River Thames, London, England

© Puthipong Worasaran/Getty Image

Row your boat gently down the Thames. Totally Thames Festival, London

Welcome to the Totally Thames Festival in London, England. Each year, it brings together communities, artists and nature enthusiasts in a month-long tribute to the river. Highlights for 2024 include the annual boat marathon, Great River Race and the Clean Thames Challenge.

The Thames, the longest river entirely in England, contains more than 80 islands along its course. Starting in Gloucestershire and winding through cities like Oxford, Windsor and in today's image, London, it flows for 215 miles before merging with the North Sea. With a range of freshwater and near seawater habitats, the river is a haven for an array of wildlife like mute swans and bottlenose dolphins. It also flanks several Sites of Special Scientific Interest. So, this month, let the river's tide guide you to discovery and celebration.