Tributaries of the River Thames

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

Name Confluence Average discharge (m³/s) Source Length Tributaries Catchment Notes
Ebbsfleet River Northfleet
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 Southfleet 2.4 miles (3.9 km) Approx. 10 miles due west of London Stone at grid reference TQ860786
Mardyke Purfleet
51°29′08″N 0°13′40″E / 51.4856°N 0.2278°E / 51.4856; 0.2278 (Mardyke)
0.48 Holden's Wood between Great Warley and Little Warley 11 miles (18 km) 35 square miles (91 km2)
DarentRiver Darent Dartford
51°28′49″N 0°13′03″E / 51.4802°N 0.2176°E / 51.4802; 0.2176 (River Darent)
0.72 Westerham 21 miles (34 km) River Cray 154 square miles (400 km2) Tidal reach: Dartford Creek
IngrebourneRiver Ingrebourne or Ingrebourne Rainham, London
51°30′27″N 0°10′24″E / 51.5075°N 0.1733°E / 51.5075; 0.1733 (River Ingrebourne)
0.33 Brentwood 27 miles (43 km) Tidal reach: Rainham Creek
BeamRiver Beam and/or Rom and Bourne Brook Dagenham
51°30′42″N 0°09′31″E / 51.5118°N 0.1587°E / 51.5118; 0.1587 (River Beam)
0.34 Stapleford Abbotts Golf Club, Watton's Green 13 miles (21 km) The Ravensbourne Rom upstream of inflow of Ravensbourne
RodingRiver Roding Creekmouth
51°30′52″N 0°05′55″E / 51.5145°N 0.0987°E / 51.5145; 0.0987 (River Roding)
1.85 Molehill Green, near Dunmow 31 miles (50 km) Cripsey Brook
Cran Brook
Alders Brook
Seven Kings Water
Mayes Brook
132 square miles (340 km2) tidal reach: Barking Creek
Lea00River Lea Leamouth
51°30′26″N 0°00′33″E / 51.5071°N 0.0092°E / 51.5071; 0.0092 (River Lea)
5.48 Leagrave 42 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) tidal reach: Bow Creek
RavensbourneRiver Ravensbourne or Ravensbourne Deptford
51°29′01″N 0°01′07″W / 51.4835°N 0.0185°W / 51.4835; -0.0185 (River Ravensbourne)
0.43 Keston 11 miles (18 km) Spring Brook
River Pool
River Quaggy
69 square miles (180 km2) tidal reach: Deptford Creek
NeckingerRiver Neckinger or the Neckinger Channel Shad Thames
51°30′09″N 0°04′15″W / 51.5024°N 0.0708°W / 51.5024; -0.0708 (River Neckinger)
north Southwark 0.8 miles (1.3 km) (about; longer old catchment drains to other surface and combined water conduits) mainly diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
WalRiver Walbrook or Walbrook Finsbury
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
FleetRiver Fleet or Fleet stream Bazelgette'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 Heath 1 mile (1.6 km) (as to connecting lengths of ponds) diverted to surface and combined sewer drains. Was also known as the Holbourne/Holborn
EffraRiver Effra Vauxhall
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, London 0 miles (0 km) diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
TyburnRiver Tyburn, the Tyburn or the Ty Bourne north 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 Hampstead 0 miles (0 km) diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
Falconbrook Battersea
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 0 miles (0 km) diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
WestbourneRiver Westbourne Chelsea
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 Brook diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
Counter's Creek west 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 Green 0 miles (0 km) diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
WandleRiver Wandle Wandsworth
51°27′46″N 0°11′43″W / 51.4629°N 0.1952°W / 51.4629; -0.1952 (River Wandle)
1.7 Waddon 9 miles (14 km) River Graveney 78 square miles (200 km2)
Beverley Brook Putney
51°28′18″N 0°13′22″W / 51.4718°N 0.2229°W / 51.4718; -0.2229 (Beverley Brook)
Worcester Park 9 miles (14 km) Pyl Brook 25 square miles (65 km2)
Stamford Brook Hammersmith
51°29′25″N 0°14′03″W / 51.4903°N 0.2341°W / 51.4903; -0.2341 (Stamford Brook)
Acton 0 miles (0 km) diverted to surface and combined sewer drains – old tidal mouth: Hammersmith Creek
Bollo or Bollar Brook Chiswick
51°28′46″N 0°15′04″W / 51.4794°N 0.2512°W / 51.4794; -0.2512 (Bollo Brook)
Acton 0 miles (0 km) diverted to surface and combined sewer drains
BrentRiver Brent Brentford
51°28′59″N 0°18′00″W / 51.4830°N 0.3000°W / 51.4830; -0.3000 (River Brent)
1.32 Barnet 18 miles (29 km) Dollis Brook
Folly Brook
Mutton Brook
58 square miles (150 km2)
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 Colne 9.3 miles (15.0 km) (includes eastern 2.5 miles) Artificial distributary of the Colne and Crane
CraneRiver Crane Isleworth
51°27′55″N 0°19′17″W / 51.4654°N 0.3215°W / 51.4654; -0.3215 (River Crane)
0.54 Hayes, Hillingdon 9 miles (14 km) Yeading Brook 42 square miles (110 km2)
Sudbrook Petersham
51°26′55″N 0°18′21″W / 51.4487°N 0.3058°W / 51.4487; -0.3058 (Sudbrook (stream))
Dann's Pond, Richmond Park 2 miles (3.2 km) Latchmere Stream culverted
Hogsmill River Kingston upon Thames
51°24′33″N 0°18′31″W / 51.4093°N 0.3085°W / 51.4093; -0.3085 (Hogsmill River)
0.98 Ewell 6 miles (9.7 km) Bonesgate Stream 28 square miles (73 km2)
RytheThe Rythe Thames Ditton
51°23′28″N 0°19′34″W / 51.3911°N 0.3260°W / 51.3911; -0.3260 (The Rythe)
north Oxshott 4.2 miles (6.8 km)
MoleRiver Mole Molesey
51°24′04″N 0°20′21″W / 51.4012°N 0.3393°W / 51.4012; -0.3393 (River Mole)
5.43 Rusper 50 miles (80 km) Ifield Brook
Gatwick Stream
Earlswood Brook
Pipp Brook
The Rye
198 square miles (510 km2)
Longford River Hampton Court Palace
51°24′05″N 0°20′18″W / 51.4013°N 0.3383°W / 51.4013; -0.3383 (Longford River)
River Colne 12 miles (19 km) Artificial distributary of the Colne
AshRiver Ash southwest 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 Colne 6.2 miles (10.0 km) Distributary of the Colne
WeyRiver 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)
6.95 Hartley 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.
BourneRiver Bourne, Chertsey Weybridge
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 Forest 13.2 miles (21.2 km) River Bourne, Addlestone
ColneRiver Colne Staines
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 Mymms 36 miles (58 km) River Pinn
River Misbourne
River Chess
River Gade
River Ver
Colne Brook Hythe End, Wraysbury
51°26′16″N 0°32′07″W / 51.4379°N 0.5352°W / 51.4379; -0.5352 (Colne Brook)
River Colne 9.2 miles (14.8 km) Distributary of the Colne
CutThe Cut Bray
51°29′57″N 0°40′53″W / 51.4991°N 0.6815°W / 51.4991; -0.6815 (The Cut)
North Ascot 14 miles (23 km) Bull Brook, The Bourne
WyeRiver Wye Bourne End
51°34′13″N 0°42′40″W / 51.5704°N 0.7111°W / 51.5704; -0.7111 (River Wye)
1.00 West 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 Stream In 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.
LoddonRiver Loddon Wargrave
51°30′06″N 0°52′48″W / 51.5017°N 0.8800°W / 51.5017; -0.8800 (River Loddon)
2.16 Basingstoke 28 miles (45 km) St Patrick's Stream
River Broadwater
Emm Brook
River Blackwater
400 square miles (1,000 km2)
Berry BrookBerry Brook Hallsmead 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, Caversham 4 miles (6.4 km)
KennetRiver Kennet Reading
51°27′32″N 0°56′58″W / 51.4590°N 0.9495°W / 51.4590; -0.9495 (River Kennet)
9.75 Swallowhead spring and others near Silbury Hill 45 miles (72 km) Foudry Brook
Clayhill Brook
River Enborne
River Lambourn
River Dun
River Og
450 square miles (1,200 km2)
PangRiver Pang Pangbourne
51°29′09″N 1°05′17″W / 51.4858°N 1.0880°W / 51.4858; -1.0880 (River Pang)
0.62 Compton 14 miles (23 km) River Bourne, Berkshire
River Roden
66 square miles (170 km2)
ThameRiver Thame Dorchester
51°38′05″N 1°09′58″W / 51.6348°N 1.1660°W / 51.6348; -1.1660 (River Thame)
3.90 Rowsham / Cheddington, Vale of Aylesbury 40 miles (64 km) 310 square miles (800 km2)
OckRiver Ock Abingdon
51°39′59″N 1°17′02″W / 51.6665°N 1.2838°W / 51.6665; -1.2838 (River Ock)
1.52 Cock Well, Little Coxwell 21 miles (34 km) Holywell Brook (rising in same parish)
Stutfield Brook
CherwellRiver Cherwell Oxford
51°44′32″N 1°14′54″W / 51.7421°N 1.2483°W / 51.7421; -1.2483 (River Cherwell)
7.2 Hellidon 40 miles (64 km) River Ray
River Swere
364 square miles (940 km2)
EvenlodeRiver Evenlode Above King's Lock
51°47′06″N 1°20′16″W / 51.7849°N 1.3378°W / 51.7849; -1.3378 (River Evenlode)
3.7 Moreton-in-Marsh, Oxfordshire 10 miles (16 km) River Glyme
Rollright Brook
WindrushRiver Windrush Newbridge
51°42′36″N 1°25′02″W / 51.7100°N 1.4173°W / 51.7100; -1.4173 (River Windrush)
3.27 Taddington, Gloucestershire 40 miles (64 km) River Dikler
River Eye, Gloucestershire
140 square miles (360 km2)
ColeRiver Cole Above Buscot Lock
51°41′19″N 1°40′38″W / 51.6887°N 1.6772°W / 51.6887; -1.6772 (River Cole)
1.20 Burderop Park, Hodson, Wiltshire 17 miles (27 km) Dorcan Stream (has subsumed original Cole sources)
Pennyhooks Brook
LeachRiver Leach Lechlade
51°41′21″N 1°40′38″W / 51.6891°N 1.6772°W / 51.6891; -1.6772 (River Leach)
0.75 Hampnett, Gloucestershire 18 miles (29 km)
Coln00River Coln Lechlade
51°41′17″N 1°42′19″W / 51.6881°N 1.7052°W / 51.6881; -1.7052 (River Coln)
2.06 Brockhampton, Gloucestershire 30 miles (48 km)
RayRiver Ray, Wiltshire Cricklade
51°38′39″N 1°49′31″W / 51.6442°N 1.8252°W / 51.6442; -1.8252 (River Ray)
1.28 Markham Hill, Wroughton, Wiltshire 12 miles (19 km)
KeyRiver Key Cricklade
51°38′33″N 1°50′46″W / 51.6424°N 1.8461°W / 51.6424; -1.8461 (River Key)
West of Battle Lake, Braydon 6.5 miles (10.5 km)
ChurnRiver Churn Cricklade
51°38′42″N 1°51′12″W / 51.6450°N 1.8533°W / 51.6450; -1.8533 (River Churn)
0.86 Seven Springs, Gloucestershire 16 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-convergence Length Effluence
The Creek, Sunbury Wheatley'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 Cut southwest 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 River Chertsey 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 River Black 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 Stream Queen 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 Backwater opposite 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 Ditch Culham 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 Stream Kennington 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 Stream Gasworks 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 Stream Osney 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 Channel Four 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 Stream above 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

Name Confluence Length Destination Notes
Regent's Canal Limehouse 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 Lea Bow, London 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 Brent Brentford 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 Wey Weybridge 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 Waterways Bray 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 Kennet Reading 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 Canal Abingdon 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 Wiltshire abandoned 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 Coln Lechlade 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 valley closed 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

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap

This page was last updated at 2023-10-04 23:55 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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