The Thames Path Hike

The Thames Path follows England's most famous river from its source in the Cotswolds at Kemble all the way to the Thames Barrier in east London — 184 miles of mostly flat, almost entirely waterside walking. It's the only National Trail that finishes inside a capital city, and one of the most consistently accessible long walks in the UK.

What to expect

Two weeks at a steady pace, or split into long weekends with train links at almost every overnight stop. The terrain is gentle: meadow, lock-side, towpath, parkland. The character shifts from chalk-stream Cotswolds in the first three days, through the wealthy commuter belt of Henley and Marlow, then into outer London at Hampton Court and finally the centre — Battersea, Westminster, the City — before reaching the working river at Greenwich and the Barrier.

Practical notes

Walkable year-round; the towpath drains better than upland trails so winter is genuinely fine. Accommodation is plentiful but books up fast in Henley regatta week. The Cotswold sections are remote enough to need planning between meals; central London needs none. Almost flat throughout — the only meaningful ascent is the climb to the official source, a small ridge near Cirencester.