Leigh Hatts

The United States of America is celebrating the 250th anniversary of its declaration of independence from Britain in 1776. The key associations with England are mainly to be found along the River Thames. The most obvious link that comes to mind is the Pilgrims Fathers since the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower setting sail from […]

The Castle Hotel, opposite Windsor Castle’s main entrance, is being refurbished. This is the former Mermaid Inn dating from at least the early 1500s. William Shakespeare may have known it at the end of that century as he features the nearby Garter in his The Merry Wives of Windsor. The present facade of the old […]

Temple footbridge between Marlow and Hurley which closed in 2023 is unlikely to be restored until 2028 at the earliest. Although the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA, has offered £250,000 towards repair work. An outline design for the Temple crossing is expected to be published next November. The diversion via Marlow Bridge […]

Due to lack of funding for public services there is a growing number of temporary diversions along the Thames which are going to be long term. Goring has one of the diversions. Shortly before Goring & Streatley Bridge there is a half mile (0.8km) diversion away from the Thames due to an eroding towpath. Funding […]

A closed footbridge, half a mile from Staines, is now expected to remain out of use until 2027. Bridge 142, still bearing its Thames Conservancy livery paint, carries the towpath over to one side of a hardly discernible island shortly before the M25 and Bell Weir Lock. During 2023 the cast iron crossing was hit […]

There is now a slightly improved route at Battersea Power Station allowing one to approach the river a little earlier after the Nine Elms diversion. New Directions: Having turned off Battersea Park Road and into the wide Pump House Lane keep to the right side. The wide road rises to a roundabout close to the […]

The towpath between Kew Bridge and Richmond has reopened having been closed for just over a year. A ribbon was cut on Saturday morning on the short restored stretch of path by Kew councillor and deputy mayor Clare Vollum whose wide knowledge and interest in the river includes her Thames Strategy chairmanship. The towpath at […]

The towpath between Kew Bridge and Richmond Lock is due to reopen later this morning. A year ago the path was violently breached by fast moving water from a parallel culvert. Yesterday afternoon as the autumn sun disappeared contractors still had vehicles on the path as they completed restoration work. There will be a brief […]

The towpath between Kew Bridge and Richmond will reopen next Saturday 8 November. A reopening ceremony is due to take place at 10am near Richmond Lock. A section of the towpath alongside Kew Gardens collapsed twelve months ago with tidal water gushing along a parallel culvert. Those working on the repairs have faced challenging tidal […]

Wetherspoon has opened a new pub near London Bridge called The Sun Wharf. The pub occupies the landlocked former London Dungeon attraction site under London Bridge Station whilst the confusing name relates to a nearby wharf lost in 1985. The original Sun Wharf is under the huge No 1 London Bridge which forces the Thames […]