Outdoor Adventures with Ancient Brit
Canoe Guide- River Thames
Canoe Tours in England: River Thames
I have not canoed this route.
This tour follows the non-tidal section of the River Thames 135 miles from Cricklade to Teddington on the
outskirts of London. The water-levels on the river are maintained by a system of weirs which are bypassed by locks.
You will need to portage these locks as you cannot take canoes through British Waterways locks.
Start: The Thames navigation starts at Cricklade on the A419 NW of Swindon.
Finish: Teddington Lock
Transport: There are rail links between Teddington and Swindon
Distance: 135 miles (216 km)
Portage: There are 40 locks to portage
Route Extension: You could continue down the Thames through Central London, but this would be a serious
proposition for canoeists with the problem of the tidal flows as well as the large number of large boats operating on
the river.
Difficulty: It is easy apart from the need for regular portages.
Permits: A craft licence is required from British Waterways.
Maps: No specialist canoe maps, but good maps available
The Route:
Distances are in miles from Cricklade.
0 Cricklade High Bridge: Launch at GR103939. The early sections of the river are shallow and weedy and
are best in the spring before the weed grows too much.
4.1 Castle Eaton
6.8 Hannington Bridge
10.5 Lechlade: Lechlade is the limit of navigation for powered craft.
11.5 St.John’s Lock
12.5 Buscot Lock
16 Grafton Lock
17 Radcot Bridge
17.5 Radcot Lock
20.5 Rushey Lock
24.5 Shifford Lock
29.5 Northmoor Lock
31 Bablock Hythe
33.5 Pinkhill Lock
35 Eynsham Lock
38.3 A34 bridge
38.5 Godstow Lock
40.5 Junction with Oxford Canal
41 Osney Lock
43.5 Iffley Lock
45 Sandford Lock
49.5 Abingdon Lock58 Day’s Lock
52.5 Culham Lock
55 Clifton Lock62 Benson Lock
63.5 Wallingford Bridge
68.5 Cleeve Lock
69 Goring Lock
73 Whitchurch Lock
75.5 Mapledurham Lock
79.5 Reading Bridge
80 Caversham Lock
80.3 Sonning Lock
85.5 Shiplake Lock
88 Marsh Lock
89 Henley Bridge
91 Hambledon Lock
95 Hurley Lock
95.5 Temple Lock
97.5 Marlow Lock
101.5 Cookham Lock
103.5 Boulter’s Lock
104.5 Maidenhead Bridge
105.5 Bray Lock
109 Boveney Lock
111 Romney Lock
114 Old Windsor Lock
117 Bell Weir Lock
118 Staines Bridge
121.8 M3 bridge
122 Chertsey Lock
124 Sheperton Lock
127.5 Sunbury Lock
130.5 Molesey Lock
135.5 Teddington Lock: Teddington Lock is the tidal limit for the Thames
Route extension: Tidal Thames. You should paddle with the tide and not try to battle against it.
Richmond Bridge - Putney 8.5 miles
This is quite an attractive section of the Thames. It includes the section used for the University Boat Race.
Putney - Greenwich 12.5 miles
You are passing through the heart of London and will need to cope with other river users. You should be able to
land above Greenwich Pier near the Cutty Sark.
Information:
British Waterways
British Waterways Customer Service Centre
Willow Grange
Church Road
Watford, WD17 4QA
01923-201120
Enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk
British Canoe Union
18 Market Place
Bingham
Nottingham NG13 8AP
Tel: 0845-370-9500
http://www.bcu.org.uk
BCU guidebooks: Three regions River Guide: Southern, South West,London and South East.
Canoe Touring: 100 Paddles in England
Canoe Guide to Thames:
http://www.igreens.org.uk
Guide to the Waterways Vol 7: River Thames and the Southern Waterways published by Nicholson ISBN 0-00-
713670-6
I have not canoed this route.
This tour follows the non-tidal section of the River Thames 135 miles from Cricklade to Teddington on the
outskirts of London. The water-levels on the river are maintained by a system of weirs which are bypassed by locks.
You will need to portage these locks as you cannot take canoes through British Waterways locks.
Start: The Thames navigation starts at Cricklade on the A419 NW of Swindon.
Finish: Teddington Lock
Transport: There are rail links between Teddington and Swindon
Distance: 135 miles (216 km)
Portage: There are 40 locks to portage
Route Extension: You could continue down the Thames through Central London, but this would be a serious
proposition for canoeists with the problem of the tidal flows as well as the large number of large boats operating on
the river.
Difficulty: It is easy apart from the need for regular portages.
Permits: A craft licence is required from British Waterways.
Maps: No specialist canoe maps, but good maps available
The Route:
Distances are in miles from Cricklade.
0 Cricklade High Bridge: Launch at GR103939. The early sections of the river are shallow and weedy and
are best in the spring before the weed grows too much.
4.1 Castle Eaton
6.8 Hannington Bridge
10.5 Lechlade: Lechlade is the limit of navigation for powered craft.
11.5 St.John’s Lock
12.5 Buscot Lock
16 Grafton Lock
17 Radcot Bridge
17.5 Radcot Lock
20.5 Rushey Lock
24.5 Shifford Lock
29.5 Northmoor Lock
31 Bablock Hythe
33.5 Pinkhill Lock
35 Eynsham Lock
38.3 A34 bridge
38.5 Godstow Lock
40.5 Junction with Oxford Canal
41 Osney Lock
43.5 Iffley Lock
45 Sandford Lock
49.5 Abingdon Lock58 Day’s Lock
52.5 Culham Lock
55 Clifton Lock62 Benson Lock
63.5 Wallingford Bridge
68.5 Cleeve Lock
69 Goring Lock
73 Whitchurch Lock
75.5 Mapledurham Lock
79.5 Reading Bridge
80 Caversham Lock
80.3 Sonning Lock
85.5 Shiplake Lock
88 Marsh Lock
89 Henley Bridge
91 Hambledon Lock
95 Hurley Lock
95.5 Temple Lock
97.5 Marlow Lock
101.5 Cookham Lock
103.5 Boulter’s Lock
104.5 Maidenhead Bridge
105.5 Bray Lock
109 Boveney Lock
111 Romney Lock
114 Old Windsor Lock
117 Bell Weir Lock
118 Staines Bridge
121.8 M3 bridge
122 Chertsey Lock
124 Sheperton Lock
127.5 Sunbury Lock
130.5 Molesey Lock
135.5 Teddington Lock: Teddington Lock is the tidal limit for the Thames
Route extension: Tidal Thames. You should paddle with the tide and not try to battle against it.
Richmond Bridge - Putney 8.5 miles
This is quite an attractive section of the Thames. It includes the section used for the University Boat Race.
Putney - Greenwich 12.5 miles
You are passing through the heart of London and will need to cope with other river users. You should be able to
land above Greenwich Pier near the Cutty Sark.
Information:
British Waterways
British Waterways Customer Service Centre
Willow Grange
Church Road
Watford, WD17 4QA
01923-201120
Enquiries.hq@britishwaterways.co.uk
British Canoe Union
18 Market Place
Bingham
Nottingham NG13 8AP
Tel: 0845-370-9500
http://www.bcu.org.uk
BCU guidebooks: Three regions River Guide: Southern, South West,London and South East.
Canoe Touring: 100 Paddles in England
Canoe Guide to Thames:
http://www.igreens.org.uk
Guide to the Waterways Vol 7: River Thames and the Southern Waterways published by Nicholson ISBN 0-00-
713670-6
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