The River Thames

About the Thames
UNESCO Heritage Sites
Sail the Thames or visit London on a European river cruise extension

Ports-of-Call on the River Thames

Here you can find a list of some of the more common river cruise ports along the Thames River as it flows through England.  These may be the most common, but there may be others that can be found on select river cruises.  Your River Cruise Artist can provide you with the full itinerary and all ports for any river cruise that you may be interested in, on any river cruise operator. Explore the Thames River further and learn more about it’s ports-of-call.

Cookham

England

Cookham is a small historic village along the banks of the River Thames in the north-easternmost corner of Berkshire, England. It is notable as the home of the artist Stanley Spencer. The village is a tourist destination as a convenient base for a number of walks along the Thames Path and across National Trust property in Cliveden. There are a good selection of restaurants and pubs on High Street and the Stanley Spencer Gallery, based in the former Methodist chapel, also has a permanent exhibition of the local artist’s works.

Greenwich

England

Set on the banks of the River Thames just east of London, Greenwich is a popular stop for river cruisers. The group of buildings at Greenwich and the park in which they sit, symbolize English artistic and scientific research and works in the 17th and 18th centuries. The Queen’s House was the first Palladian building in England, while the complex that was until recently the Royal Naval College was designed by Christopher Wren. The park was designed by André Le Nôtre, and contains the Old Royal Observatory, the work of Wren and the scientist Robert Hooke. Tour Greenwich the home of Greenwich Mean Time and step onto 0 Degrees longitude.

Hampton Court Palace

England

On the banks of the River Thames not far west out of London lies Hampton Court Palace with its majestic surrounding gardens. Building of the royal palace began in 1515 for Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, a favorite of King Henry VIII. In 1529, as Wolsey fell from favor, the King seized the palace for himself and later enlarged it. Along with St James’s Palace, it is one of only two surviving palaces out of the many owned by King Henry VIII. Today the palace is open to the public and is a major tourist attraction and a very popular stop along the River Thames.

Henley-on-Thames

England

The far reaches west of the River Thames before it turns north toward Oxford brings us to Henley-on-Thames, founded from 1179, when it is recorded that King Henry II “had bought land for the making of buildings.” Enjoy historical treasures of Henley-on-Thames like the Henley Bridge across the river, the Chantry House, the Church of England Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin, and the Old Bell Pub. If you are lucky to visit on a Thursday, enjoy the town market, said to be operating since 1269!

London

England

London, the vast metropolis capital of the United Kingdom, sits on the banks of the River Thames and is rich is cultural and historical treasures. It is a very walkable city that also boasts an extensive underground rail system you can use to reach almost any part of the city. Some top sites to visit out of the hundreds include Westminster Abbey, Tower of London, London Eye, the Aquarium, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Harrod’s, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Kensington Palace, and many, many more. Not to mention the thousands of eateries and shopping, shopping and more shopping! Take your time to learn London a bit before you arrive to make best use of your time there. Get lucky and catch a glimpse of British Royalty as you visit the city.

Oxford

England

The city of Oxford, along the northern part of the River Thames, is best known as the home of the famous University of Oxford. The University is the oldest in England. Buildings in Oxford demonstrate notable examples of every English architectural period since the late Saxon period and offer visitors a treasure trove of sights. Oxford is also known as the “city of dreaming spires”, a term coined by poet Matthew Arnold. The city center is home to a diverse population of residents and visitors, as well as abundant restaurants, cafes, and shops to meet every taste.

Windsor

England

The historic market town of Windsor lies on the River Thames to the northwest of London and is home to the famous royal residence Windsor Castle where Prince Harry was married in 2018. The town is popular with tourists visiting the castle and there are plenty of gift shops and cafes for them to enjoy. Windsor Castle was originally built in the 11th century and has expanded much since that time. Today, Windsor Castle and St. Georges Chapel are not only home to current royalty, but to those from the past whose remains lie there.

Your Thames River Cruise Awaits!

Are you ready to start planning your Thames River Cruise Vacation Your Way? A River Cruise Artist at River Cruise Your Way is ready to be your vacation concierge. Contact us today at 1-800-259-7612 or use the form below and let us know when it is most convenient to call you, we will confirm via e-mail, and then reach out at the agreed upon time and date.