally runs from the Cherry Garden Pier in [[Rotherhithe]] to [[Tower Bridge]]. The Upper Pool consists of the section between [[Tower Bridge]] and [[London Bridge]]. In the 18th and 19th centuries the river was lined with nearly continuous walls of wharves running for miles along both banks, and hundreds of ships moored in the river or alongside the quays. The lack of capacity in the Pool of London prompted landowners to build London's Docklands with enclosed docks with better security and facilities. The abrupt collapse of commercial traffic in the Thames due to the introduction of [[Intermodal container|shipping containers]] and coastal deep-water ports in the 1960s emptied the Pool and led to all of the wharves being closed down. The Lower Pool area was extensively redeveloped in the 1980s and 1990s to create new residential and commercial neighbourhoods, often using converted warehouses. In the Upper Pool this provided scope for office development in the [[City of London]] and [[Southwark]].

===Major crossings===
*[[Rotherhithe Tunnel]] (Maurice Fitzmaurice, 1908)
*[[Thames Tunnel]] (Wapping to Rotherhithe Tunnel) ([[Marc Brunel]], 1843; the world's first underwater tunnel, now part of the [[East London Line]])
*[[Tower Bridge]] (1894)

==Inner London==
[[File:London Bridge, November 2005.jpg|thumb|right|London Bridge with [[30 St Mary Axe|the Gherkin]] in the background]]
[[File:Blackfriars Bridge, River Thames, London, with St Pauls Cathedral.jpg|thumb|Blackfriars Bridge with [[St Paul's Cathedral]] behind]]
[[File:Lambeth Palace London 240404.jpg|thumbnail|right|Lambeth Palace, photographed looking east across the River Thames.]]
[[File:Battersea Powerstation - Across Thames - London - 020504.jpg|thumb|right|Battersea Power Station viewed from the north bank of the [[River Thames]] at [[Pimlico]].]]
Between London Bridge and [[Putney Bridge]], the river passes through Central [[London]] and some of the most famous landmarks.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! North Bank
! South Bank
|-
|[[Monument to the Great Fire of London|Monument]]<br />[[St Paul's Cathedral]]<br />[[Inner Temple]]<br />[[Somerset House]]<br />[[Victoria Embankment]]<br />{{HMS|President|1918|6}}<br />{{HMS|Wellington|U65|6}}<br />[[Cleopatra's Needle (London)|Cleopatra's Needle]]<br />[[Charing Cross railway station]]<br />[[Norman Shaw Buildings]]<br />[[Houses of Parliament]]<br />[[Tate Britain]]<br />[[Thames Embankment]]
|[[Southwark Cathedral]]<br />[[St Saviour's Dock]]<br />[[Shakespeare's Globe]]<br />[[Tate Modern]]<br />[[Royal National Theatre]]<br />[[Royal Festival Hall]]<br />[[London Eye]]<br />[[Albert Embankment]]<br />[[County Hall, London]]<br />[[St Thomas' Hospital]]<br />[[Lambeth Palace]]<br />[[SIS Building]]<br />[[Battersea Power Station]]
|}

River boats carry tourists up down and across the river, and also provide a regular commuter service.

===Major crossings===
*[[Northern line]], [[Waterloo & City line]], [[Bakerloo line]], [[Jubilee line]], [[Victoria line]], tunnels
*[[London Bridge]] (1973)
*[[Cannon Street Railway Bridge]] (1982)
*[[Southwark Bridge]] (1921)
*[[London Millennium Bridge|Millennium Bridge]] (2002)
*[[Blackfriars Railway Bridge]] (1886)
*[[Blackfriars Bridge]] (1869)
*[[Waterloo Bridge]] (1945) (the "women's bridge")
*[[Hungerford Footbridge]]s (Golden Jubilee Bridges) (2002)
*[[Hungerford Bridge|Charing Cross (Hungerford) Bridge]] (1864)
*[[Westminster Bridge]] (1862)
*[[Lambeth Bridge]] (1932)
*[[Vauxhall Bridge]] (1906)
*[[Grosvenor Bridge]] (Victoria Railway Bridge) (1859)
*[[Chelsea Bridge]] (1937)
*[[Albert Bridge, London|Albert Bridge]] (1873)
*[[Battersea Bridge]] (Sir [[Joseph Bazalgette]], 1890) (Henry Holland, 1771)
*[[Battersea Railway Bridge]] (1863)
*[[Wandsworth Bridge]] (1938)
*[[Fulham Railway Bridge]] (1889)

===Tributaries===
(culverted tributaries largely converted to sewers are marked ‡)
*[[Walbrook]]‡
*[[River Fleet]]‡
*[[River Neckinger|Neckinger]]‡ (save for mouth)
*[[Tyburn (stream)|Tyburn]]‡
*[[River Westbourne|Westbourne]]‡
*[[Counter's Creek]] (also known as 'Chelsea Creek')‡ (save for mouth)
*[[River Effra|Effra]]‡
*[[River Wandle|Wandle]]

==Outer London==
[[File:Putney Bridge.jpg|thumb|Putney Bridge]]
[[File:Strand-on-the-green-pub.jpg|thumb|Historic riverside pub, Strand-on-the-Green, Chiswick]]
[[File:GloversIsle01.JPG|thumb|right|View from [[Richmond Hill, London|Richmond Hill]], [[Richmond, London|Richmond]].]]

From Putney Bridge to [[Teddington Lock]], the river passes through inner and outer suburbs such as [[Hammersmith]], [[Chiswick]], [[Barnes, London|Barnes]], [[Richmond, London|Richmond on Thames]] and [[Ham, London|Ham]]. This part of the Tideway is home to most of London's [[Sport rowing|rowing]] clubs, and is the venue for training and racing throughout the year. [[The Championship Course]] over which [[The Boat Race]] and many other events are run, stretches from Putney to Mortlake.

===Major crossings===
*[[Putney Bridge]] (Sir [[Joseph Bazalgette]], 1886) (Phillips & Ackworth, 1729)
*[[Hammersmith Bridge]] (Sir [[Joseph Bazalgette]], 1887)
*[[Barnes Railway Bridge]] (1849)
*[[Chiswick Bridge]] (1933)
*[[Kew Railway Bridge]] (1869)
*[[Kew Bridge]] ([[John Wolfe-Barry]], 1903)
*[[Richmond Lock and Footbridge]] (1894)
*[[Twickenham Bridge]] (1933)
*[[Richmond Railway Bridge]] (1848)
*[[Richmond Bridge, London|Richmond Bridge]] (1777)

===Tributaries===
*[[Beverley Brook]]
*[[Stamford Brook]]‡
*[[River Brent|Brent]]
*[[Duke of Northumberland's River]] (manmade)
*[[River Crane, London|Crane]]
*[[Sudbrook (stream)|Sudbrook]]

===Islands===
*[[Chiswick Eyot]], [[Chiswick]]
*[[Oliver's Island]], [[Strand-on-the-Green]]
*[[Brentford Ait]], [[Brentford]]
*[[Lot's Ait]], [[Brentford]]
*[[Isleworth Ait]], [[Isleworth]]
*[[Corporation Island]], [[Richmond, London|Richmond]]
*[[Glover's Island]], [[Twickenham]]
*[[Eel Pie Island]], [[Twickenham]]
*[[Swan Island, Twickenham|Swan Island]], [[Twickenham]]

==See also==
*[[Geography of London]]
*[[Islands in the River Thames]]
*[[List of crossings of the River Thames]]
*[[List of locations in the Port of London]]
*[[Locks and weirs on the River Thames]]
*[[Rowing on the River Thames]]
*[[Subterranean rivers of London]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.thamesweb.com/ The Thames Estuary Partnership]
* [http://www.pla.co.uk/ The Port of London Authority]
* [[q:Joseph Conrad|''The Mirror of the Sea'', Joseph Conrad]] at Wikiquote. From the estuary to the Port of London by boat in 1906, when the port was the commercial heart of the British Empire.
* [http://www.garemaritime.com/movies/londonsriver.php London's River] – An intriguing journey down the Thames in rare archive film.
* [http://riverthames.org.uk/ River Thames Boat Blog] – A blog with articles dedicated to helping people get the most from boating on the Tidal River Thames in London.
* [http://www.ifrance.com/thamesbridges/ London Bridges] – A view of London Bridges over the River Thames
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7agJv_EHFgM Fantasy flight along the Thames in a high-speed pod from the London Eye!]
* [http://www.thamesdiscovery.org Thames Discovery Programme community archaeology project]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Rivers of London]]
[[Category:Rivers of Kent]]
[[Category:Coastal environment of Essex]]
[[Category:Geography of the River Thames]]
[[Category:Thames Estuary]]