This article lists the tributaries of the River Thames from the sea to the source, in England. There are also secondary lists of backwaters of the river itself and the waterways branching off.

Note: the River Medway shares the saline lower Thames Estuary.

Tributaries

NameConfluenceAverage discharge (m³/s)[1]SourceLengthTributariesCatchmentNotes
Ebbsfleet RiverNorthfleet
51°27′01″N 0°19′47″E / 51.4503°N 0.3296°E / 51.4503; 0.3296 (Northfleet)
Springhead, just S. of the A2 road at Southfleet2.4 miles (3.9 km)Approx. 10 miles due west of London Stone at grid reference TQ860786
MardykePurfleet
51°29′08″N 0°13′40″E / 51.4856°N 0.2278°E / 51.4856; 0.2278 (Mardyke)
0.48Holden's Wood between Great Warley and Little Warley[2]11 miles (18 km)35 square miles (91 km2)
River DarentDartford
51°28′49″N 0°13′03″E / 51.4802°N 0.2176°E / 51.4802; 0.2176 (River Darent)
0.72Westerham21 miles (34 km)River Cray154 square miles (400 km2)[3]Tidal reach: Dartford Creek
River Ingrebourne or IngrebourneRainham, London
51°30′27″N 0°10′24″E / 51.5075°N 0.1733°E / 51.5075; 0.1733 (River Ingrebourne)
0.33Brentwood27 miles (43 km)Tidal reach: Rainham Creek
River Beam and/or Rom and Bourne BrookDagenham
51°30′42″N 0°09′31″E / 51.5118°N 0.1587°E / 51.5118; 0.1587 (River Beam)
0.34Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club, Watton's Green13 miles (21 km)The RavensbourneRom upstream of inflow of Ravensbourne
River RodingCreekmouth
51°30′52″N 0°05′55″E / 51.5145°N 0.0987°E / 51.5145; 0.0987 (River Roding)
1.85Molehill Green, near Dunmow31 miles (50 km)[4]Cripsey Brook
Cran Brook
Alders Brook
Seven Kings Water
Mayes Brook
132 square miles (340 km2)[5]tidal reach: Barking Creek
River LeaLeamouth
51°30′26″N 0°00′33″E / 51.5071°N 0.0092°E / 51.5071; 0.0092 (River Lea)
5.48Leagrave42 miles (68 km)The Hackney Brook
River Moselle
Pymmes Brook
River Ching
Turkey Brook
River Stort
River Beane
River Mimram
550 square miles (1,400 km2)[5]tidal reach: Bow Creek
River Ravensbourne or RavensbourneDeptford
51°29′01″N 0°01′07″W / 51.4835°N 0.0185°W / 51.4835; -0.0185 (River Ravensbourne)
0.43Keston11 miles (18 km)Spring Brook
River Pool
River Quaggy
69 square miles (180 km2)tidal reach: Deptford Creek
River Neckinger or the Neckinger ChannelShad Thames
51°30′09″N 0°04′15″W / 51.5024°N 0.0708°W / 51.5024; -0.0708 (River Neckinger)
north Southwark0.8 miles (1.3 km) (about; longer old catchment drains to other surface and combined water conduits)mainly diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
River Walbrook or WalbrookFinsbury
51°30′34″N 0°05′34″W / 51.5094°N 0.0928°W / 51.5094; -0.0928 (River Walbrook)
north walls of City of London (trad.)0 miles (0 km)diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
River Fleet or Fleet streamBazelgette's Mid and Lower Northern Interceptor Sewers (previously a stream/field ditch ending at Blackfriars, London)
51°30′39″N 0°06′17″W / 51.5108°N 0.1048°W / 51.5108; -0.1048 (River Fleet)
Hampstead Heath1 mile (1.6 km) (as to connecting lengths of ponds)diverted to surface and combined sewer drains. Was also known as the Holbourne/Holborn
River EffraVauxhall
51°29′14″N 0°07′33″W / 51.4873°N 0.1258°W / 51.4873; -0.1258 (River Effra)
west and east limits of Gypsy Hill, London0 miles (0 km)diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
River Tyburn, the Tyburn or the Ty Bournenorth and south of Vauxhall Bridge, and small forked mouth around Horseguards Avenue, Westminster (4 mouths)
51°29′17″N 0°07′43″W / 51.4880°N 0.1287°W / 51.4880; -0.1287 (Tyburn)
South Hampstead0 miles (0 km)diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
FalconbrookBattersea
51°28′05″N 0°10′51″W / 51.4680°N 0.1808°W / 51.4680; -0.1808 (Falconbrook)
Tooting Graveney Common, Tooting and east end of Poynder's Road, Clapham[6][7]0 miles (0 km)diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
River WestbourneChelsea
51°29′06″N 0°09′13″W / 51.4850°N 0.1537°W / 51.4850; -0.1537 (River Westbourne)
Grange Gardens, Hampstead, West Hampstead and two sources in east Willesden (today's Brondesbury Park)0 miles (0 km)Tyburn Brookdiverted to surface and combined sewer drains
Counter's Creekwest Chelsea/east Fulham
51°28′40″N 0°10′46″W / 51.4778°N 0.1794°W / 51.4778; -0.1794 (Counter's Creek)
Kensal Green0 miles (0 km)diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
River WandleWandsworth
51°27′46″N 0°11′43″W / 51.4629°N 0.1952°W / 51.4629; -0.1952 (River Wandle)
1.7Waddon9 miles (14 km)River Graveney78 square miles (200 km2)[5]
Beverley BrookPutney
51°28′18″N 0°13′22″W / 51.4718°N 0.2229°W / 51.4718; -0.2229 (Beverley Brook)
Worcester Park9 miles (14 km)[5]Pyl Brook25 square miles (65 km2)[5]
Stamford BrookHammersmith
51°29′25″N 0°14′03″W / 51.4903°N 0.2341°W / 51.4903; -0.2341 (Stamford Brook)
Acton0 miles (0 km)diverted to surface and combined sewer drains old tidal mouth: Hammersmith Creek
Bollo or Bollar BrookChiswick
51°28′46″N 0°15′04″W / 51.4794°N 0.2512°W / 51.4794; -0.2512 (Bollo Brook)
Acton0 miles (0 km)diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
River BrentBrentford
51°28′59″N 0°18′00″W / 51.4830°N 0.3000°W / 51.4830; -0.3000 (River Brent)
1.32Barnet18 miles (29 km)Dollis Brook
Folly Brook
Mutton Brook
58 square miles (150 km2)[5]
Duke of Northumberland's River (west) and (east)Isleworth
51°28′13″N 0°19′16″W / 51.4704°N 0.3212°W / 51.4704; -0.3212 (Duke of Northumberland's River)
River Crane & River Colne9.3 miles (15.0 km) (includes eastern 2.5 miles)Artificial distributary of the Colne and Crane
River CraneIsleworth
51°27′55″N 0°19′17″W / 51.4654°N 0.3215°W / 51.4654; -0.3215 (River Crane)
0.54Hayes, Hillingdon9 miles (14 km)Yeading Brook42 square miles (110 km2)[5]
SudbrookPetersham
51°26′55″N 0°18′21″W / 51.4487°N 0.3058°W / 51.4487; -0.3058 (Sudbrook (stream))
Dann's Pond, Richmond Park2 miles (3.2 km)Latchmere Streamculverted
Hogsmill RiverKingston upon Thames
51°24′33″N 0°18′31″W / 51.4093°N 0.3085°W / 51.4093; -0.3085 (Hogsmill River)
0.98Ewell6 miles (9.7 km)Bonesgate Stream28 square miles (73 km2)
The RytheThames Ditton
51°23′28″N 0°19′34″W / 51.3911°N 0.3260°W / 51.3911; -0.3260 (The Rythe)
north Oxshott4.2 miles (6.8 km)
River MoleMolesey
51°24′04″N 0°20′21″W / 51.4012°N 0.3393°W / 51.4012; -0.3393 (River Mole)
5.43Rusper50 miles (80 km)Ifield Brook
Gatwick Stream
Earlswood Brook
Pipp Brook
The Rye
198 square miles (510 km2)
Longford RiverHampton Court Palace
51°24′05″N 0°20′18″W / 51.4013°N 0.3383°W / 51.4013; -0.3383 (Longford River)
River Colne12 miles (19 km)Artificial distributary of the Colne
River Ashsouthwest corner of Sunbury-on-Thames
51°23′52″N 0°25′02″W / 51.3977°N 0.4173°W / 51.3977; -0.4173 (River Ash)
River Colne6.2 miles (10.0 km)[8]Distributary of the Colne
River Wey (and Caker Stream)Weybridge
51°22′49″N 0°27′25″W / 51.3804°N 0.4570°W / 51.3804; -0.4570 (River Wey)
6.95Hartley Mauditt and Upper Farringdon, Hampshire (main, north or west branch);
parishes of Fernhurst/Lurgashall in South Downs National Park (south branch)
53 miles (85 km)River Ock, Surrey
Cranleigh Waters
River Tillingbourne
Hoe Stream (fed by the Hodge Brook and Stanford Brook)
Of south branch:
River Slea, Hampshire
Dead Water
Cooper's Stream
350 square miles (910 km2)Source of south branch about 52 miles to/from mouth.
River Bourne, ChertseyWeybridge
51°22′43″N 0°27′50″W / 51.3785°N 0.4638°W / 51.3785; -0.4638 (River Bourne)
Windsor Great Park, Ascot and Swinley Forest13.2 miles (21.2 km)River Bourne, Addlestone
River ColneStaines
51°25′58″N 0°30′55″W / 51.4329°N 0.5152°W / 51.4329; -0.5152 (River Colne)
4.05 (before all distributaries)North Mymms36 miles (58 km)River Pinn
River Misbourne
River Chess
River Gade
River Ver
Colne BrookHythe End, Wraysbury
51°26′16″N 0°32′07″W / 51.4379°N 0.5352°W / 51.4379; -0.5352 (Colne Brook)
River Colne9.2 miles (14.8 km)Distributary of the Colne
The CutBray
51°29′57″N 0°40′53″W / 51.4991°N 0.6815°W / 51.4991; -0.6815 (The Cut)
North Ascot14 miles (23 km)Bull Brook, The Bourne
River WyeBourne End
51°34′13″N 0°42′40″W / 51.5704°N 0.7111°W / 51.5704; -0.7111 (River Wye)
1.00West Wycombe
51°38′52″N 0°48′45″W / 51.647802°N 0.812522°W / 51.647802; -0.812522 (River Wye)
8.7 miles (14.0 km)Hughenden StreamIn wet years this river is additionally sourced by an aquifer further up the same valley, extending the river by another mile in length.
Hamble Brook Hambleden Marina
51°33′31″N 0°52′10″W / 51.5585°N 00.8695°W / 51.5585; -00.8695 (Hamble Brook)
Sourced by an aquifer in the Hambleden Valley, occasionally dry.
River LoddonWargrave
51°30′06″N 0°52′48″W / 51.5017°N 0.8800°W / 51.5017; -0.8800 (River Loddon)
2.16Basingstoke28 miles (45 km)St Patrick's Stream
River Broadwater
Emm Brook
River Blackwater
400 square miles (1,000 km2)
Berry BrookHallsmead Ait, near Shiplake
51°29′29″N 0°53′43″W / 51.4913°N 0.8953°W / 51.4913; -0.8953 (Berry Brook)
street (Surface Water) drains of South View Avenue, Caversham4 miles (6.4 km)
River KennetReading
51°27′32″N 0°56′58″W / 51.4590°N 0.9495°W / 51.4590; -0.9495 (River Kennet)
9.75Swallowhead spring and others near Silbury Hill45 miles (72 km)Foudry Brook
Clayhill Brook
River Enborne
River Lambourn
River Dun
River Og
450 square miles (1,200 km2)[9]
River PangPangbourne
51°29′09″N 1°05′17″W / 51.4858°N 1.0880°W / 51.4858; -1.0880 (River Pang)
0.62Compton14 miles (23 km)River Bourne, Berkshire
River Roden
66 square miles (170 km2)[10]
River ThameDorchester
51°38′05″N 1°09′58″W / 51.6348°N 1.1660°W / 51.6348; -1.1660 (River Thame)
3.90Rowsham / Cheddington, Vale of Aylesbury40 miles (64 km)310 square miles (800 km2)[11]
River OckAbingdon
51°39′59″N 1°17′02″W / 51.6665°N 1.2838°W / 51.6665; -1.2838 (River Ock)
1.52Cock Well, Little Coxwell21 miles (34 km)Holywell Brook (rising in same parish)
Stutfield Brook
River CherwellOxford
51°44′32″N 1°14′54″W / 51.7421°N 1.2483°W / 51.7421; -1.2483 (River Cherwell)
7.2Hellidon40 miles (64 km)River Ray
River Swere
364 square miles (940 km2)[12]
River EvenlodeAbove King's Lock
51°47′06″N 1°20′16″W / 51.7849°N 1.3378°W / 51.7849; -1.3378 (River Evenlode)
3.7Moreton-in-Marsh, Oxfordshire10 miles (16 km)River Glyme
Rollright Brook
River WindrushNewbridge
51°42′36″N 1°25′02″W / 51.7100°N 1.4173°W / 51.7100; -1.4173 (River Windrush)
3.27Taddington, Gloucestershire40 miles (64 km)River Dikler
River Eye, Gloucestershire
140 square miles (360 km2)[13]
River ColeAbove Buscot Lock
51°41′19″N 1°40′38″W / 51.6887°N 1.6772°W / 51.6887; -1.6772 (River Cole)
1.20Burderop Park, Hodson, Wiltshire17 miles (27 km)Dorcan Stream (has subsumed original Cole sources)
Pennyhooks Brook
River LeachLechlade
51°41′21″N 1°40′38″W / 51.6891°N 1.6772°W / 51.6891; -1.6772 (River Leach)
0.75Hampnett, Gloucestershire18 miles (29 km)
River ColnLechlade
51°41′17″N 1°42′19″W / 51.6881°N 1.7052°W / 51.6881; -1.7052 (River Coln)
2.06Brockhampton, Gloucestershire30 miles (48 km)
River Ray, WiltshireCricklade
51°38′39″N 1°49′31″W / 51.6442°N 1.8252°W / 51.6442; -1.8252 (River Ray)
1.28Markham Hill, Wroughton, Wiltshire12 miles (19 km)
River KeyCricklade
51°38′33″N 1°50′46″W / 51.6424°N 1.8461°W / 51.6424; -1.8461 (River Key)
West of Battle Lake, Braydon6.5 miles (10.5 km)
River ChurnCricklade
51°38′42″N 1°51′12″W / 51.6450°N 1.8533°W / 51.6450; -1.8533 (River Churn)
0.86Seven Springs, Gloucestershire16 miles (26 km)

The average discharge is taken from the lowest point at which measurements are taken, which may be upstream of the confluence.

Backwaters and cuts

This list comprises the principal instances; longest ex-mill races (leats), with own articles are included; the main weirstream/river stream of each Thames lock is omitted and the smallest such associated instances but the Sheepwash Channel is included for its importance in Oxford.

Name (ordered lowest to highest elevation)Re-convergenceLengthEffluence
The Creek, SunburyWheatley's Ait (North), Sunbury-on-Thames 51°24′04″N 0°24′47″W / 51.401°N 0.413°W / 51.401; -0.413 (The Creek)0.654 miles (1.053 km)Tumbling Bay weir, east Shepperton (traditionally) (& storm weir)
Desborough Cutsouthwest Walton-on-Thames 51°23′02″N 0°26′10″W / 51.384°N 0.436°W / 51.384; -0.436 (Desborough Cut (end))0.682 miles (1.098 km)northeast Weybridge
Abbey RiverChertsey Lock 51°23′49″N 0°29′17″W / 51.397°N 0.488°W / 51.397; -0.488 (Abbey River)2 miles (3.2 km)Penton Hook Island, Thorpe
Jubilee RiverBlack Potts Ait, Datchet 51°29′28″N 0°35′35″W / 51.491°N 0.593°W / 51.491; -0.593 (Jubilee River)7.2 miles (11.6 km)Boulter's Lock, Taplow
Clewer Mill StreamQueen Elizabeth Bridge, Windsor 51°29′13″N 0°37′26″W / 51.487°N 0.624°W / 51.487; -0.624 (Clewer Mill Stream)1.5 miles (2.4 km)Bush Ait, Clewer, Windsor, Berkshire
Hennerton Backwateropposite Ferry Eyot 51°31′19″N 0°52′41″W / 51.522°N 0.878°W / 51.522; -0.878 (Hennerton Backwater)1.25 miles (2.01 km)above Camps Puddle, by foot of Wargrave Hill
Swift DitchCulham Bridge 51°39′29″N 1°16′41″W / 51.658°N 1.278°W / 51.658; -1.278 (Swift Ditch)1.5 miles (2.4 km)Abingdon Lock
Seacourt Stream and Hinksey StreamKennington Railway Bridge, Oxford 51°43′16″N 1°14′35″W / 51.721°N 1.243°W / 51.721; -1.243 (Hinksey Stream)6 miles (9.7 km)north Wytham
Castle Mill StreamGasworks Bridge, Oxford 51°44′46″N 1°15′50″W / 51.746°N 1.264°W / 51.746; -1.264 (Castle Mill Stream)0.66 miles (1.06 km)Port Meadow, Oxford
Bulstake StreamOsney Rail Bridge51°44′49″N 1°16′01″W / 51.747°N 1.267°W / 51.747; -1.267 (Bulstake Stream)1.7 miles (2.7 km)Four Rivers, Oxford
Sheepwash ChannelFour Rivers, Oxford 51°45′18″N 1°16′19″W / 51.755°N 1.272°W / 51.755; -1.272 (Sheepwash Channel)0.1 miles (0.16 km)Castle Mill Stream at Isis Lock
Kingsbridge Brook/ Wolvercote Mill Streamabove Godstow Lock and weir 51°46′44″N 1°17′49″W / 51.779°N 1.297°W / 51.779; -1.297 (Kingsbridge Brook)1.3 miles (2.1 km)Oxey Mead, south Yarnton, Oxfordshire

Linked waterways

NameConfluenceLengthDestinationNotes
Regent's CanalLimehouse Basin south exit 51°30′43″N 0°02′12″W / 51.5120°N 0.0367°W / 51.5120; -0.0367 (Regent's Canal)Little Venice junction with Paddington Arm of Grand Union Canal (to Paddington Basin, or Hayes for Brentford riverside or main course to the Midlands)
Lee Navigation, via lower River LeaBromley-by-Bow 51°30′26″N 0°00′33″E / 51.5071°N 0.0092°E / 51.5071; 0.0092 (River Lea)Hertford Castle Weir, Hertford, Hertfordshire
Grand Union Canal via lower River BrentBrentford 51°28′59″N 0°18′00″W / 51.4830°N 0.3000°W / 51.4830; -0.3000 (River Brent)Birmingham
Wey and Godalming Navigations via lower River WeyWeybridge 51°22′49″N 0°27′25″W / 51.3804°N 0.4570°W / 51.3804; -0.4570 (River Wey)20 miles (32 km)Godalming, Surrey, via Guildford
Maidenhead WaterwaysBray 51°29′57″N 0°40′53″W / 51.4991°N 0.6815°W / 51.4991; -0.6815 (Maidenhead Waterways)unnavigable
Kennet and Avon Canal via River KennetReading 51°27′32″N 0°56′58″W / 51.4590°N 0.9495°W / 51.4590; -0.9495 (River Kennet)87 miles (140 km)Bristol and via Avonmouth the Bristol Channel, Atlantic Ocean
Wilts & Berks CanalAbingdon 51°39′04″N 1°16′58″W / 51.6510°N 1.2827°W / 51.6510; -1.2827 (Wilts & Berks Canal)52 miles (84 km)Kennet and Avon Canal at Semington near Melksham, west Wiltshireabandoned 1914, under restoration
Oxford Canal via Sheepwash Channel, Oxford
via Dukes Cut
Oxford 51°44′47″N 1°15′49″W / 51.7463°N 1.2636°W / 51.7463; -1.2636 (Oxford Canal via Oxford)
King's Lock 51°47′23″N 1°18′31″W / 51.7896°N 1.3085°W / 51.7896; -1.3085 (Oxford Canal via King's Lock)
78 miles (126 km)Coventry, Warwickshire and the Grand Union Canal
Thames and Severn Canal via River ColnLechlade 51°41′17″N 1°42′19″W / 51.6881°N 1.7052°W / 51.6881; -1.7052 (River Coln)Stroud, Gloucestershire and Gloucester and the Severn valleyclosed 1933, under restoration

Poem by Alexander Pope listing some Thames tributaries

Around his Throne the Sea-born Brothers stood,
That swell with Tributary Urns his Flood.
First the fam'd Authors of his ancient Name,
The winding Isis, and the fruitful Tame:
The Kennet swift, for silver Eels renown'd;
The Loddon slow, with verdant Alders crown'd:
Cole, whose clear Streams his flow'ry Islands lave;
And chalky Wey, that rolls a milky Wave:
The blue, transparent Vandalis appears;
The gulphy Lee his sedgy Tresses rears:
And sullen Mole, that hides his diving Flood;
And silent Darent, stain'd with Danish Blood.

Alexander Pope, Windsor Forest (lines 335–346)

See also

References

  1. Marsh, T; Hannaford, J, eds. (2008). UK Hydrometric Register (PDF). Hydrological data UK series. Wallingford, Oxfordshire: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. ISBN 978-0-9557672-2-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 May 2013.
  2. Thurrock Flood Risk Assessment Archived 16 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Maltby E. "River Darent". SuRCaSE project. University of Liverpool. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  4. River Roding fluvial/tidal flood defence project - National Environmental Research Council, 1992
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "HA16 Rivers and Streams" (PDF). Gateway to WildPRO. Wildlife Information Network. 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  6. "Explore georeferenced maps - Map images - National Library of Scotland".
  7. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/LondonBeforeHouses.jpg
  8. http://www.spelthorne.gov.uk/article/18090/Other-sites Spelthorne Borough Council: Biodiversity and Conservation: Other Sites
  9. Maltby E. "River Kennet". SuRCaSE project. University of Liverpool. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  10. Neal C (2000). "The water quality of a tributary of the Thames, the Pang, southern England". Science of the Total Environment. Elsevier. 251–252: 459–475. Bibcode:2000ScTEn.251..459N. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(00)00399-5. PMID 10847178.
  11. Neal C (2006). "The water quality of the River Thame in the Thames Basin of south/south-eastern England". Science of the Total Environment. Elsevier. 360 (1–3): 254–271. Bibcode:2006ScTEn.360..254N. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.08.039. PMID 16253309.
  12. Neal C (2006). "River water quality of the River Cherwell: An agricultural clay-dominated catchment in the upper Thames Basin, southeastern England". Science of the Total Environment. Elsevier. 360 (1–3): 272–289. Bibcode:2006ScTEn.360..272N. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.08.040. PMID 16253306.
  13. Johnes PJ (1991). "Water Quality Trends in the Windrush Catchment: Nitrogen Speciation and Sediment Interactions" (PDF). Sediment and Stream Water Quality in a Changing Environment: Trends and Explanation. International Association of Hydrological Sciences. 203: 349–357. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  • Cove-Smith, Chris (2006). The River Thames Book. Imray Laurie Norie and Wilson. ISBN 0-85288-892-9.
  • Fred. S. Thacker The Thames Highway: Volume II Locks and Weirs, 1920. Republished by David & Charles, 1968.
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