Tributaries of the River Thames

This article lists the tributaries of the River Thames from the sea to the source, in England. It includes significant backwaters and waterways that have confluences with the main stream of the River Thames. Most of the tributaries are natural, but a few were man-made.

In addition to those listed, the River Medway shares the Thames Estuary, and near Oxford the River Thames is also named The Isis.

Tributaries

Name Confluence Average discharge (m³/s)[1] Source Length Tributaries Catchment Notes
River Darent Dartford
51°28′49″N 0°13′03″E / 51.4802°N 0.2176°E 		0.72 Westerham 21 miles (34 km) River Cray 154 square miles (400 km2)[2] Tidal reach Dartford Creek
Mardyke Purfleet
51°29′08″N 0°13′40″E / 51.4856°N 0.2278°E 		0.48 Holden's Wood between Great Warley and Little Warley[3] 11 miles (18 km) 35 square miles (91 km2)
River Ingrebourne Rainham, London
51°30′27″N 0°10′24″E / 51.5075°N 0.1733°E 		0.33 Brentwood 27 miles (43 km) Tidal reach Rainham Creek
River Beam Dagenham
51°30′42″N 0°09′31″E / 51.5118°N 0.1587°E 		0.34 Romford The Ravensbourne downstream name for River Rom
River Roding Creekmouth
51°30′52″N 0°05′55″E / 51.5145°N 0.0987°E 		1.85 Dunmow 11 miles (18 km)[4] 132 square miles (340 km2)[4] tidal reach Barking Creek
River Lea Bow, London
51°30′26″N 0°00′33″E / 51.5071°N 0.0092°E 		5.48 Leagrave 42 miles (68 km) River Moselle
The Hackney Brook
River Stort
Turkey Brook
New River
River Beane
River Mimram 		550 square miles (1,400 km2)[4] tidal reach Bow Creek
River Ravensbourne Deptford
51°29′01″N 0°01′07″W / 51.4835°N 0.0185°W 		0.43 Keston 11 miles (18 km) Spring Brook
River Pool
River Quaggy 		69 square miles (180 km2)tidal reach Deptford Creek
River Neckinger Shad Thames
51°30′09″N 0°04′15″W / 51.5024°N 0.0708°W 		Southwark subterranean
Walbrook Finsbury
51°30′34″N 0°05′34″W / 51.5094°N 0.0928°W 		City of London subterranean
River Fleet Blackfriars, London
51°30′39″N 0°06′17″W / 51.5108°N 0.1048°W 		Hampstead Heath subterranean also known as the Holbourne
River Effra Vauxhall
51°29′14″N 0°07′33″W / 51.4873°N 0.1258°W 		Crystal Palace, London subterranean
River Tyburn Pimlico
51°29′17″N 0°07′43″W / 51.4880°N 0.1287°W 		Hampstead subterranean
Falconbrook Battersea
51°28′05″N 0°10′51″W / 51.4680°N 0.1808°W 		Tooting Bec Common subterranean
River Westbourne Chelsea
51°29′06″N 0°09′13″W / 51.4850°N 0.1537°W 		Hampstead Tyburn Brook subterranean
Counter's Creek Chelsea
51°28′40″N 0°10′46″W / 51.4778°N 0.1794°W 		Kensal Green subterranean
River Wandle Wandsworth
51°27′46″N 0°11′43″W / 51.4629°N 0.1952°W 		1.7 Waddon 9 miles (14 km) River Graveney
Caterham Bourne
Coulsdon Bourne 		78 square miles (200 km2)[4]
Beverley Brook Putney
51°28′18″N 0°13′22″W / 51.4718°N 0.2229°W 		Worcester Park 9 miles (14 km)[4] Pyl Brook 25 square miles (65 km2)[4]
Stamford Brook Hammersmith
51°29′25″N 0°14′03″W / 51.4903°N 0.2341°W 		Acton subterranean - tidal reach Hammersmith Creek
Bollar or Bollo Brook Chiswick
51°28′46″N 0°15′04″W / 51.4794°N 0.2512°W 		Acton subterranean
River Brent Brentford
51°28′59″N 0°18′00″W / 51.4830°N 0.3000°W 		1.32 Barnet 18 miles (29 km) Dollis Brook
Folly Brook Mutton Brook 		58 square miles (150 km2)[4]
Duke of Northumberland's River Isleworth
51°28′13″N 0°19′16″W / 51.4704°N 0.3212°W 		River Crane Artificial
River Crane Isleworth
51°27′55″N 0°19′17″W / 51.4654°N 0.3215°W 		0.54 Hayes, Hillingdon 9 miles (14 km) Yeading Brook 42 square miles (110 km2)[4]
Sudbrook Petersham
51°26′55″N 0°18′21″W / 51.4487°N 0.3058°W 		Dann's Pond, Richmond Park 2 miles (3.2 km) Latchmere Stream subterranean
Hogsmill River Kingston upon Thames
51°24′33″N 0°18′31″W / 51.4093°N 0.3085°W 		0.98 Ewell 6 miles (9.7 km) Bonesgate Stream 28 square miles (73 km2)
The Rythe Thames Ditton
51°23′28″N 0°19′34″W / 51.3911°N 0.3260°W 		Oxshott
River Ember 51°24′04″N 0°20′21″W / 51.4012°N 0.3393°W Distributary of Mole
River Mole Molesey
51°24′04″N 0°20′21″W / 51.4012°N 0.3393°W 		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 		River Colne 12 miles (19 km) Artificial
River Ash Lower Sunbury
51°23′52″N 0°25′02″W / 51.3977°N 0.4173°W 		River Colne 7 miles (11 km)
River Wey Weybridge
51°22′49″N 0°27′25″W / 51.3804°N 0.4570°W 		6.95 Farringdon, Hampshire
Alton 		87 miles (140 km) River Tillingbourne
River Ock, Surrey 		350 square miles (910 km2) Wey has north and south branches
River Bourne, north branch Weybridge
51°22′43″N 0°27′50″W / 51.3785°N 0.4638°W 		Windsor Great Park
River Bourne, south branch Weybridge
51°22′43″N 0°27′50″W / 51.3785°N 0.4638°W 		0.88 West End, Woking
River Colne Staines
51°25′58″N 0°30′55″W / 51.4329°N 0.5152°W 		4.05 North Mymms Wraysbury River
Frays River
River Misbourne
River Chess
River Gade
River Ver
Colne Brook Hythe End
51°26′16″N 0°32′07″W / 51.4379°N 0.5352°W 		River Colne Distributary of Colne
The Cut Bray
51°29′57″N 0°40′53″W / 51.4991°N 0.6815°W 		North Ascot 14 miles (23 km) Bull Brook
River Wye Bourne End
51°34′13″N 0°42′40″W / 51.5704°N 0.7111°W 		1.00 Bradenham 9 miles (14 km)
River Loddon Wargrave
51°30′06″N 0°52′48″W / 51.5017°N 0.8800°W 		2.16 Basingstoke 28 miles (45 km) St Patrick's Stream
River Broadwater
Emm Brook
River Blackwater 		400 square miles (1,000 km2)
Berry Brook Hallsmead Ait, near Shiplake
51°29′29″N 0°53′43″W / 51.4913°N 0.8953°W 		Redgrave-Pinsent Rowing Lake, Caversham
River Kennet Reading
51°27′32″N 0°56′58″W / 51.4590°N 0.9495°W 		9.75 Swallowhead Spring 45 miles (72 km) Foudry Brook
Clayhill Brook
River Enborne
River Lambourn
River Dun
River Og 		450 square miles (1,200 km2)[5]
River Pang Pangbourne
51°29′09″N 1°05′17″W / 51.4858°N 1.0880°W 		0.62 Compton 14 miles (23 km) River Bourne, Berkshire
River Roden 		66 square miles (170 km2)[6]
River Thame Dorchester
51°38′05″N 1°09′58″W / 51.6348°N 1.1660°W 		3.90 Rowsham / Cheddington, Vale of Aylesbury 40 miles (64 km) 310 square miles (800 km2)[7]
River Ock Abingdon
51°39′59″N 1°17′02″W / 51.6665°N 1.2838°W 		1.52 Little Coxwell
River Cherwell Oxford
51°44′32″N 1°14′54″W / 51.7421°N 1.2483°W 		7.2 Hellidon 40 miles (64 km) River Ray, Oxfordshire
River Swere 		364 square miles (940 km2)[8]
River Evenlode Above King's Lock
51°47′06″N 1°20′16″W / 51.7849°N 1.3378°W 		3.7 Moreton-in-Marsh
River Glyme
River Windrush Newbridge
51°42′36″N 1°25′02″W / 51.7100°N 1.4173°W 		3.27 40 miles (64 km)
River Dikler 		140 square miles (360 km2)[9]
River Cole Above Buscot Lock
51°41′19″N 1°40′38″W / 51.6887°N 1.6772°W 		1.20 Wanborough, Wiltshire
River Leach Lechlade
51°41′21″N 1°40′38″W / 51.6891°N 1.6772°W 		0.75 Hampnett 18 miles (29 km)
River Coln Lechlade
51°41′17″N 1°42′19″W / 51.6881°N 1.7052°W 		2.06 Brockhampton, Gloucestershire
River Ray, Wiltshire Cricklade
51°38′39″N 1°49′31″W / 51.6442°N 1.8252°W 		1.28 Wroughton, Wiltshire
River Key Cricklade
51°38′33″N 1°50′46″W / 51.6424°N 1.8461°W 		Purton
River Churn Cricklade
51°38′42″N 1°51′12″W / 51.6450°N 1.8533°W 		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

Name Confluence Length Effluence Notes
Desborough Cut Walton-on-Thames 51°23′02″N 0°26′09″W / 51.3839°N 0.4359°W 0.75 miles (1.21 km) Weybridge Artificial
Abbey River Chertsey Lock 51°23′33″N 0°29′16″W / 51.3926°N 0.4878°W Penton Hook Island
Jubilee River Black Potts Ait 51°29′26″N 0°35′35″W / 51.4906°N 0.5931°W 7.2 miles (11.6 km) Boulter's Lock Artificial
Clewer Mill Stream Queen Elizabeth Bridge 51°29′12″N 0°37′26″W / 51.4867°N 0.6239°W Bush Ait
Hennerton Backwater Ferry Eyot 51°31′21″N 0°52′40″W / 51.5224°N 0.8777°W 1.25 miles (2.01 km) Unnamed Eyot
Swift Ditch Culham Bridge 51°39′29″N 1°16′40″W / 51.6580°N 1.2777°W Abingdon Lock
Seacourt Stream and Hinksey Stream Kennington Railway Bridge 51°43′17″N 1°14′34″W / 51.7215°N 1.2428°W Wytham
Castle Mill Stream Gasworks Bridge, Oxford 51°44′47″N 1°15′49″W / 51.7463°N 1.2636°W Port Meadow
Bulstake Stream Osney Rail Bridge51°44′49″N 1°16′03″W / 51.7469°N 1.2674°W Four Rivers, Oxford
Sheepwash Channel Four Rivers, Oxford 51°45′20″N 1°16′19″W / 51.7555°N 1.2719°W Castle Mill Stream at Isis Lock
Kingsbridge Brook Godstow Lock51°46′44″N 1°17′50″W / 51.7788°N 1.2972°W Wolvercote Mill Stream

Linked waterways

Name Confluence Length DestinationNotes
Regent's Canal Limehouse Basin 51°30′43″N 0°02′12″W / 51.5120°N 0.0367°W Paddington Basin
Lee Navigation via River Lea Bow, London 51°30′26″N 0°00′33″E / 51.5071°N 0.0092°E Hertford Castle Weir
Grand Union Canal via River Brent Brentford 51°28′59″N 0°18′00″W / 51.4830°N 0.3000°W Birmingham
Wey and Godalming Navigations Weybridge 51°22′49″N 0°27′25″W / 51.3804°N 0.4570°W 20 miles (32 km) Godalming
Maidenhead Waterways Bray 51°29′57″N 0°40′53″W / 51.4991°N 0.6815°W unnavigable
Kennet and Avon Canal via River Kennet Reading 51°27′32″N 0°56′58″W / 51.4590°N 0.9495°W 87 miles (140 km) Bristol
Wilts & Berks Canal Abingdon 51°39′04″N 1°16′58″W / 51.6510°N 1.2827°W 52 miles (84 km) Melksham 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
King's Lock 51°47′23″N 1°18′31″W / 51.7896°N 1.3085°W 		78 miles (126 km) Coventry
Thames and Severn Canal via River Coln Lechlade 51°41′17″N 1°42′19″W / 51.6881°N 1.7052°W Stroud closed 1933, under restoration

See also

References

  1. ↑ Marsh, T; Hannaford, J, eds. (2008). UK Hydrographic Register (PDF). Hydrological data UK series. Wallingford, Oxfordshire: Centre for Ecology & Hydrology. ISBN 978-0-9557672-2-7.
  2. ↑ Maltby E. "River Darent". SuRCaSE project. University of Liverpool. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
  3. ↑ Thurrock Flood Risk Assessment
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 "HA16 Rivers and Streams" (PDF). Gateway to WildPRO. Wildlife Information Network. 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  5. ↑ Maltby E. "River Kennett". SuRCaSE project. University of Liverpool. Retrieved 20 December 2010.
  6. ↑ 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. doi:10.1016/S0048-9697(00)00399-5. PMID 10847178.
  7. ↑ 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. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.08.039. PMID 16253309.
  8. ↑ 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. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.08.040. PMID 16253306.
  9. ↑ 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.

External links