Environment Agency
Due to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency, some of our services will be restricted until further notice.
You can find more information on what services are affected by our response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on our locks and facilities page.
Before boating on the River Thames, you should check the current river conditions.
River closures: updated 23 September 2022
| When | Where | Whats happening |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday 5 November 2022 10am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 3:30pm | Teddington reach | Kingston Small Boats Head 2022: the river between Hampton Court Bridge and 250 metres below Stevens Ait will be closed to all traffic during the stated times. |
| Saturday 12 November 2022 10am to 12pm and 1:30pm to 3:30pm | Teddington reach | Teddington Head 2022: the river between Hampton Court Bridge and the head of Trowlock Island will be closed to all traffic during the stated times. |
| Sunday 27 November 2022 9:30am to midday | Teddington reach | Royal Canoe Club 10@10 2022: the river between Trowlock Island and Kingston Bridge will be closed to all traffic during the stated times. |
| Sunday 27 November 2022 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm | Cleeve reach | Wallingford Head of the River 2022: the river between Moulsford Railway Bridge and Wallingford Bridge will be closed to all traffic during the stated times. |
| Saturday 3 December 2022 9:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30pm and 4:30pm | Molesey reach | Hampton Small Boats Head 2022: the river will be closed to all traffic 500 metres downstream of Sunbury Lock to 500 metres downstream of Platts Eyot during the stated times. |
River restrictions: updated 27 September 2022
| When | Where | Whats happening |
|---|---|---|
| March 2022 to December 2022 | Godstow reach | Replacement of Godstow Trout Weir 2022: there will be considerable disruption during construction works for the replacement of the trout weir in the Godstow reach. |
| Monday 22 August to Friday 18 November 2022 | Sunbury reach | River Thames Scheme Sampling 2022: Sampling of the riverbed in Sunbury Reach will use pontoons moored in the river. |
| Wednesday 24 August 2022 until further notice | St Johns Lock to Teddington Lock | Lock restrictions due to drought 2022: from 9am on 24 August,locks will be operated at 15 minute intervals, completing one full cycle, allowing both upstream and downstream passage. |
| Saturday 1 October 2022 9:30am to 5:30pm | Cleeve reach | Wallingford Long Distance Sculls 2022: the navigation channel will be on the left, Cholsey side of the river. |
| Saturday 8 October 2022 8am to 5pm | Caversham reach | Reading Small Boats Head 2022: during racing times all normal river traffic should navigate on the non-towpath, right hand side of the river. |
| Sunday 9 October 2022 10am to 12:15pm and 1pm to 3pm | Teddington reach | Royal Outrigger Canoe Club Hampton Court Challenge 2022: boaters should keep a proper look out between Trowlock Island and Hampton Court Bridge. |
| Saturday 15 October 2022 9am to 5pm | Sunbury reach | Weybridge Silver Sculls 2022: the navigation channel will be on the Middlesex, right hand side of the river, using the old river around Desborough Island. |
| Saturday 15 October 2022 10am to 4pm | Teddington reach | Royal Canoe Club Paddling Challenge: the navigation channel will be on the Surrey, left hand side of the river. |
| Sunday 16 October 2022 8am to 1pm | Henley reach | Phyllis Court Club Autumn Time Trial 2022: the navigation channel will be in the centre of the river. |
| Saturday 22 October 2022 1pm to 4pm | Teddington reach | Emergency Water Rescue Exercise 2022: Surrey Fire and Rescue will be holding a multi-agency exercise. During the exercise, a passenger vessel will be simulated to be in distress with multiple casualties and the emergency services will be in attendance. |
| Sunday 30 October 2022 11am to 4pm | Henley reach | Upper Thames Autumn Head 2022: the navigation channel will be in the centre of the river. |
| Saturday 5 November 2022 9am to 4pm | Henley reach | Henley Sculls Head Race 2022: the navigation channel will be in the centre of the river. |
| Saturday 11 February 2023 9am to 4pm | Henley reach | Henley Fours and Eights Head Race 2023: the navigation channel will be in the centre of the river. |
Planned lock closures: updated 5 September 2022
The Environment Agency carries out a programme of works on the River Thames every year between October and the end of March. This results in the closure of a number of locks sometimes for relatively long periods.
The first issue of the programme is published in August each year. This is so that river users can plan their winter cruising and boat movements well in advance.
This programme of work is subject to change, due to weather and other circumstances. Revised issues of the programme of works are published throughout the winter, so river users can keep up to date. To receive this information, sign up to the email update service.
Investment programme October 2022 to March 2023
( * ) Note: Exact project duration is not yet available, but it will be between the dates marked with an asterisk ( * ) below. The Environment Agency Thames Waterways team will give at least 2 weeks notice prior to any works starting on site.
| When | Where | Work being carried out | Canoe portage with care during closure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 October 2022 to 23 December 2022 (*)see note above | Rushey Lock | Installation of lock chamber access steps.<
Related ArticlesCommentsWrite a CommentMinisterial Departmental News
News CalendarRecent CommentsFollow Us on TwitterTweets by @gov_wire |