southern Gloucestershire, near the town of Cirencester, in the Cotswolds.[12]

However, Seven Springs near Cheltenham, where the Churn (which feeds into the Thames
near Cricklade) rises, is also sometimes quoted as the Thames' source,[13][14] as this location is
farthest from the mouth, and adds some 14 miles (23 km) to the river's length. At Seven Springs
above the source is a stone with the Latin hexameter inscription "Hic tuus o Tamesine pater
septemgeminus fons", which means "Here, O Father Thames, [is] your sevenfold source".[15]
The springs at Seven Springs flow throughout the year, while those at Thames Head are only
seasonal (a winterbourne). The Thames is the longest river entirely in England. (The longest
river in the United Kingdom, the Severn, flows partly in Wales.) However, as the River Churn,
sourced at Seven Springs, is 14 miles (23 km) longer than the section of the Thames from its
traditional source at Thames Head to the confluence, the overall length of the Thames measured
from Seven Springs, at 229 miles (369 km), is greater than the Severn's length of 220 miles
(350 km). Thus, the "Churn/Thames" river may be regarded as the longest natural river in the
United Kingdom.
The stream from Seven Springs is joined at Coberley by a longer tributary which could further
increase the length of the Thames, with its source in the grounds of the National Star
College at Ullenwood.
The Thames flows through or alongside Ashton Keynes, Cricklade, Lechlade, Oxford, Abingdon-
on-Thames, Wallingford, Goring-on-Thames and Streatley, Pangbourne and Whitchurch-on-
Thames, Reading, Wargrave, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow, Maidenhead, Windsor and Eton, Stai
nes-upon-Thames and Egham, Chertsey, Shepperton, Weybridge, Sunbury-on-Thames, Walton-
on-Thames, Molesey and Thames Ditton. The river was subject to minor redefining and widening
of the main channel around Oxford, Abingdon and Marlow before 1850, since when further cuts
to ease navigation have reduced distances further.
Molesey faces Hampton, and in Greater London the Thames passes Hampton Court
Palace, Surbiton, Kingston upon Thames, Teddington, Twickenham, Richmond (with a famous
view of the Thames from Richmond Hill), Syon
House, Kew, Brentford, Chiswick, Barnes, Hammersmith, Fulham, Putney, Wandsworth, Batters
ea and Chelsea. In central London, the river passes Pimlico and Vauxhall, and then forms one of
the principal axes of the city, from