River Thames
Please click on map for a larger view
The River Thames is the longest river that is wholly in England. It is 215 miles in length from the source at Thames Head, Cirencester as far as Teddington, as is managed by The Environment Agency.
Thereafter the river is tidal and managed by the Port of London Authority.
Cruising this section of the River Thames from Limehouse Basin to Brentford should only be done after careful planning. You will need to ascertain the correct time to depart from Limehouse by reference to the tide tables and also get a copy of, and make yourself familiar with, the Tideway Handbook. Your boat must be fitted with an anchor with chain and warp attached ready for immediate use. If your boat is 45 feet long or more then you must also carry a VHF radio. This, or a mobile phone, must be used to advise the PLA authorities when you leave Limehouse and to confirm your safe arrival at Brentford.
It is always best, in my opinion to leave Limehouse early in the morning - by 7.30am at the latest - in order to avoid the ferries and other passenger craft that ply the Thames in the central London area as they create a lot of wash due to their often excessive speed. Also if the sun is shining the light is much better early in the morning to get those all important photographs of all the famous sites that you will be passing.
