Amazing Facts about Thames

For centuries, London's waterways have been fascinating places of historic, social and environmental significance. Here are some amazing facts we bet you didn't know...
Wildlife

• Seen swans on the river? It is believed that Richard the Lionheart first introduced the swans to the Thames from Cyprus in the 12th century.
• The Thames is home to important wildlife habitats, supporting 119 different species of fish and with 146 Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

Drinking Water

• Thames water is, believe it or not, drinkable. If you scooped a glass out of the river and left the silt to settle overnight, the water would be clean enough to drink! We don't recommend you try it though.
• A drop of rain falling into the Thames at its source in the Cotswolds will have been drunk by 8 people before it reaches the sea.

Geography

• The river Thames begins life as a trickle in a Gloucestershire meadow and flows for over 217km (135 miles) though the Cotswolds, Oxford, Henley and Windsor before it reaches London.

There are 37 major crossings over the Thames, including 33 bridges and 4 tunnels (not including Tube tunnels).

The Thames Path follows the river for 296km (184 miles) from its source, making it the longest riverside walk in Europe.

Half a million years ago before the North Sea existed, the Thames flowed from Wales to Clacton and onward to become a tributary of the Rhine!

London has an extensive canal network that includes the Grand Union Canal and Regent's Canal, totalling 129km (80 miles).

The river Thames is the longest river in England.

There is a 8m (26ft) change in the water level of the river Thames. The highest and lowest tidal changes occur in spring.

Bonus Facts

• There are currently four World Heritage Sites in the city of London: the

Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), the Tower of London, Maritime Greenwich and Kew Gardens - all along the river.

The Romans knew the Thames as Tamesis. The name may have originally come from the Latin for "wide water" or the Sanskrit word meaning "dark water".

The river used to be incredibly dirty because it was where all waste from London ended up. In 1858 the stench became so bad it was known as "The Great Stink"!

It takes 61 seconds to open Tower Bridge, which opens about 1,000 times a year.