Thames Path

About this trail

The Thames Path follows the course of one of England's most storied rivers, taking walkers through a remarkably varied landscape that shifts between the historic riverside neighbourhoods of London — Chelsea, Battersea, Greenwich — and the quieter market towns, water meadows, and wooded banks of the wider Thames Valley at places like Windsor, Marlow, and Reading. It is an inherently flat, linear route where the river remains a constant companion throughout, and the weight of history pressing in from both banks gives even familiar stretches an uncommon depth. Underfoot conditions vary considerably along the way: surfaces close to central London are mostly paved or compacted gravel, while sections around Kew, Richmond, and further upstream transition to earth paths and riverside meadows that can become waterlogged after heavy rain or during seasonal flooding — stretches near Reading and between Marlow and Windsor are sometimes temporarily rerouted when the river rises. The route is signed consistently with the National Trail acorn waymark, making navigation reliable, though junctions in built-up areas occasionally demand closer attention. Late spring and early autumn offer the most comfortable walking; summer weekends bring heavy foot traffic near London, while the rural sections stay pleasant. Accommodation, cafés, and resupply options are plentiful given the density of settlements along the way, and strong public transport links make the trail particularly well suited to flexible point-to-point day walks.