Few rivers have shaped a nation like the Thames. Rising from a quiet spring beside an ash tree in the Cotswold meadows, England's most famous river winds 294 kilometres / 184 miles through 2,000 years of history before reaching the sea - and every mile of it can be walked.

The Thames Path National Trail follows the river from source to sea, passing through some of the most varied and storied landscapes in England. The upper reaches are peaceful and almost remote - narrow channels threading through water meadows, Cotswold villages built from honey-coloured stone, and ancient market towns where the river was once a highway for barges carrying stone, grain and wool. Further downstream, the river widens and the pace quickens, passing through elegant Georgian towns, royal estates and riverside pubs beloved by river traders in times past, locals and passing walkers.

The trail's history is extraordinary. Along its banks you'll find the meadow where Magna Carta was sealed, the palace where Henry VIII held court, the lock that inspired The Wind in the Willows, and the castle that has served as a royal residence for nearly a thousand years. Oxford's dreaming spires, Henley's famous regatta reach, and the full sweep of London - Westminster, the South Bank, Greenwich - all unfold at walking pace. After years of effort, the Thames Path was officially inaugurated on 24 July 1996.

The walking itself is gentle. The Thames Path is largely flat, well-waymarked and accessible, making it one of the finest introductions to long-distance hiking in Britain. Yet it never feels ordinary. The river is always present, always changing - from Cotswold stream to tidal estuary - and the landscapes, towns and history that line its banks make every day rewarding.

Whether you walk a section or the trail end to end, the Thames Path is one of England's essential journeys.