The Henley-based Open Spaces Society has called on Wokingham Borough Council to reject an application from Henley Festival to close the Thames Path for an unprecedented 145 hours during this year’s festival. Says Kate Ashbrook, the Open Spaces Society’s general secretary: “The Thames Path National Trail is of international importance and, to many, the Henley stretch […]

Many will be familiar with Henry Taunt’s photographs of the River Thames which are often reproduced in books about the river in the 19th century. Now Graham Diprose and Jeff Robins, two photographers on the staff of the London College of Communications, have selected seventy of the Victorian pictures from the thousands taken by Gaunt […]

Those who know the Thames Path between Deptford and London Bridge will enjoy Some Kind of Bliss at the Trafalgar Studios in Whitehall. The seventy minute play is a solo performance by Lucy Briers and was written for her by playwright Samuel Adamson who knows the Thames Path well. His last play Southwark Fair was […]

The Spice Island pub in London’s Rotherhithe has been renamed Old Salt Quay. The pub, built in 1995 to resemble a boathouse, stands on the site of the former Dinorwic Wharf alongside the old Surrey Basin Entrance. The interior is little changed but it is now describing itself as a ‘Steak and Seafood Restaurant’. Fish […]

A short stretch of the Thames Path just upstream of Cricklade is to be closed from Monday 24 September for about four weeks. This is to allow for the laying of electricity cables. The diversion is on the Wiltshire-Gloucestershire boundary at the far west end of North Meadow where the Latten-Swindon canal used to cross […]

There is some confusion about path closures in the Egham area following the discovery of Foot and Mouth disease earlier this week. Surprisingly, the towpath along Runnymede remains open. However, a short section downstream to the south at Chertsey is closed. This is Dumsey Mede (also known as Dumsey Meadow) alongside Chertsey Bridge. The alternative […]

I have been walking the Thames upper reaches following the recent floods. In some places the gound is still not firm and it is fascinating to see the flood plain often clearly marked by debris. Residents have lots a stories about paddling to work or being thankful that they live in a raised home. Walking […]

This is the first year that it has been possible to walk by the river all the way from Castle Eaton to Cricklade. Until now there had been a long road walk to Water Eaton before the Thames could be seen. The new directions from Castle Eaton are: “At the west end of The Street […]

There are two temporary diversions between Gatehampton and Goring. The first is at Gatehampton railway bridge just after the path returns to the river following its gentle downhill run through Hartslock Wood. Thames Water is laying a pipe from its Gatehampton Farm boreholes to Oxford. The signposted alternative route is expected to be in place […]

After years of pressure by the Ramblers’ Association the towpath which runs under Cookham Bridge has been reopened. It is the path seen in Stanley Spencer’s famous painting Swan Upping which shows the bridge spanning the path. This addition does not affect the Thames Path route which still passes through the churchyard. But having reached […]