Before venturing onto the tidal River Thames it is essential to consult the London tide times. With a flow of more than five miles an hour and a tidal range of up to seven metres (23 feet) – the power of the Thames tide should not be taken lightly.
On the plus side, the strong tides allow experienced canoeists and kayakers to ‘ride the tide’ and hitch a lift on the incoming and outgoing tides of the Thames.
Today’s London tide times
London tide tables
The BBC publishes weekly tide tables, adjusted to British Summer Time when appropriate. BBC Tide Tables.
The Port of London Authority (PLA) publishes Thames tide tables for Walton-on-the-Naze, Margate, Herne Bay, Shivering Sands, Southend-on-Sea, Coryton, Tilbury, North Woolwich, London Bridge (Tower Pier), Chelsea Bridge and Richmond Lock. View Port of London Authority Tide Tables.
Note: PLA Tide Tables are given in Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). One hour must be added at all times when British Summer Time (BST) is in force.
More information on the tidal Thames
Canoeing and Kayaking on the tidal Thames
Access to the River Thames – Detailed map showing steps, stairs and landing places along the tidal Thames
River Thames image credit: By Diliff (Own work) [GFDL or CC-BY-3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
