List of crossings of the River Thames


The River Thames is the second-longest river in the United Kingdom. It is crossed by over 200 bridges, 27 tunnels, six public ferries, one cable car link, and one ford along its course.

Barrier and boundary

Until sufficient crossings were established, the river provided a formidable barrier for most of its course - in post-Roman Britain during the Dark Ages Belgic-Celtic tribal lands and Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and subdivisions were defined by which side of the river they were on. When English counties were established, the river formed a boundary between the counties on either side. After rising in Gloucestershire, the river flows between, on the north bank, the historic counties of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Middlesex and Essex; and on the south bank, the counties of Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey, and Kent. However the many permanent crossings that have been built over the centuries have changed the dynamics and made cross-river development and shared responsibilities more practicable.
In 1911 Caversham, on the north bank, was transferred into Berkshire. In 1965, with the creation of Greater London, the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames united areas formerly in Middlesex and Surrey; and at the same time two urban districts in Middlesex became part of Surrey. Further changes in 1974 moved some of the boundaries away from the river. For example, much of the north west of Berkshire including Wallingford, Abingdon and Wantage became part of Oxfordshire, and some southern parts of Buckinghamshire became part of Berkshire, including Slough, Eton and Wraysbury. The number of county councils has dwindled in south-east and central southern England in favour of increased localisation. Despite these changes, in the sports of rowing and skiffing the river banks are still referred to by their traditional county names, and in sports such as football and cricket historic county areas are sometimes used.

History of crossings

Many of the present road bridges over the river are on the sites of earlier fords, ferries and wooden structures. The earliest known major crossings of the Thames by the Romans were at London Bridge and Staines Bridge. At Folly Bridge in Oxford the remains of an original Saxon structure can be seen, and medieval stone structures such as Wallingford Bridge, Newbridge and Abingdon Bridge are still in use. Kingston's growth is believed to stem from its having the only crossing between London Bridge and Staines until the beginning of the 18th century. Proposals to build bridges across the Thames at Lambeth and Putney in around 1670 were defeated by the Rulers of the Company of Watermen, since it would mean ruin for the 60,000 rivermen who provided ferry services and also provided a pool of naval reserve. showing Old London Bridge in 1616 During the 18th century, many stone and brick road bridges were built – from new or to replace existing structures – in London and further up the river. These included Westminster Bridge, Putney Bridge, Datchet Bridge, Windsor Bridge and Sonning Bridge. Several central London road bridges were built in the 19th century, most conspicuously Tower Bridge, the only bascule bridge on the river, designed to allow ocean-going ships to pass beneath it. The most recent road bridge sites are the bypasses at Isis Bridge and Marlow By-pass Bridge and the motorway bridges, most notably the two on the M25: Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and M25 Runnymede Bridge.
The development of the railways resulted in a spate of bridge building in the 19th century, including Blackfriars Railway Bridge and Charing Cross Railway Bridge in central London, and the spectacular railway bridges by Isambard Kingdom Brunel at Maidenhead, Gatehampton and Moulsford.
The world's first underwater tunnel was the Thames Tunnel by Marc Brunel built in 1843, designed for horse-drawn carriages but used as a pedestrian route; since 1869 the tunnel has carried trains on the East London Line. The Tower Subway was briefly used for a railway; later came all the deep-level tube lines. Two road tunnels were built in East London at the end of the 19th century, the Blackwall Tunnel and the Rotherhithe Tunnel; and the latest tunnel is the Dartford Crossing.
Many foot crossings were established across the weirs that were built on the non-tidal river, and some of these remained when the locks were built – for example at Benson Lock. Others were replaced by a footbridge when the weir was removed, as at Hart's Weir Footbridge. Around the year 2000, several footbridges were added, either as part of the Thames Path or in commemoration of the Millennium. These include Temple Footbridge, Bloomers Hole Footbridge, the Hungerford Footbridges and the Millennium Bridge, all of which have distinctive designs.
Some ferries still operate on the river. The Woolwich Ferry carries cars and passengers across the river in the Thames Gateway and links the North Circular and South Circular roads. Upstream are smaller pedestrian ferries, for example Hampton Ferry and the Shepperton to Weybridge Ferry; the latter is the only non-permanent crossing that remains on the Thames Path.

Note on the listing

The list starts at the downstream end and follows the river upstream towards the source. A few of the crossings listed are public pedestrian crossings using walkways across lock gates and bridges above or adjacent to the adjoining weirs. Most of the other locks on the River Thames also have walkways across their lock gates and weirs, but these either do not completely cross the river, or are restricted to authorised personnel only, and are therefore not listed. Crossings listed in italics are inaccessible to the public. Besides the ferry crossings listed, there are commuter boat services operating along the river in London, and tourist boat services operating both in London and upstream. Whilst the principal purpose of these services is not to carry people across the river, it may be possible to use them to do so.

North Sea to London

CrossingTypeCo-ordinatesDate openedNotes
Thames Cable TunnelUtility tunnel1970Carries two 400kV circuits; accessible by authorised personnel only
Gravesend–Tilbury FerryPassenger ferry1571 or before
High Speed 1 tunnelsRail tunnel2007Two 2.5 km tunnels, 7.15 m internal diameter, between West Thurrock and Swanscombe
Queen Elizabeth II BridgeRoad bridge1991Cable-stayed bridge - the southbound element of the Dartford Crossing
Dartford TunnelsRoad tunnels1963 and 1980The northbound element of the Dartford Crossing
Dartford Cable TunnelUtility tunnel2005Carrying electrical cable; accessible by authorised personnel only

Proposed

A Lower Thames Crossing is proposed, at or east of the Dartford Crossing. Three options were announced in April 2009.

East London

CrossingTypeCo-ordinatesDate openedNotes
Barking cable tunnelUtility tunnel51.51311N 0.10858Eabout 1925Carries four 33 kV electricity circuits from Barking substation to Sewell Road substation, Thamesmead
Docklands Light Railway tunnelRail tunnel2009Between King George V and Woolwich Arsenal stations
Woolwich foot tunnelPedestrian tunnel1912
Woolwich FerryVehicle ferry1889
Thames BarrierFlood barrier with pedestrian tunnel1984Service tunnel accessible by authorised personnel only
Emirates Air LineGondola lift2012
Millennium Dome electricity cable tunnelUtility tunnel1999Accessible by authorised personnel only
Jubilee line tunnelsRail tunnel1999Between North Greenwich and Canning Town stations.
Blackwall Tunnel Road tunnel1967For southbound vehicular traffic only
Blackwall Tunnel Road tunnel1897For northbound vehicular traffic only
Jubilee line tunnelsRail tunnel1999Between Canary Wharf and North Greenwich stations.
Greenwich foot tunnelPedestrian tunnel1902
Deptford cable tunnelUtility tunnel51.48642N 0.02169WCarries 30 11 kV electricity circuits
Docklands Light Railway tunnelRail tunnel1999Between Island Gardens and Cutty Sark stations.
Jubilee line tunnelsRail tunnel1999Between Canada Water and Canary Wharf stations.
Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe FerryPassenger ferry
Rotherhithe TunnelRoad tunnel1908Single carriageway in each direction, with footways on each side. Built originally for horse-drawn carriages. Pedestrians, riders, cyclists are permitted, but advised to use alternatives due to fumes and speed.
Thames TunnelRail tunnel1843The world's first underwater tunnel, linking Wapping to Rotherhithe. Originally designed as a road tunnel for horse-drawn traffic, the necessary access ramps were never built and it was opened as a pedestrian tunnel. It was converted to a rail tunnel, reopening in 1869 and becoming part of the London Overground network in 2010.
New Cross to Finsbury Market Cable TunnelUtility tunnel51.5026N 0.06222W2017Carries three 132 kV electricity circuits

Proposed or under construction

CrossingTypeCo-ordinatesDate openedNotes
Tower BridgeRoad bridge1894
Tower SubwayUtility tunnel1870Formerly an underground railway - now used for water mains and telephone cables and accessible only by authorised personnel
Northern line tunnelsRail tunnel1900Between London Bridge and Bank
London BridgeRoad bridge1973Other bridges have stood on or near this site since around AD 50
City & South London Railway tunnelsDisused rail tunnel1890This railway's original crossing of the river between Borough and King William Street; abandoned in 1900 when the Northern line City branch tunnels were opened on a new alignment
Cannon Street Railway BridgeRail bridge1982
Southwark BridgeRoad bridge1921
London Millennium FootbridgePedestrian bridge2000
Bankside Cable TunnelUtility tunnel51.50904N 0.09873Wc.1947East of Blackfriars rail bridge, 132 kV and 33 kV electricity circuits
Blackfriars Railway BridgeRail bridge1886
Blackfriars BridgeRoad bridge1869
Waterloo & City line tunnelsRail tunnel1898Between Waterloo and Bank
Waterloo BridgeRoad bridge1945
Northern line tunnelsRail tunnel1926Between Waterloo and Embankment
Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee BridgesRail and pedestrian bridges1864 and 2002Rail bridge flanked by newer pedestrian bridges
Bankside – Charing Cross cable tunnelUtility tunnel51.50501N 0.11586WUnderneath Hungerford Bridge
Bakerloo line tunnelsRail tunnel1906Between Waterloo and Embankment
Jubilee line tunnelsRail tunnel1999Between Waterloo and Westminster
Westminster BridgeRoad bridge1862
Lambeth BridgeRoad bridge1932
Vauxhall BridgeRoad bridge1906
Victoria line tunnelsRail tunnel1971Between Vauxhall and Pimlico
Wimbledon – Pimlico cable tunnelUtility tunnel51.4848N 0.12671WElectricity cables
Battersea steam tunnelUtility tunnel20th centuryBetween Battersea and Pimlico is a single tunnel carrying four pipes, two 30" Thames Water mains and two 11" pipes feeding the Pimlico District Heating system, originally powered by Battersea Power Station.
Battersea exhaust tunnelsUtility tunnel20th centuryBetween Battersea and either side of Victoria are two tunnels. Tunnels are labelled 'A' and 'B'; A splits further to become 'C' under Ranelagh Gardens.
Grosvenor BridgeRail bridge1859Also known as Victoria Railway Bridge

Former

CrossingTypeCo-ordinatesDate openedNotes
Chelsea BridgeRoad bridge1937
Albert BridgeRoad bridge1873
Battersea BridgeRoad bridge1890Replaced an earlier bridge, opened in 1771
Battersea Railway BridgeRail bridge1863West London Line. Also called the Cremorne Bridge.
Wandsworth BridgeRoad bridge1938
London Power Tunnels Wimbledon - Kensal GreenUtility Tunnel2018
Fulham Railway BridgeRail and pedestrian bridge1889
Putney BridgeRoad bridge1886Replaced an earlier bridge, known as Fulham Bridge, opened in 1729
Hammersmith BridgeRoad bridge1887As of April 2019, Hammersmith Bridge is closed to traffic. Pedestrians and bikes can still use the bridge to cross the river.
Barnes Railway BridgeRail and pedestrian bridge1849
Chiswick BridgeRoad bridge1933
Kew Railway BridgeRail bridge1869
Kew BridgeRoad bridge1903
Eel Pie Island access bridgePedestrian bridge1894Bridge from north of Eel Pie Island to Twickenham.
Richmond Lock and FootbridgeLock with pedestrian bridge1894
Twickenham BridgeRoad bridge1933
Richmond Railway BridgeRail bridge1848
Richmond BridgeRoad bridge1777
Hammerton's FerryPassenger ferry1909From Marble Hill House to Ham House
Teddington Lock FootbridgesPedestrian bridges1889
Kingston Railway BridgeRail bridge1863
Kingston BridgeRoad bridge1828
Hampton Court BridgeRoad bridge1933From Hampton Court to East Molesey
Hampton FerryPassenger ferry1519From Hampton to Hurst Park, East Molesey

Planned

CrossingTypeCo-ordinatesDate openedNotes
Walton BridgeRoad bridge2013
Shepperton to Weybridge FerryPassenger ferry16th centuryThe only ferry specifically part of the Thames Path and the most upstream operating ferry
Chertsey BridgeRoad bridge1785
M3 Chertsey BridgeRoad bridge1971Carrying the M3 motorway
Staines Railway BridgeRail bridge1856Built by the London and South Western Railway. Carries the Waterloo to Reading Line.
Staines BridgeRoad bridge1832Bridges continuously recorded near this site since 1228.
M25 Runnymede BridgeRoad bridge1961Carrying the M25 motorway and, on the older part of the bridge, the A30; widened in 1983 and 2005
Albert BridgeRoad bridge1928Replaced a cast-iron bridge built in 1850-51
Victoria BridgeRoad bridge1967Replacing an 1851 bridge
Black Potts Railway BridgeRail bridge1850
Windsor BridgePedestrian and cycle bridge1850Formerly used as a road bridge
Windsor Railway BridgeRail bridge1849
Queen Elizabeth BridgeRoad bridge1966

Former

CrossingTypeCo-ordinatesDate openedNotes
Summerleaze FootbridgePedestrian bridge1992
M4 Thames BridgeRoad bridge1961Carrying the M4 Motorway; incorporates a footbridge
Maidenhead Railway BridgeRail bridge1838Carrying the Great Western Main Line.
Maidenhead BridgeRoad bridge1777Bridge recorded 1280.
Cookham BridgeRoad bridge1867
Bourne End Railway BridgeRail and pedestrian bridge1895Footbridge added specifically for the Thames Path
Marlow By-pass BridgeRoad bridge1972
Marlow BridgeRoad bridge1832Replaced bridge built in 1530.
Temple FootbridgePedestrian bridge1989Temple Footbridge was built in 1989 specifically for the Thames Path
Hambleden LockLock and pedestrian bridge1884
Henley BridgeRoad bridge1786Earlier bridge dates from at least 1232.
Shiplake Railway BridgeRail bridge1897
Sonning Bridge and Sonning Backwater BridgesRoad bridgesc. 1775 and 1986Earlier bridge recorded 1530 and one in 1125
Caversham LockLock and pedestrian bridge1875
Reading BridgeRoad bridge1923
Christchurch BridgePedestrian and cycle bridge2015
Caversham BridgeRoad bridge1926Earliest bridge on site recorded in 1231.

Reading to Oxford

CrossingTypeCo-ordinatesDate openedNotes
Reading Festival BridgePedestrian bridge 2008Temporarily erected each year on permanent footings for the period of the annual Reading Festival; accessible to festival ticket-holders and other authorised personnel only
Whitchurch BridgeRoad bridge1902Toll bridge
Gatehampton Railway BridgeRail bridge1838
Goring and Streatley BridgeRoad bridge1923
Moulsford Railway BridgeRail bridge1838
Winterbrook BridgeRoad bridge1993
Wallingford BridgeRoad bridge1809Bridge recorded 1141.
Benson Lock bridgeLock and pedestrian bridge
Shillingford BridgeRoad bridge1827Replaced bridge built 1763.
Little Wittenham BridgePedestrian bridge1870
Day's Lock bridgesPedestrian bridges
Clifton Hampden BridgeRoad bridge1867
Appleford Railway BridgeRail bridge1929
Sutton BridgeRoad bridge1807
Footbridges at Sutton PoolsFootbridgesLinking four islands in the river course
Culham Lock bridgesPedestrian bridgesA bridge across the weir on the Culham Cut, west of Culham Lock; further south, other bridges cross the main river channel
Abingdon BridgeRoad bridge1416
Abingdon LockLock and pedestrian bridges
Nuneham Railway BridgeRail bridge1929
Sandford LockLock and pedestrian bridges
Kennington Railway BridgeRail bridge1923
Isis BridgeRoad bridge1962
Iffley LockLock and pedestrian bridges
Donnington BridgeRoad bridge1962
Folly BridgeRoad bridge1827Stone bridge built 1085
Grandpont BridgePedestrian bridge1930s
Gasworks BridgePedestrian bridge1882Originally built to carry a rail line to the Oxford Gasworks, which closed in 1960.
Osney Rail BridgeRail bridge1850 and 1887Two adjacent bridges
Osney BridgeRoad bridge1885

Oxford to Cricklade

CrossingTypeCo-ordinatesDate openedNotes
Medley FootbridgePedestrian bridge1865
Godstow BridgeRoad bridge1792A previous bridge was held by the Royalists in 1645.
A34 Road BridgeRoad bridge1961
King's LockLock and pedestrian bridge
Eynsham LockLock and pedestrian bridgePermissive
Swinford Toll BridgeRoad bridge1777
Pinkhill LockLock and pedestrian bridge
Hart's Weir FootbridgePedestrian bridge1879
NewbridgeRoad bridge1250
Duxford Ford and Shifford Lock Cut footbridgeFord and pedestrian bridge and The ford crosses the original river channel to an island formed on its other side by the Shifford Lock Cut, which is crossed by a footbridge. There is no footbridge across the original river channel, which must be forded by pedestrians.
Tenfoot BridgePedestrian bridge1869
Tadpole BridgeRoad bridge1784
Rushey LockLock and pedestrian bridge
Old Man's BridgePedestrian bridge1868
Radcot BridgeRoad bridge1787
Eaton FootbridgePedestrian bridge1936
Buscot LockLock and pedestrian bridge
Bloomers Hole FootbridgePedestrian bridge2000Built in 2000 for the Thames Path
St. John's BridgeRoad bridge1886
Halfpenny BridgeRoad bridge1792The upstream limit of the navigable Thames
Round House FootbridgePedestrian bridgeThe original towpath extends upstream to this point, by the connection with the now disused Thames and Severn Canal
Hannington BridgeRoad bridge1841
Castle Eaton BridgeRoad bridge1893
Water Eaton House BridgePedestrian bridge
Eysey FootbridgePedestrian bridge
A419 Road BridgeRoad bridge1988
Cricklade sewage works bridgeRoad bridgeAccess road to sewage works, accessible to authorised personnel only
Cricklade Town BridgeRoad bridge1852

Cricklade to the source

Not all of the bridges above Cricklade are listed below. For example, there are a number of small agricultural bridges allowing access between fields, and bridges to properties in Ashton Keynes that are not mentioned.
CrossingTypeCo-ordinatesNotes
FootbridgePedestrian bridge
Midland and South Western Junction Railway bridgePedestrian and cycle bridgeFormerly a rail bridge
Footbridge at Hailstone HousePedestrian bridge
Manor Farm bridgeRoad bridgeNorth of Manor Farm, Waterhay
Brook Farm bridgeRoad bridgeNorth of Brook Farm, Waterhay
Waterhay BridgeRoad bridge
FootbridgePedestrian bridge
Bridge on High Road, Ashton KeynesRoad bridge
Bridge on The Derry, Ashton KeynesRoad bridge
Bridge on Gosditch, Ashton KeynesRoad bridge
Bridge on Church Walk, Ashton KeynesRoad bridge
Bridge on Church Lane, Ashton KeynesRoad bridge
Bridge on B4696, Ashton KeynesRoad bridge
BridgesRoad bridge and pedestrian bridge
BridgeRoad bridge
FootbridgePedestrian bridge
BridgeRoad bridge
BridgeRoad bridge
BridgeRoad bridge
FootbridgePedestrian bridge
BridgeRoad bridge
Neigh BridgeRoad bridge
Bridge south of EwenRoad bridge
Parker's Bridge, EwenRoad bridge
A429 Road BridgeRoad bridgeDemolished bridge on the currently closed Cirencester Branch Line ran over the road. Part of the Beeching Axe legacy.
A433 Road Bridge, Fosse Way Roman RoadRoad bridgeAt Thames Head

The river splits as it passes through Ashton Keynes. An alternative route to that listed above crosses High Bridge at and Three Bridges at.