Guidance

River Thames: restrictions and closures

Navigation on the River Thames may be restricted or closed in certain areas. Find out where and when these restrictions and closures are.

Before boating on the River Thames, you should check the current river conditions.

Navigation issues: updated 1821 August 2025

When Where What’s happening
1721 August 2025 until further notice SandfordCaversham Lock SandfordCaversham Lock closedpublic forpower emergencyis repairs.currently unavailable. You can use the lock by handwinding if a lock keeper is unavailable.
1 August 2025 until further notice Bell Weir Lock Shoal reported by Bell Weir Lock downstream layby. Boaters to navigation with caution.
25 July 2025 until further notice Marlow Lock Marlow Lock upstream canoe portage closed for repairs until further notice.
15 July 2025 until further notice All Reaches Due to prolonged dry weather, river levels have dropped considerably along the entire River Thames. This has increased the possibility of shoals appearing in all reaches. Masters of vessels must navigate with care.
1 May 2025 until further notice Pinkhill reach Crashed vehicle forming navigation hazard approximately 30 to 50 metres downstream of Ferryman Pub at Bablock Hythe.
3 February 2025 until further notice Osney reach East Street moorings, Oxford, are closed for public safety purposes, both waterside and landside. No alternative moorings are available.
4 January 2025 until further notice Osney reach Sunken narrowboat causing obstruction 50 metres upstream of Sheepwash junction route to Isis Lock on Oxford Canal. Boaters should navigate with extreme caution.
22 June 2024 until further notice Benson Lock Shoal reported downstream of lock. When navigating upstream the shoal is on the right hand side of the navigation channel. Boaters should navigate with caution when entering or exiting the tail gates.
23 April 2024 until further notice Caversham reach Submerged boat tied to left hand bank looking upstream, just upstream of St Mary’s Island. Boaters should navigate with caution.
20 April 2024 Until further notice Whitchurch head lock cut Obstruction to navigation above head gates. Boaters should navigate with caution when entering or exiting the upstream lock cut.
1 October 2023 until further notice Teddington Launch Lock Lock is closed for repairs to lock walls, gate ram trench and areas of the lock side.
Until further notice Clifton weir stream Shoal reported downstream of The Plough public house. Boaters are advised not to navigate up Clifton weir stream.
Until further notice Canal Bridge, Radcot A vehicle has damaged Canal Bridge, where Radcot Road A4095 crosses the River Thames. Please be cautious of falling debris if navigating near the bridge.
Until further notice Boulters Lock Gates on the pedestal side do not open fully. Width of the tail gates is restricted to no more than 5.1 metres (17’). Please use caution when entering and exiting the lock.
Until further notice Botley Road Bridge, Oxford Obstruction to navigation 50 metres upstream of Botley Bridge. Boaters should navigate with extreme caution.

River closures: updated 11 August 2025

When Where What’s happening
Wednesday 14 May 2025 until further notice Teddington Lock Teddington Barge Lock closure 2025: see notice for operational hours.
Thursday 14 August and Sunday 31 August 2025 7pm to 12am Caversham reach Temporary Bridge for Reading Festival 2025: Festival Republic will be installing a temporary footbridge across the river for the duration of Reading Festival. The bridge will be removed on Sunday 31 August 2025.
Monday 29 September to Monday 6 October 2025 Temple reach Temple Footbridge works 2025: navigation will be closed to allow for the removal of the central span of the footbridge.

River restrictions: updated 18 August 2025

When Where What’s happening
Thursday 21 November 2024 until Sunday 28 September 2025 Temple reach Temple Footbridge safety works 2024: the central arch of Temple Bridge will be closed for navigation. Boaters can navigate via the two side arches.
Saturday 30 August 2025 10am to 4pm Hambleden reach Regatta for the Disabled, Henley 2025: the navigation channel will be on the Remenham, left side of the river.
Saturday 6 September 2025 9am to 6pm Teddington reach The Skiff Club Regatta 2025: the navigation channel will be on the right, Middlesex side of the river.
Saturday 6 September 2025 11am to 9pm Teddington reach Kingston River Festival 2025: at 12pm a flotilla of boats will be making their way upstream from Raven’s Ait to Canbury Gardens.
Saturday 13 September 2025 9am to 6pm Teddington reach Dittons Skiff and Punting Club Regatta 2025: the navigation channel will be on the right, Middlesex side of the river.
Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 September 2025 6am to 6pm Teddington reach Kingston Railway Bridge Inspection 2025: two of the three spans will remain open for navigation at any one time.
Sunday 21 September 2025 8am to 5:30pm Mapledurham reach Pangbourne Hasler 2025: boaters to keep a look out between Whitchurch and Mapledurham Locks.
Saturday 27 September 2025 9am to 5pm Cleeve reach Wallingford Long Distance Sculls 2025: the navigation channel will be on the left, west, Wallingford side of the river.

Planned lock closures: updated 14 March 2025

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 10 weeks in advance of the first planned lock closure. 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.

To subscribe to or unsubscribe from this service, email riverthames@environment-agency.gov.uk with ‘subscribe’ or ‘unsubscribe’ in the subject line.

We will use your personal information in line with our privacy notice.

Contact the Environment Agency

General enquiries

National Customer Contact Centre
PO Box 544
Rotherham
S60 1BY

Email enquiries@environment-agency.gov.uk

Telephone 03708 506 506

Telephone from outside the UK (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm GMT) +44 (0) 114 282 5312

Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.


Environment incident hotline

Telephone (24 hour service) 0800 80 70 60


Floodline

Telephone (24 hour service) 0345 988 1188

Type talk (for the hard of hearing) 0345 602 6340

Updates to this page

Published 12 February 2020
Last updated 1821 August 2025 + show all updates
  1. Update to navigation issues. Shiplake Lock public power back in service.

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