River thames

The Thames flows through London, the capital city, and has played a central role in British history for some 2000 years. From the Roman invasions of 43 BC to the turn of the millennium in AD 2000, some of the most famous events in British history have taken place on or near the Thames. These include the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, the plot to blow up the houses of Parliament in 1605 and the Great Fire of London in 1666.

 

The importance of the Thames can be seen in the settlements that line its banks. Royal palaces, government buildings, great trading houses, market squares and river crossings all provide links with the past. Many of these settlements have changed little in hundreds of years.

 

Being such a short river, and having a gentle gradient from the source to sea, the Thames does not have the variety of features found in bigger rivers. It is slow and meandering for most of its length. At certain points, its meanders are so exaggerated that it nearly turns back on itself.