Guidance

River Thames: distances and measurements for boaters

Distances between locks on the River Thames and measurements restricting navigation.

From:
Environment Agency
Published
12 February 2020
Last updated
24 April 2025 鈥 See all updates

If you are planning to boat on the River Thames, you may also find our locks and facilities for boaters page useful.

Distances and travel times between locks

The following table lists the distances between locks from Cricklade Bridge downstream to Teddington Lock. It also gives an estimated travel time based on the speed limit of 8 kilometres per hour (approximately 5 miles per hour).

Name of lock Distance to next lock downstream (km) Distance to next lock downstream (miles) Time to next lock downstream at 8 km/h (minutes)
Cricklade Bridge 18.88 11.73 142
St John鈥檚 Lock 1.85 1.15 15
Buscot Lock 5.37 3.34 41
Grafton Lock 2.98 1.85 23
Radcot Lock 4.23 2.63 32
Rushey Lock 6.92 4.30 52
Shifford Lock 7.63 4.74 58
Northmoor Lock 6.21 3.86 47
Pinkhill Lock 2.38 1.48 18
Eynsham Lock 4.37 2.71 33
Kings Lock 1.81 1.13 14
Godstow Lock 3.87 2.40 30
Osney Lock 3.73 2.32 28
Iffley Lock 2.70 1.68 21
Sandford Lock 7.38 4.58 56
Abingdon Lock 4.15 2.58 32
Culham Lock 4.52 2.81 34
Clifton Lock 4.80 2.98 36
Days Lock 6.37 3.96 48
Benson Lock 10.46 6.50 79
Cleeve Lock 1.00 0.62 8
Goring Lock 6.55 4.07 50
Whitchurch Lock 3.67 2.28 28
Mapledurham Lock 7.08 4.40 54
Caversham Lock 4.23 2.63 32
Sonning Lock 4.68 2.91 36
Shiplake Lock 4.80 2.98 36
Marsh Lock 4.59 2.85 35
Hambleden Lock 5.89 3.66 45
Hurley Lock 1.03 0.64 8
Temple Lock 2.70 1.68 22
Marlow Lock 6.44 4.00 49
Cookham Lock 3.35 2.08 26
Boulters Lock 3.43 2.13 26
Bray Lock 5.10 3.17 39
Boveney Lock 3.75 2.33 29
Romney Lock 4.83 3.00 37
Old Windsor Lock 4.70 2.92 36
Bell Weir Lock 4.57 2.84 35
Penton Hook Lock 3.13 1.95 24
Chertsey Lock 3.32 2.06 25
Shepperton Lock 4.75 2.95 36
Sunbury Lock 4.79 2.98 36
Molesey Lock 7.74 4.81 59
Teddington Lock (to Teddington Boundary Obelisk) 0.39 0.24 3

Bridge heights

The following table gives the headway of bridges over the River Thames. This is the distance between the standard water level and the highest point of the underside of the bridge.

These distances are approximate. Remember that river levels fluctuate and these distances will change with the river conditions.

The central arch at Temple bridge is currently closed for navigation. Boaters are to navigate with extreme caution using adjacent arches. Please see our Temple Bridge safety works 2024: river restriction notice for more guidance.

Bridge Headway (metres) Headway (feet)
Halfpenny Bridge, Lechlade 4.73 15鈥6鈥
St John鈥檚 Bridge 4.22 13鈥10鈥
Bloomers Hole footbridge 3.50 11鈥6鈥
Eaton footbridge 2.97 9鈥9鈥
Radcot Bridge 3.45 11鈥4鈥
Old Man鈥檚 footbridge 4.27 14鈥0鈥
Tadpole Bridge 4.52 14鈥10鈥
Tenfoot footbridge 3.71 12鈥2鈥
Shifford Lock Cut Bridge 3.66 12鈥0鈥
Newbridge 3.50 11鈥6鈥
Hart鈥檚 footbridge 3.27 10鈥9鈥
Swinford Bridge 4.49 14鈥9鈥
Oxford Western Bypass Bridge 4.11 13鈥6鈥
Godstow Bridge 2.56 8鈥5鈥
Medley footbridge 3.05 10鈥0鈥
Osney Bridge 2.28 7鈥6鈥
Osney Railway Bridge 3.55 11鈥8鈥
Road Bridge 3.71 12鈥2鈥
Grandpont Bridge 3.91 12鈥10鈥
Folly Bridge 3.12 10鈥3鈥
Donnington Bridge 5.03 16鈥6鈥
Isis Bridge 5.03 16鈥6鈥
Kennington Railway Bridge 4.11 13鈥6鈥
Nuneham Railway Bridge 4.80 15鈥9鈥
Abingdon Bridge 4.24 13鈥11鈥
Culham Lock Cut Bridge 3.78 12鈥5鈥
Culham Road Bridge 4.49 14鈥9鈥
Appleford Railway Bridge 3.96 13鈥0鈥
Clifton Lock Cut Bridge 4.06 13鈥4鈥
Clifton Hampden Bridge 4.09 13鈥5鈥
Days footbridge 4.64 15鈥3鈥
Shillingford Bridge 5.26 17鈥3鈥
Wallingford Bridge 5.00 16鈥5鈥
Wallingford Bypass Bridge 5.10 16鈥9鈥
Moulsford Railway Bridge 6.60 21鈥8鈥
Goring Bridge 5.15 16鈥11鈥
Gatehampton Railway Bridge 6.96 22鈥10鈥
Whitchurch Bridge 4.14 13鈥7鈥
Caversham Bridge 4.57 15鈥0鈥
Reading Pedestrian and Cycle Bridge 4.57 15鈥0鈥
Reading Bridge 5.38 17鈥8鈥
Sonning Bridge 4.32 14鈥2鈥
Shiplake Railway Bridge 5.43 17鈥10鈥
Henley Bridge 4.34 14鈥3鈥
Hurley Upper Towpath Bridge 3.98 13鈥1鈥
Hurley Lower Towpath Bridge 4.39 14鈥5鈥
Temple Bridge Please see Temple Bridge safety works 2024: river restriction notice for more information 听
Marlow Bridge 3.86 12鈥8鈥
Marlow Bypass Bridge 6.02 19鈥9鈥
Bourne End Railway Bridge 4.72 15鈥6鈥
Cookham Bridge 4.62 15鈥2鈥
Cookham Lock Cut Bridge 3.81 12鈥6鈥
Boulters Lock Bridge 5.26 17鈥3鈥
Maidenhead Bridge 5.66 18鈥7鈥
Maidenhead Railway Bridge 9.80 32鈥2鈥
M4 Motorway Bridge 7.77 25鈥6鈥
Summerleaze Bridge 7.30 23鈥11鈥
Windsor Bypass Bridge 6.25 20鈥6鈥
Windsor Railway Bridge 5.41 17鈥9鈥
Windsor Bridge 4.01 13鈥2鈥
Black Pott鈥檚 Railway Bridge 5.94 19鈥6鈥
Victoria Bridge 6.17 20鈥3鈥
Albert Bridge 5.69 18鈥8鈥
Old Windsor Lock Cut Bridge 4.34 14鈥3鈥
Runnymede (M25) Bridge 7.01 23鈥0鈥
Staines Bridge 5.94 19鈥6鈥
Staines Railway Bridge 6.40 21鈥0鈥
M3 Motorway Bridge 6.50 21鈥4鈥
Chertsey Bridge 5.82 19鈥1鈥
Desborough Channel Upper Bridge 5.18 17鈥0鈥
Desborough Channel Lower Bridge 5.18 17鈥0鈥
Walton Bridge 5.56 18鈥3鈥
Sunbury Lock Cut Bridge 5.94 19鈥6鈥
Hampton Court Bridge 5.92 19鈥5鈥
Kingston Bridge 7.29 23鈥11鈥
Kingston Railway Bridge 6.51 21鈥4鈥
Teddington Lock Cut Bridge 5.58 18鈥4鈥

Maximum drafts

The River Thames varies in depth of water between Cricklade and Teddington.

Sometimes, parts of the River Thames between Cricklade and Inglesham are only navigable by small boats. Downstream of Lechlade, the navigation channel is normally available for boats of the following approximate drafts.

Area Approximate maximum draft (metres) Approximate maximum draft (feet)
Lechlade to Oxford 0.9m 3鈥0鈥
Oxford to Reading 1.2m 4鈥0鈥
Reading to Windsor 1.3m 4鈥6鈥
Windsor to Staines 1.7m 5鈥6鈥
Staines to Teddington 2.0m 6鈥6鈥

Lock sizes

The following tables list the dimensions of the locks on the River Thames. The first table gives the sizes in metres and the second table uses feet and inches.

Lock sizes: Metres

Boulters Lock tail gates on the pedestal side do not open fully. Width of the tail gates is restricted to no more than 5.5 metres (18鈥)

Blakes Lock head gate on the lock house side does not open. Width of the head gates is restricted to no more than 2.1m (7鈥)

Lock Length (metres) Width (metres) Depth upper sill (metres) Depth lower sill (metres) Fall (metres)
St John鈥檚 33.60 4.52 1.32 1.32 0.85
Buscot 33.47 4.47 1.47 1.47 1.69
Grafton 34.59 4.59 1.67 1.44 1.11
Radcot 34.59 4.57 1.49 1.54 1.48
Rushey 34.59 4.59 1.67 1.52 1.82
Shifford 34.64 4.59 1.67 1.6 2.23
Northmoor 34.59 4.59 1.65 1.44 1.24
Pinkhill 34.59 4.90 1.67 1.62 1.05
Eynsham 34.51 4.97 1.65 1.72 0.84
Kings 34.46 4.97 1.67 1.67 0.77
Godstow 33.52 4.95 1.52 1.62 1.57
Osney 34.64 5.25 2.74 2.10 1.89
Iffley 46.96 6.47 2.26 2.26 0.81
Sandford 53.03 6.62 2.31 2.31 2.69
Abingdon 36.57 5.71 2.64 1.52 1.89
Culham 39.87 5.33 2.41 1.62 2.41
Clifton 39.57 5.79 2.36 1.75 1.03
Days 46.93 6.45 2.26 1.93 1.58
Benson 40.56 5.46 2.23 2.13 1.87
Cleeve 40.71 5.53 2.13 2.22 0.89
Goring 54.68 6.40 2.97 2.56 1.77
Whitchurch 41.22 5.48 1.85 1.93 1.01
Mapledurham 61.69 6.42 2.18 2.13 2.05
Caversham 40.03 5.46 1.82 1.88 1.44
Blakes 37.39 5.75 1.80 1.63 1.07
Sonning 47.57 5.46 2.00 1.93 1.63
Shiplake 40.64 5.56 1.98 1.90 1.55
Marsh 41.19 6.42 2.18 2.18 1.33
Hambleden 59.63 7.74 2.20 2.20 1.44
Hurley 39.82 6.07 1.88 1.88 1.05
Temple 41.02 5.46 2.13 2.10 1.23
Marlow 46.10 6.07 2.13 1.95 2.16
Cookham 55.77 7.62 2.51 2.48 1.30
Boulters 60.80 6.47 3.12 2.13 2.39
Bray 40.94 5.46 2.13 2.13 1.46
Boveney 45.59 5.43 2.38 2.13 1.47
Romney 78.50 7.45 2.83 2.62 2.01
Old Windsor 54.55 7.36 2.48 2.54 1.74
Bell Weir 78.51 7.44 2.61 2.61 1.82
Penton Hook 81.28 7.56 2.74 2.56 1.22
Chertsey 61.16 6.40 2.66 2.46 1.22
Shepperton 53.16 6.04 2.43 2.59 2.03
Sunbury Old 47.15 5.86 3.07 2.26 1.87
Sunbury New 62.78 7.41 2.76 2.48 1.87
Molesey 81.78 7.56 2.84 2.41 1.85
Teddington Barge 198.12 7.54 3.15 2.61 2.68
Teddington Launch 54.22 7.41 4.26 2.79 2.68
Teddington Skiff 15.08 1.77 1.09 1.34 2.68

Lock sizes: Feet and inches

Boulters Lock tail gates on the pedestal side do not open fully. Width of the tail gates is restricted to no more than 5.5 metres (18鈥)

Lock Length (feet) Width (feet) Depth upper sill (feet) Depth lower sill (feet) Fall (feet)
St John鈥檚 110鈥3鈥欌赌 14鈥10鈥欌赌 4鈥4鈥欌赌 4鈥4鈥欌赌 2鈥10鈥欌赌
Buscot 109鈥10鈥欌赌 14鈥8鈥欌赌 4鈥10鈥欌赌 4鈥10鈥欌赌 5鈥7鈥欌赌
Grafton 113鈥6鈥欌赌 15鈥1鈥欌赌 5鈥6鈥欌赌 4鈥9鈥欌赌 3鈥8鈥欌赌
Radcot 113鈥6鈥欌赌 15鈥0鈥欌赌 4鈥11鈥欌赌 5鈥1鈥欌赌 4鈥10鈥欌赌
Rushey 113鈥6鈥欌赌 15鈥1鈥欌赌 5鈥6鈥欌赌 5鈥0鈥欌赌 6鈥0鈥欌赌
Shifford 113鈥8鈥欌赌 15鈥1鈥欌赌 5鈥6鈥欌赌 5鈥3鈥欌赌 7鈥4鈥欌赌
Northmoor 113鈥6鈥欌赌 15鈥1鈥欌赌 5鈥5鈥欌赌 4鈥9鈥欌赌 4鈥1鈥欌赌
Pinkhill 113鈥6鈥欌赌 16鈥1鈥欌赌 5鈥6鈥欌赌 5鈥4鈥欌赌 3鈥6鈥欌赌
Eynsham 113鈥3鈥欌赌 16鈥4鈥欌赌 5鈥5鈥欌赌 5鈥8鈥欌赌 2鈥9鈥欌赌
Kings 113鈥1鈥欌赌 16鈥4鈥欌赌 5鈥6鈥欌赌 5鈥6鈥欌赌 2鈥6鈥欌赌
Godstow 110鈥0鈥欌赌 16鈥3鈥欌赌 5鈥0鈥欌赌 5鈥4鈥欌赌 5鈥2鈥欌赌
Osney 113鈥8鈥欌赌 17鈥3鈥欌赌 9鈥0鈥欌赌 6鈥11鈥欌赌 6鈥3鈥欌赌
Iffley 154鈥1鈥欌赌 21鈥3鈥欌赌 7鈥5鈥欌赌 7鈥5鈥欌赌 2鈥8鈥欌赌
Sandford 174鈥0鈥欌赌 21鈥9鈥欌赌 7鈥7鈥欌赌 7鈥7鈥欌赌 8鈥10鈥欌赌
Abingdon 120鈥0鈥欌赌 18鈥9鈥欌赌 8鈥8鈥欌赌 5鈥0鈥欌赌 6鈥2鈥欌赌
Culham 130鈥10鈥欌赌 17鈥6鈥欌赌 7鈥11鈥欌赌 5鈥4鈥欌赌 7鈥11鈥欌赌
Clifton 129鈥10鈥欌赌 19鈥0鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 5鈥9鈥欌赌 3鈥5鈥欌赌
Days 154鈥10鈥欌赌 21鈥2鈥欌赌 7鈥5鈥欌赌 6鈥4鈥欌赌 5鈥2鈥欌赌
Benson 133鈥1鈥欌赌 17鈥11鈥欌赌 7鈥4鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 6鈥2鈥欌赌
Cleeve 133鈥7鈥欌赌 18鈥2鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 7鈥3鈥欌赌 2鈥11鈥欌赌
Goring 179鈥5鈥欌赌 21鈥0鈥欌赌 9鈥9鈥欌赌 8鈥5鈥欌赌 5鈥10鈥欌赌
Whitchurch 135鈥3鈥欌赌 18鈥0鈥欌赌 6鈥1鈥欌赌 6鈥4鈥欌赌 3鈥4鈥欌赌
Mapledurham 202鈥5鈥欌赌 21鈥1鈥欌赌 7鈥2鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 6鈥9鈥欌赌
Caversham 131鈥4鈥欌赌 17鈥11鈥欌赌 6鈥0鈥欌赌 6鈥2鈥欌赌 4鈥9鈥欌赌
Blakes 122鈥8鈥欌赌 18鈥11鈥欌赌 5鈥11鈥欌赌 5鈥5鈥欌赌 3鈥6鈥欌赌
Sonning 156鈥1鈥欌赌 17鈥11鈥欌赌 6鈥7鈥欌赌 6鈥4鈥欌赌 5鈥4鈥欌赌
Shiplake 133鈥4鈥欌赌 18鈥3鈥欌赌 6鈥6鈥欌赌 6鈥3鈥欌赌 5鈥1鈥欌赌
Marsh 135鈥2鈥欌赌 21鈥1鈥欌赌 7鈥2鈥欌赌 7鈥2鈥欌赌 4鈥4鈥欌赌
Hambleden 195鈥7鈥欌赌 25鈥5鈥欌赌 7鈥3鈥欌赌 7鈥3鈥欌赌 4鈥9鈥欌赌
Hurley 130鈥8鈥欌赌 19鈥11鈥欌赌 6鈥2鈥欌赌 6鈥2鈥欌赌 3鈥5鈥欌赌
Temple 134鈥7鈥欌赌 17鈥11鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 6鈥11鈥欌赌 4鈥1鈥欌赌
Marlow 151鈥3鈥欌赌 19鈥11鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 6鈥5鈥欌赌 7鈥1鈥欌赌
Cookham 183鈥0鈥欌赌 25鈥0鈥欌赌 8鈥3鈥欌赌 8鈥2鈥欌赌 4鈥3鈥欌赌
Boulters 199鈥6鈥欌赌 21鈥3鈥欌赌 10鈥3鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 7鈥10鈥欌赌
Bray 134鈥4鈥欌赌 17鈥11鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 4鈥9鈥欌赌
Boveney 149鈥7鈥欌赌 17鈥10鈥欌赌 7鈥10鈥欌赌 7鈥0鈥欌赌 4鈥10鈥欌赌
Romney 257鈥7鈥欌赌 24鈥5鈥欌赌 9鈥3鈥欌赌 8鈥7鈥欌赌 6鈥7鈥欌赌
Old Windsor 179鈥0鈥欌赌 24鈥2鈥欌赌 8鈥2鈥欌赌 8鈥4鈥欌赌 5鈥9鈥欌赌
Bell Weir 257鈥7鈥欌赌 24鈥5鈥欌赌 8鈥7鈥欌赌 8鈥7鈥欌赌 6鈥0鈥欌赌
Penton Hook 266鈥8鈥欌赌 24鈥10鈥欌赌 9鈥0鈥欌赌 8鈥5鈥欌赌 4鈥0鈥欌赌
Chertsey 200鈥8鈥欌赌 21鈥0鈥欌赌 8鈥9鈥欌赌 8鈥1鈥欌赌 4鈥0鈥欌赌
Shepperton 174鈥5鈥欌赌 19鈥10鈥欌赌 8鈥0鈥欌赌 8鈥6鈥欌赌 6鈥8鈥欌赌
Sunbury Old 154鈥8鈥欌赌 19鈥3鈥欌赌 10鈥1鈥欌赌 7鈥5鈥欌赌 6鈥2鈥欌赌
Sunbury New 206鈥0鈥欌赌 24鈥4鈥欌赌 9鈥1鈥欌赌 8鈥2鈥欌赌 6鈥2鈥欌赌
Molesey 268鈥4鈥欌赌 24鈥10鈥欌赌 9鈥4鈥欌赌 7鈥11鈥欌赌 6鈥1鈥欌赌
Teddington Barge 650鈥0鈥欌赌 24鈥9鈥欌赌 10鈥4鈥欌赌 8鈥7鈥欌赌 8鈥10鈥欌赌
Teddington Launch 177鈥11鈥欌赌 24鈥4鈥欌赌 14鈥0鈥欌赌 9鈥2鈥欌赌 8鈥10鈥欌赌
Teddington Skiff 49鈥6鈥欌赌 5鈥10鈥欌赌 3鈥7鈥欌赌 4鈥5鈥欌赌 8鈥10鈥欌赌

Updates to this page

Published 12 February 2020
Last updated 24 April 2025 show all updates

  1. Blakes Lock head gate on lock house side does not open. Width restriction of head gates restricted to no more than 2.1m (7') until further notice.

  2. The central arch at Temple bridge is currently closed for navigation. Boaters are to navigate with extreme caution using the adjacent arches. Please see our river restriction notice updated on our River Thames: restrictions and closures guidance page for more information.

  3. Mapledurham Lock head gates now open fully. There is no width restriction to navigation.

  4. Mapledurham Lock head gates do not open fully. Passable width is restricted to no more than 3.9 metres (13鈥)

  5. Update to lock sizes. Boulters Lock tail gates do not open fully. Width of the tail gates is restricted to no more than 5.5 metres (18鈥).

  6. First published.

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