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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.

For guidance on Environment Agency moorings, locks and their facilities, you should visit locks and facilities.

When Where What’s happening
Until further notice Culham Lock A fallen tree is restricting the upstream lock cut. Reduced channel width and submerged branches present a hazard to navigation. Proceed with caution.
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.
3 May 2026 until further notice Godstow Lock Shoal reported downstream of lock. Boaters should navigate with caution.
Until further notice Botley Road Bridge, Oxford Obstruction to navigation 50 metres upstream of Botley Bridge. Boaters should navigate with extreme caution.
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.
1 June 2026 until further notice Abingdon reach Shoal reported downstream of lock. Boaters to navigate with caution. Shoal marked with navigation buoys.
Sunday August 30 2026 Culham reach Fallen tree restricting the lock cut, 1000m above the lock. Field teams have attended and removed part of the tree, navigation is possible with caution.
Until further notice Clifton weir stream Shoal reported downstream of The Plough public house. Boaters are advised not to navigate up Clifton weir stream.
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.
18 May until further notice Benson reach Submerged vessel reported opposite Rush Court Care Home on right side of channel looking upstream. Hazard is marked with navigation buoys. Boaters should navigate with extreme 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.
26 August until further notice Whitchurch Lock Desilting works taking place at Whitchurch Lock, boaters to be aware of delays to navigation whilst works ongoing.
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.
5 March 2026 until further notice Caversham reach Fallen tree obstructing navigation at Poplar Island, what3words///employ.data.waving. All vessels should navigate with extreme caution.
1 June 2026 until further notice Shiplake reach Tree obstruction to navigation on Phillimore Island, right hand side of channel looking upstream. Boaters to navigate with caution. Obstruction marked with navigation buoys.
Monday 5 October 2026, 9am to 4pm Shiplake Lock Due to electrical work at Shiplake Lock there will be no power at the lock during the stated times. Navigation through the lock will be operational on hand-wind only.
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 4.8 metres (15’8). Please use caution when entering and exiting the lock.
Tuesday 22 September until Tuesday 13 October 2026 Boveney Lock Head and Tail works at Boveney Lock to upgrade the hydraulics. The lock will remain navigable, but boaters may experience minor disruption.
9 February 2026 until further notice Bell Weir reach To facilitate Bell Weir refurbishment, contractors will be setting up equipment around Runnymede Pleasure Grounds. Boaters to maintain lookout for ad hoc restrictions and closures to navigation channel and navigate with caution in Bell Weir reach.
Thursday 15 October until Friday 20 November 2026 Sunbury Lock Head and Tail works at Sunbury Lock to upgrade the hydraulics. The lock will remain navigable, but boaters may experience minor disruption.
Thursday 20 August 2026 until further notice Sunbury Lock to Teddington Lock Confirmed presence of blue-green algae bloom between Sunbury Lock and Teddington Lock. Some blue-green algae can produce toxins that may be harmful to people and animals. Skin contact can cause rashes and swallowing the water can cause illness. You can find more information on the risks and the actions you can take via Algal blooms: advice for the public and landowners.
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. Teddington Barge Lock is fully operational.
Wednesday 29 July to Friday 9 October 2026 Teddington Lock To facilitate Teddington Launch Lock refurbishment works, contractors will be assembling equipment at the tail of the barge lock. Boaters may experience delays to navigation through the barge lock of up to 30 minutes during weekdays on the stated dates.
Friday 30 October 2026 8pm Teddington reach Lensbury Firework Event 2026: a significant number of spectator vessels are expected to attend the event. Please see notice for more information.

River closures: updated 29 September 2026

When Where What’s happening
29 September 2026 until further notice Caversham Lock Caversham Lock is closed until further notice for emergency repairs.
Monday 2 November to Friday 20 November 2026 and Monday 30 November to Thursday 17 December 2026 Hambleden Lock Head and Tail works at Hambleden Lock during the stated dates to upgrade the hydraulics. The lock will be open to navigation outside of the above dates.

River restrictions: updated 1 October 2026

When Where What’s happening
Saturday 25 July until further notice St Johns Lock to Osney Lock Drought Restrictions St Johns to Osney 2026: restrictions will be in place between St Johns and Osney Locks from 9:30am on Saturday 25 July. See notice for more details.
Thursday 30 July 2026 until further notice Blakes Lock Blakes Lock Repairs 2026: navigation through the lock is restricted, please see notice for further detail.
Monday 3 August 2026 until further notice Goring Lock to Culham Lock Drought Restrictions Goring to Culham 2026: restrictions will be in place between Goring and Culham Locks during the stated times. See notice for more details.
Monday 3 August 2026 until further notice Penton Hook Lock to Shepperton Lock Drought Restrictions Penton Hook Lock to Shepperton Lock 2026: restrictions will be in place between Shepperton and Penton Hook Locks during the stated times. See notice for more details.
Monday 24 August 2026 until further notice Sunbury and Molesey Locks Drought Restrictions Sunbury and Molesey Locks 2026: restrictions will be in place at Sunbury and Molesey Locks. See notice for more details.
Monday 24 August 2026 until further notice Teddington Lock Drought Restrictions Teddington Lock 2026: restrictions will be in place at Teddington Lock. See notice for more details.
Monday 14 September to Friday 30 October 2026 Culham reach Burford Bridge Abingdon Works 2026: navigation will be restricted under the bridge to a clearance of 3.4 metres.
Monday 14 September to Friday 27 November 2026 Marsh reach Loddon Drive Railway Bridge works 2026: works will consist of repairs to the gas pipe under the bridge. During this time there will be restrictions under the bridge arch.
Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026 Bell Weir Lock Bell Weir Refurbishment Works September 2026: contractors will be assembling a temporary dam in the upstream lock cut, reducing the channel width by approximately 2 metres.
Sunday 4 October 2026 10:15am to 12pm and 1:15pm to 2:30pm Teddington reach Royal Canoe Club Outrigger Hampton Court Challenge 2026: boaters are to maintain a safe speed and lookout between Trowlock Island and Hampton Court Bridge.
Saturday 10 October 2026 8am to 5pm Caversham reach Reading Small Boats Head 2026: Regatta marshals may request non-racing traffic travelling downstream to wait at Mapledurham Lock for a short period of time at the start of each division.
Saturday 10 October 2026 10am to 4pm Teddington reach Royal Canoe Club Paddling Challenge 2026: the navigation channel will be on the Surrey, left side of the river.
Saturday 17 October 2026 9am to 5pm Sunbury reach Weybridge Silver Sculls 2026: the navigation channel will be on the Middlesex, right side of the river, using the old river around Desborough Island.
Sunday 18 October 2026 10am to 3pm Molesey reach Richmond Canoe Club Hasler Race 2026: boaters are to maintain a safe speed and lookout between Garrick’s Ait and Sunbury Lock.
Saturday 24 October 2026 7am to 6pm Chertsey reach Burway Rowing Club Small Boats Head 2026: the navigation channel will be on the Middlesex, right side of the river.

Planned lock closures: updated 1 April 2026

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. To stay updated with any changes to the programme, please subscribe to updates by selecting ‘get emails about this page’.

To receive the first issue of the programme via email, including a list of other major works, subscribe to our email subscriber list. 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.

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