A journey along the River Thames from Teddington to Old Windsor Our stretch of the river runs from Teddington Lock, the first non-tidal lock on the River Thames and then continues its journey through bustling and cosmopolitan towns, cosy suburbia and tranquil countryside, passing historic palaces, green open spaces and national monuments. Teddington Lock is the largest lock on the Thames and the place where the sea meets the freshwater river. It marks the boundary point between the Port of London Authority, which is the navigation authority downstream, and the Environment Agency, which is the navigation authority upstream. The river below Teddington Lock is tidal for two hours each side of high water. The lock complex consists of three locks, a conventional launch lock, a very large barge lock and a small skiff lock. The barge lock has an additional set of gates in the middle so it can operate in two sizes. Take a seat and watch the life of the river pass by pleasure cruisers, skiffs, steamers and narrow boats. The large bow-shaped weir stretches across to Teddington from an island upstream of the lock which also acts as the centre point for the two bridges making up Teddington Lock Footbridge. Conveniently, there are two nice pubs, The Anglers and Tide End Cottage, on the Teddington side at the start of our stretch of the river. The Thames Path runs along the Surrey bank, and by the locks is a corner of Ham Lands. This local Nature Reserve has a mixture of habitats that range from woodland to wetland and contains a diverse number of plants and animals. There are wildflowers that attract bees and butterflies and the reserve is teaming with bird life. The Ham Lands are very popular with horse riders, dog walkers and nature lovers. Heading upstream, we pass Trowlock Island, with its profusion of rowing, sailing and canoe clubs, and the Small Boat Club, resulting in a great deal of activity on the water. Canbury Gardens, a wonderful Victorian where brass bands play on summer Sundays, is on the Middlesex bank, and you might also enjoy a drink at The Boaters Inn. Then under a railway bridge to Kingston upon Thames, the Royal Borough where seven Saxon Kings were crowned, reputedly on the Coronation Stone which now stands outside the Guildhall. Just downstream of Kingston Bridge, underneath the John Lewis store, you can see the footings of the first Kingston Bridge, dating back to 1150.
In the centre of Kingston is the ancient market place, where today street entertainers, stalls and cafes fill the square. Nearby is the Rose Theatre, and there are a number of attractive riverside pubs and restaurants. It s here that the River Hogsmill runs into the Thames, passing under the 12 th century Clattern Bridge, one of the oldest road bridges in England, just before its outfall. The Thames Path crosses over Kingston Bridge, to continue on the Middlesex bank. The river itself curves around Hampton Court Palace s Home Park on the north bank, while on the south bank we see Queen s Promenade in Surbiton, and the London River Yacht Club opposite Raven s Ait, a conference and wedding venue. Next, we pass Thames Ditton Marina, and The Old Swan pub tucked away behind Thames Ditton Island. The largely unspoilt riverside village of Thames Ditton just a short walk away, with The Albany Inn just a bit further along. Nearing Hampton Court Bridge we see the full majesty of Henry VIII s renowned Palace and Gardens. Much of the Tudor building survives including the Royal kitchens and the Great Hall. The State apartments were designed by Sir Christopher Wren for King William and Queen Mary who lived at the Palace from 1689. The Thames-side gardens include the restored Privy Garden, the Long Water, and the famous Hampton Court Maze. Hampton Court Bridge was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens and opened by the Prince of Wales (later the Duke of Windsor) in 1933, on the same day as he opened Chiswick and Twickenham bridges. The Thames Path again crosses the river, to the Surrey side. Just after the bridge is Molesey Lock, with its café and nearby shopping in Bridge Road, full of excellent antique shops and restaurants. A short walk up the towpath, past Molesey Boat Club, which celebrated its 150 th anniversary in 2016 and the East Molesey Cricket Club, which was founded in the 1870s, is Thyme by the River, a popular stop for coffee or lunch. It s opposite Tagg s Island, where the impresario Fred Karno once created his famous Karsino hotel and boatyard complex, but is now home to a range of houseboats. Opposite the north side of Tagg s Island, on the Hampton bank, you can see The Swiss Chalet it was shipped over from Switzerland in 1899 to serve as a boathouse for Riverholme, a big villa which has since been demolished. It is now a lavishly furnished villa within a boatyard.
The next island we reach is Garrick s Ait, where there are good views across to the Middlesex bank where we can see Astoria, the houseboat built for Fred Karno in 1911, and adapted to a recording studio in the 1980s by Pink Floyd guitarist David Gilmour. Then comes Garrick s Temple to Shakespeare, which is open to the public on Sunday afternoons throughout the summer, and St Mary s Church in Hampton. On the Surrey bank is Hurst Park, with a Heritage Marker commemorating the scene of many famous and infamous sporting encounters - used in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries for golf, cricket, prize fighting, duelling, cock fighting, archery, horse racing and other sports. Today it is a public open space, and a lovely place for a picnic. Hampton Ferry, which was first established in 1514, runs across the river between Hampton and Molesey Hurst, during the summer months. Just upstream is Platt s Eyot, the western-most and one of the largest islands on the Thames, which was home to the Thorneycroft boatyard, building small naval craft and motor torpedo boats in both world wars. The next stretch of river has reservoirs on both sides; you then pass Sunbury Court Island, and reach Sunbury Lock, where Her Majesty s Swan-Uppers begin their annual trip to Abingdon. The Middle Thames Yacht Club is based on Sunbury Lock Island, and Lower Sunbury boasts two pubs along the river - The Magpie and The Phoenix. Further along on the Surrey bank is The Weir pub. Walton Wharf, by The Anglers and The Swan pubs, dates from the 17 th century when goods were transported up and down the Thames on barges drawn by horses and sometimes teams of men. Heading towards Walton-on-Thames, you see the new Walton Bridge, opened in 2013, which is the 6 th bridge to be built here. The first bridge, constructed in 1750, is featured in a painting by Canaletto, and the second has been painted by J M W Turner. Cowey Sale, now a public open space with a café, lies just beyond the bridge. The name, originally Cow Way, relates to the 17 th century usage of this land for grazing animals. There are old eye-witness accounts of travelling circuses here, and elephants drinking from the river.
Next we reach Desborough Island, a large artificially created island formed in the 1930s by the digging of a channel the Desborough Cut by the Thames Conservancy. Both island and cut are named after Lord Desborough who was at that time chairman of the Thames Conservancy. The Thames Path, flanked by mature trees and shrubs, runs alongside the southern bank of the Desborough Cut and is full of birdsong in spring. Follow the Cut, or by boat take the longer route around Desborough Island past Lower Halliford and Shepperton Manor House, adjoining Mrs Lindsay s Lawn, another great place for a picnic. A small heronry can be seen in the tall pines near Eyot House on the now privately owned D Oyley Carte Island. Eyot House was the creation of Richard D Oyley Carte, who worked with Gilbert and Sullivan on their famous operettas. He bought the island in 1888, had it enlarged and built the house, where the cast rehearsed and stayed when they were not performing. Sometimes performances were put on for local residents on the river bank. Just before Shepperton Lock you come to the entrance to the River Wey and the Wey Navigation. This is the southern-most part of the Thames. The Thames Path crosses to the northern bank at this point, and a ferry, now run by Nauticalia, operates across this ancient crossing, where : Droves of sheep will be carried at the fare of one shilling per score (shepherd to clean up afterwards). There are two options for refreshments on the Weybridge bank just before Shepperton Lock The Minnow and the Old Crown, behind which is a pathway leading to the beginning of the National Trust owned Wey Navigations waterway at the Thames Lock, where a series of information boards are displayed. Opened in 1653, 100 years before the Canal Age, it runs for 15.5 miles to Guildford, where it connects to the Godalming Navigation, opened in 1764, adding a further four miles. By the late 19 th century, having been linked to the national canal system, the Thames Lock was the gateway to southern England and the south coast ports, transporting goods to and from London. There are three rowing clubs in Weybridge Weybridge Ladies ARC is close to where the ferry crosses, and Weyfarers and Weybridge Rowing Clubs are at Thames Lock on the Wey Navigation. There s a pleasant tearoom at Shepperton Lock, and another nice public house, Thames Court, just the far side of the lock, opposite Pharaoh s Island.
After Weybridge the river twists and turns to Chertsey. On the bend before the bridge, on the northern bank, lies Dumsey Meadow, the only unimproved grazed grassland to remain by the Thames in Surrey. Only a few decades ago, meadows like this could be found all along the Thames. Cattle grazed on grassland rich in wild flowers that had never been ploughed or fertilised (i.e. improved for agriculture). (Source: England Nature Information Board) This site has been designated as SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) for the mixture of wild plants here, and because places like this are now so rare. Today you ll see cattle grazing in the meadow and even drinking from the river and often families picnicking in the same open land. The next bridge is Chertsey, a seven-arch tied arch built in 1783 85 and is Grade II listed. Near the bridge is a splendid bronze statue of Blanche Heriot, a local heroine during the time of the Wars of the Roses in the 15 th century. Her lover was due to be executed when the curfew bell tolled, and Blanche flung herself onto the clapper of the great bell to prevent it sounding, to give time for the messenger carrying his royal pardon to arrive, and thus her lover s life was saved. Just beyond Chertsey Bridge is Chertsey Lock, and another two nice pubs, The Kingfisher on the north bank, and The Boathouse on the south. The town of Chertsey is some way from the river, known for its early monasteries, one of which is said to have given sanctuary to the body of Henry VI before he was finally laid to rest in Windsor. Soon we reach Laleham Park, which was originally owned by the Lucan family, made infamous by Lord Lucan s mysterious disappearance in 1974. Laleham House, since 1981 privately owned flats, was sold in 1932 by the Lucan family to a community of nuns who ran a school and, later, a nursing home for elderly ladies. The entrance to Penton Hook Marina is just downstream of Penton Hook Lock. The lock island can be accessed from the bridge over the Lock and has become a nature reserve. Next comes Staines, recently renamed Staines-upon-Thames. Both the Swan Hotel and the Mercure Thames Lodge are worth a visit if you re hungry or thirsty. There has been a bridge at Staines since Roman times and was the next bridge upstream after London Bridge, some 20 miles away. Shortly after the bridge you ll find the London Stone, which marked the jurisdiction of the City of London over the river. Then under the M25 bridge to Bell Weir Lock, beside the Runnymede Hotel.
Not far after Bell Weir lock, we come to Runnymede Pleasure Ground on the south bank another popular spot for picnickers. Beyond the road and across the meadows you can see Cooper's Hill, which has the Commonwealth Air Forces War Memorial on top, behind which is the Runnymede Campus of Brunel University. Soon the busy A308 runs alongside the river as the path passes Magna Carta Island, a site of historic interest. It was near here in 1215 that King John signed the Magna Carta, a document that limited the power of the monarch and gave legal rights to all. This document also forms the basis of the American Declaration of Independence, and so it's a site of particular interest to Americans. There is an acre of US land here, on which stands the John F Kennedy memorial, which was given to the Americans in memory of the President's role in civil rights. At the end of the open space, you can stop at the National Trust tearooms for refreshment, or travel a bit further along to The Bells of Ouzeley pub as we head towards Old Windsor, with Wraysbury on the north bank, and part of Windsor Great Park on the south. Just downstream before Old Windsor Lock is the thatched Honey Pot Cottage, where Beryl Reid lived for much of her life, and her ashes are scattered in the garden. So we reach Old Windsor Lock, and here our journey ends. We hope you enjoy our stretch of the beautiful River Thames.