Cycling on the River Thames

There are many great cycle paths and biking routes near the River Thames. So dust off your bike and get cycling today!

Although you can't cycle much of the Thames Path National Trail as most of it is a public footpath, there are some nice parts where you can. These are shown in the table below which includes other sections that are not on the Thames Path.  The Thames Path National Trail is not a long distance route for cyclists. However there are some sections of the Thames Path outside London which cyclists can use - the longest section being the 5.4 miles (8.7 km) through Oxford and the 5.8 miles (9.4 Km) from Weybridge to Hampton Court. See the interactive map for more information on cycling.

NOTE: Most of the Thames Path is a public footpath on which cyclists have no legal right to ride unless they have permission from the landowners - cycling without permission is a trespass offence against landowners. If you choose to cycle by the river, please be aware it is a potentially dangerous activity.

The National Cycle Network - routes four, Reading to Windsor (31 miles) and five, Reading to Oxford (35 miles) - take you next to the river for short periods before leading you to other scenic areas of the countryside.

For more information and a list of cycling leaflets, books and maps covering the River Thames area including the Thames Valley Cycle Route, a 97-mile (155km) route from London to Oxford that in places shares the same route as the Thames Path, visit the Sustrans website.

For information on cycling in the Chilterns including areas along the Thames Path visit the CTC website.

Cycle one of the routes selected by The Telegraph as one of ‘The 20 Most Beautiful Rides in Britain’: Hampton Court to Putney (National Cycle Route (NCN) 4.

A distance of 12 miles starting from Hampton Court Palace. Following the Thames from Kingston you will cycle past Teddington Lock and The London Wetland Centre, a great place to stop and explore.

Location (Grid reference)	Distance
Godstow Bridge (SP 48396 09201) to Oxford Ring Road A4142 (SP 52484 03223)	5 Miles
*Oxford Ring Road A4142 (SP 52484 03223) to Kennington Rail Bridge (SP 52408 02769)	600 Metres
Coombe Bank, Thames Promenade (SU 69808 74979) to Caversham Bridge (SU 71135 74555)	0.9 Miles
***Hills Meadow, Caversham (SU 71356 74530) to Reading Bridge (SU 71799 74092)	0.5 Miles
**Reading Bridge (SU 71599 74235) to Thames Valley Park (SU 73529 73971)	1.9 Miles
Thames Valley Park (SU 73529 73971) to Sonning (SU 75494 75721)	0.7 Miles
**Dorney Reach (SU 91682 78670) (Access to footbridge)	120 Metres
Boveney (SU 94468 77816) to Eton (SU 94935 77986)	0.8 Miles
**Staines Railway Bridge (TQ 03621 71256) to Laleham (TQ 64948 68504)	2.4 Miles
**Shepperton Ferry (TQ 07511 65756) to Teddington Lock (TQ 16776 71557)	11 Miles

  

 * National Cycle Network, Route 5
** National Cycle Network, Route 4
*** Not a section of the Thames Path

There are detailed maps available on the Thames Path National Trail website. These show the routes listed above that follow the river as well as other sections where cycling is permitted along the Thames Path.