How the River Thames Has Entertained London Tourists Over the Centuries
The River Thames is one of the most famous landmarks of London and is seen by virtually every London tourist as it passes through the city centre past all of the major sights. Many London visitors choose to go on a Thames cruise to enjoy the sights that the river has to offer.
The river is well known as a London resident but the 215 mile river actually passes through a wide range of towns and cities across the south of England. The source of the river is near a small village near Cirencester. The river then travels through Oxford, Abingdon, Reading, Henley, Marlow, Maidenhead, Windsor, Teddington and London before reaching the sea.
It is estimated that the Thames carries more than 300,000 tonnes of sediment from the sea each and every year. The river is home to more than 100 species of fish, many of which are in the river in London.
Throughout history, the River Thames has been a very important route for British trade. It is rumoured that when the Romans built London, they chose the area due to its location on the Thames. The first bridge on the River Thames was built almost 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Although it has been rebuilt many times, the site can be visited at London Bridge.
The Thames has long been associated with being filthy, despite the fact that it is a clean river when compared to many cities. This stereotype stems from the pre-1850s when all of the waste from London was dumped in the Thames. London smelt so terribly that in 1858, an engineer built London's first sewer system.
A couple of hundred years ago, the winter months were cold enough to completely freeze the surface of the River Thames. During these days, "Frost Fairs" were held in London where locals would drink and dance on the ice. However, this has not happened since the year 1814 and is unlikely to ever happen again because the water is now unable to freeze due to its fast flow.
The Thames has always been a well-known location for sports including rowing. Across the full span of the river, there are more than 200 rowing clubs. Most towns across the river have their own rowing club, including Oxford, Henley-on-Thames and Putney. The Thames is a famous place for punting, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and sailing.
If youâEUR(TM)re considering one of the many Thames Cruises, you could step aboard one of the exciting London Duck Tours. These tours are far more than just a sightseeing tour of the River Thames. Instead, it allows you to explore the main sights of London on land and water without even having to leave your seat. The vehicles used for the Duck Tours were originally used during the D-Day landings but are now used to transport visitors around the city. Your tour will include all of the major sights before hopping into the river.
The river is well known as a London resident but the 215 mile river actually passes through a wide range of towns and cities across the south of England. The source of the river is near a small village near Cirencester. The river then travels through Oxford, Abingdon, Reading, Henley, Marlow, Maidenhead, Windsor, Teddington and London before reaching the sea.
It is estimated that the Thames carries more than 300,000 tonnes of sediment from the sea each and every year. The river is home to more than 100 species of fish, many of which are in the river in London.
Throughout history, the River Thames has been a very important route for British trade. It is rumoured that when the Romans built London, they chose the area due to its location on the Thames. The first bridge on the River Thames was built almost 2,000 years ago by the Romans. Although it has been rebuilt many times, the site can be visited at London Bridge.
The Thames has long been associated with being filthy, despite the fact that it is a clean river when compared to many cities. This stereotype stems from the pre-1850s when all of the waste from London was dumped in the Thames. London smelt so terribly that in 1858, an engineer built London's first sewer system.
A couple of hundred years ago, the winter months were cold enough to completely freeze the surface of the River Thames. During these days, "Frost Fairs" were held in London where locals would drink and dance on the ice. However, this has not happened since the year 1814 and is unlikely to ever happen again because the water is now unable to freeze due to its fast flow.
The Thames has always been a well-known location for sports including rowing. Across the full span of the river, there are more than 200 rowing clubs. Most towns across the river have their own rowing club, including Oxford, Henley-on-Thames and Putney. The Thames is a famous place for punting, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and sailing.
If youâEUR(TM)re considering one of the many Thames Cruises, you could step aboard one of the exciting London Duck Tours. These tours are far more than just a sightseeing tour of the River Thames. Instead, it allows you to explore the main sights of London on land and water without even having to leave your seat. The vehicles used for the Duck Tours were originally used during the D-Day landings but are now used to transport visitors around the city. Your tour will include all of the major sights before hopping into the river.
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