The Thames is the UK's second longest river, rising in the Cotswolds and flowing a distance of 215 miles before reaching the sea.
We've all crossed over the Thames a ton of times, whether in a car, on a bus, or on foot. We might even have taken a boat trip along it. But few of us have actually ventured down to the shore of this imposing river to take a closer look.
The
Thames Explorer Trust was formed in 1988 and serves to provide safe access to the river, encouraging people to engage and explore this great river, while at the same learning about its history, wildlife, geology, and how best to preserve it for future generations to enjoy.
The Trust's fascinating
foreshore walks provide a safe way for children and parents alike to get up close and personal with Britain's most famous waterway
The walks are led by expert guides who are familiar with the river's various hazards, which include its remarkable 7-metre tidal range and areas of deep mud.
You'll have a chance to try your hand at mudlarking. No, it's not quite just playing around in the mud (though you might like to do that as well). Mudlarking involves looking for items of interest in the mud – this is what Victorian children used to do. If they found anything decent, they'd clean it up and try to sell it.
Eighty tickets are sold for each foreshore walk, 40 for adults and 40 for children. They're held several times a month in
two main locations.
The first explores the foreshore between the Millennium Bridge and Queenhithe Dock, and is a walk that promises to turn up some of London's past, in the form of old pottery, pipes, and....well, you never quite know what the tide will wash up.
The other walk takes you from Kew Bridge to the old fishing village of Strand on the Green. You should get to see plenty of wildlife on this one, a mark of how the cleanliness of the Thames water has improved in recent years.
See
the website for specific dates and ticket availability. And be sure to wear your wellies when you go!
