Thames Day

An exciting day of family activities, Thames Day celebrates World Rivers Day and the significance of the river Thames to the nation's capital city.

Taking place on the riverside in the City of London, Thames Day will celebrate World Rivers day with a free programme of activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Your little ones can unleash their creativity by building a wooden boat with the fabulous team at Woodland Tribe. Enjoy live music from London All Star Steel Band and the brilliantly fun Cod Choir walkabout act while tucking into some delicious food and exploring the Thames Lens photography exhibition. There will even be a face painter!

Come down and learn about the riverways from organisations and charities including The Ahoy Centre and the Port of London Authority, who will be showcasing the incredible work they do.

Don’t miss your chance to see the Blue Mermaid sail along the Thames, a faithful replica of the original Blue Mermaid, one of the last Thames sailing barges built in 1930 but lost during the war.

River organisations and charities that will be at Thames Day 2024 include The Ahoy Centre, Museum of London, Thames 21, Port of London Authority, Thames Estuary.

• Date: 22 September 2024
• Time: 12 to 4pm
• No booking required. Event is free for all.

Getting Here

• By tube: The nearest tube station is Monument (District & Circle line trains). Exit via Fish Street Hill, the event is a 5-minute walk from here. See route here. 
• By bus: Bus stops 49 (on Lower Thames Street), Q & P (on London Bridge) are the nearest bus stops to the event site. The following bus routes service these stops 786, 788, 789, 17, 21, 35, 43, 47, 133, 141, 149, 344, 388, N21, N133, N199. 
• By car: Parking options consist of a Just Park car park located next to the event site, 1-minute walk from the event (Mangus House, Lower Thames St, London EC3R 6HD). NPC car park, 5-minute walk from the event (Bell Wharf Ln, London EC4R 3TB). There are motorcycle bays, 3-minute walk from the event (Werna House, 31 Monument St, London EC3R 8BT). 
• Step free access: The closest step-free accessible tube station is Cannon Street (District & Circle line, Thames link and National Rail trains). Exit via Dowgate Hill exit. See the step free route here. The site itself is both paving and grass. A wheelchair ramp will be provided to ensure access. If there is wet weather, there will be limited access on the grass for wheelchair users. The site itself has an accessible toilet and baby change. 

What else is happening on Thames Day?

• You can also sign up for a trip on the Thames Sailing Barge Will, a historic wooden sailing barge. Advance booking required and tickets cost £25.
• Participate in a foreshore clean up on the banks of the Thames. Advance booking required.

Thames Day is produced in partnership with Destination City, a City of London Corporation programme, as part of Totally Thames.