Thames Path London: Richmond upon Thames to Thames Barrier

Richmond upon Thames to Thames Barrier

The path follows the edge of the Kew Royal Botanical Gardens to Kew Bridge before snaking its way past Mortlake and Hammersmith Bridge. The boathouses of the many rowing clubs greet you as you approach Putney with its famous Bridge. Putney Bridge boasts at church at either end, with All Saints on the north side and St Mary’s on the south. The gentle walk through Battersea Park is pleasant ahead of the buzz of London’s Southbank, home to the National Theatre and the Tate Modern among many other tourist attractions. There are fabulous views across the river to Westminster and the Tower of London. HMS Belfast, now permanently moored as a museum ship, and operated by the Imperial War Museum sits between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. Leaving Tower Bridge and the tourists behind the path winds its way through the Docklands and onto Greenwich. The official end of the path is beyond Greenwich at the Thames Barrier. Spanning 520 metres it is protector to 125 square kilometres of central London from potential flooding caused by tidal surges. Perhaps more immediately important to you the walker, it marks the end of your Thames Path Journey.

Easy to Moderate

Of the National trails we cover, this is one of the easiest. It is a gentle trail which is suitable for people with a wide range of abilities. The route journeys across obvious broad promenades to grassy paths.

Terrain: Mostly flat with well defined paths.

What’s it like underfoot? You may be walking on an obvious trail, path or pavement and occasionally on a path across a field just visible in the grass. The terrain when dry is often compact and easy going, however, when wet it can be muddy in sections.

How much up and down? If you start at the source the route spends the majority of the walk losing height. After you pass through Goring Gap there is a short climb up the chalk hills and steep descent to negotiate at Coombe Park before you reach Pangbourne.

Signposting: Good signposting, signs are marked with a white acorn to indicate the National Trail.

Navigation: Pretty straightforward, keep your map and guidebook to hand.

Good accommodation and friendly hosts are an essential part of any holiday. We understand this and go out of our way to find the best. We put a great deal of effort into hand picking our accommodation and matching it to individual customer requirements. As well as visiting the accommodation ourselves, we ask all our customers to complete a short evaluation on each night’s accommodation, which then gives us an insight into the day-to-day operation and lets us spot any potential issues before they become a problem.

We use a variety of accommodation. Over the course of your trip you might stay in a village inn, a bed and breakfast in a converted barn, a Victorian guest house, or on a working farm. In selecting the accommodation we look for helpful, friendly hosts with good quality, characterful accommodation close to the trail. Occasionally we may use a chain hotel.

We always try to arrange en suite accommodation, i.e. rooms with their own bathrooms for each night of your stay. However, in some of the more remote locations accommodation is limited and occasionally we may have to book rooms with shared bathrooms for one or two nights of your holiday, (especially if the booking is made at short notice), but we will always let you know if this is likely to be the case.

We are happy to book single rooms on our holidays but cannot normally book more than two for any one group. Single room bookings include a supplement.

Here are some examples of the accommodation we use on the Thames Path:

The Trout Inn at Tadpole Bridge is a beautifully refurbished boutique inn nestled in the West Oxfordshire countryside. The large beer garden is perfect for sunny days, while the cosy bar and boutique bedrooms offer year-round comfort. Guests can enjoy seasonal dishes, pub classics, and award-winning Butcombe beer. Visit their website

The Great House at Sonning is a former Elizabethan coaching inn. This charming riverside escape features stylish rooms, a glass-covered terrace, and a lawned garden leading to the water. Nestled on a peaceful stretch of the river in the picturesque village of Sonning-on-Thames, this is a perfect place to unwind and explore. Visit their website

The Chequers is a charming venue in the heart of Marlow offering cosy, stylish rooms that will have you longing to return time and time again. Known for hearty British cuisine, it serves fresh, seasonal dishes crafted from local ingredients, including signature sharing steaks cooked to perfection, alongside a variety of tempting options. Visit their website

The Hand and Spear in Weybridge is a stylish pub with rooms, offering hearty pub classics and a welcoming atmosphere. Its 12 charming bedrooms are individually decorated, blending comfort and character. Conveniently located near Weybridge station, it’s just 30 minutes from Central London and close to both Heathrow and Gatwick airports. Visit their website

General travel information for the Thames Path walk will be in your holiday pack.

Detailed instructions on getting to your first night’s accommodation by car, or on foot from the nearest train or bus station, will also be included in the holiday pack on individual accommodation maps.

To view train times please visit qjump where you can also purchase tickets in advance. For information on bus timetables please visit traveline

If you require secure car parking whilst walking this route, please contact us for information.

Getting There:
By Air: The nearest International Airport to the trail is London Heathrow. Trains run frequently between London Heathrow (Terminal 1, 2 and 3) and Richmond-upon-Thames changing at London Victoria and Clapham Junction (1.5 hours).

By Public Transport: There is a railway, an overground and an underground station at Richmond-upon-Thames. Richmond station is located on the South Western Main Line with frequent trains to and from London Waterloo (approx’ 30 mins). The underground station is located at the end of the District Line with frequent trains operating across London. Richmond-upon-Thames is also located at the end of the overground, with frequent trains operating around central London to Stratford. To view up to date travel news and to plan your journey through London please visit https://tfl.gov.uk/
By Road: Richmond is located just off the M4/M3 motorways. At the end of the M4, exit the roundabout onto the A205. South of the River Thames bear right onto the A307 following signs into Richmond. At the end of the M3 at Junction 1 continue on to the A316 along Country Way. Continue along the A316 over the River Thames and into Richmond.

Leaving from Blackheath:
By Public Transport: Blackheath Railway Station is located on the North Kent and Bexleyheath Branch Lines, both of which are off the South Eastern Main Line at Lewisham for connections to London Victoria and London Bridge/Cannon Street.

By Road: Blackheath is located in Central London on the B212, just off the A2 approaching Greenwich.

Richmond upon Thames

We would recommend a rest day in Richmond to allow you the time to visit the spectacular Kew Gardens. You can easily while away a day in these famous botanic gardens. Visit the largest Victorian glasshouse in the world and wander around the extensive grounds with its multitude of exotic trees and plants. The largest Royal park in London, Richmond Park, is also close by with free roaming deer and extensive woodlands. For the hustle and bustle of the city you are only a short tube ride away from central London with its many museums, galleries and attractions.