The River Thames

The River Thames is the longest river in England, and the second longest in the UK, after the River Severn, but the River Thames is definitely the most famous. That’s probably because of London, the capital city. The River Thames flows through London and other parts of southern England. Some of the best-known London landmarks are by the River Thames: the Houses of Parliament, with its “Big Ben” clock tower; the London Eye, with its view of the city; St. Paul’s Cathedral, with its great dome. Some of the many bridges over the River Thames are also famous: Westminster Bridge, Tower Bridge, and Millennium Bridge. The River Thames is also known not just for what is next to it or over it but also for what happens on it. Oxford and Cambridge, the UK’s two oldest universities, have been racing each other on the River Thames since 1829. The “Boat Race” is one of the most celebrated British sporting events of the year. The sport is rowing: athletes sit in the boat and together they pull it through the water backwards. It is also an Olympic sport. The Cambridge team practices for the race on the River Cam in Cambridge. The Oxford team, however, practices on the same river as the race itself, although in the city of Oxford that part of the River Thames has a different name. People call it the Isis. Some of the UK’s most famous artists have painted the River Thames, including Turner and Constable in the 18th and 19th centuries. The American painter James Whistler was also fascinated by the river and painted many pictures of it during the 19th century while he was living in London.