The Thames Path National Trail is a walk following the River Thames from its source in the Cotswolds through Oxford, Windsor and past the Houses of Parliament to the Thames Barrier in London

Information for Cyclists

Downstream of Oxford © Natural England/Anne-Katrin Purkiss

The Thames Path National Trail is not a long distance route for cyclists:

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. 

However there are some sections of the Thames Path outside London which cyclists can use - the longest section being the 5.4 miles (8.7km) through Oxford and the 5.8 miles (9.4km) from Weybridge to Hampton Court.  If you choose to cycle by the river, please be aware it is a potentially dangerous activity.

Within London some boroughs allow cycling on the Thames Path, but it is a disjointed picture.

Maps showing sections you can cycle:

Below you can download maps of sections that can be cycled from the source of the River Thames to Hampton Court.  Please note that the 2-mile (3.3km) length of bridleway upstream of Whitchurch-on-Thames is not included at the moment as it requires some essential maintenance.

Alternative long-distance cycle routes:

Cyclists wanting a long-distance ride should not attempt the Thames Path.  The National Trails that can be cycled are the western half (approx 43 miles (69km)) of The Ridgeway, the whole of the South Downs Way  and Pennine Bridleway . 

Information on cycling routes can be obtained from Sustrans, 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.  The map for this route can be purchased from us via our publications page