ooks, canals and rivers, within an area of 3,842 square miles (9,951 

km2),[18] combine to form 38
main tributaries feeding the Thames between its source and Teddington Lock. This is the
usual tidal limit; however, high spring tides can raise the head water level in the reach above
Teddington and can occasionally reverse the river flow for a short time. In these circumstances,
tidal effects can be observed upstream to the next lock beside Molesey weir,[18] which is visible
from the towpath and bridge beside Hampton Court Palace. Before Teddington Lock was built in
1810–12, the river was tidal at peak spring tides as far as Staines upon Thames.
In descending order, non-related tributaries of the non-tidal Thames, with river status, are
the Churn, Leach, Cole, Ray, Coln, Windrush, Evenlode, Cherwell, Ock, Thame, Pang, Kennet, L
oddon, Colne, Wey and Mole. In addition, there are occasional backwaters and artificial cuts that
form islands, distributaries (most numerous in the case of the Colne), and man-made
distributaries such as the Longford River. Three canals intersect this stretch: the Oxford
Canal, Kennet and Avon Canal and Wey Navigation.
Its longest artificial secondary channel (cut), the Jubilee River, was built between Maidenhead
and Windsor for flood relief and completed in 2002.[19][20]
The non-tidal section of the river is managed by the Environment Agency, which is responsible
for managing the flow of water to help prevent and mitigate flooding, and providing for navigation:
the volume and speed of water downstream is managed by adjusting the sluices at each of the
weirs and, at peak high water, levels are generally dissipated over preferred flood plains adjacent
to the river. Occasionally, flooding of inhabited areas is unavoidable and the agency issues flood
warnings. Due to stiff penalties applicable on the non-tidal river, which is a drinking water source
before treatment, sanitary sewer overflow from the many sewage treatment plants covering the
upper Thames basin should be rare in the non-tidal Thames. However, storm sewage overflows
are still common in almost all the main tributaries of the thames [21][22] despite claims by Thames
Water to the contrary.[23]
The tidal section[edit]
Main article: Tideway

London Stone at Staines, built in 1285 marked the customs limit of the Thames and the City of London's
jurisdiction

Waterstand of Thames at low tide (left) and high tide (right) in comparison at Blackfriars Bridge in London
Below Teddington Lock (about 55 miles or 89 kilometres upstream of the Thames Estuary), the
river is subject to tidal activity from the North Sea. Before the lock was installed, the river was
tidal as far as Staines, about 16 miles (26 km) upstream.[24] London, capital of Roman Britain, was
established on two hills, now known as Cornhill and Ludgate Hill. These provided a firm base for
a trading centre at the lowest possible point on the Thames. [25]
A river crossing was built at the site of London Bridge. London Bridge is now used as the basis
for published tide tables giving the times of high tide. High tide reaches Putney about 30 minutes
later than London Bridge, and Teddington about an hour later. The tidal stretch of the river is
known as "the Tideway". Tide tables are published by the Port of London Authority and are
available online. Times of high and low tides are also posted on Twitter.