the Thames
/ðə ˈtemz/
/ðə ˈtemz/
- the best-known and second longest river in Britain. It is 210 miles/338 kilometres long and flows from the Cotswolds in central England to the North Sea after passing through London. Other famous towns on the river include Oxford, Windsor, Henley and Greenwich. Well-known bridges across the Thames in London include London Bridge, Tower Bridge and Westminster Bridge. Large ships can sail up the Thames as far as London and smaller ones a further 86 miles/138 kilometres. A large area in the east of London was formerly a major port on the river, but in recent times this Docklands area has been redeveloped.