The river Thames is tidal from the first lock at Teddington all the way through London, past Gravesend and down to the estuary.
The tide casues the water level to rise and fall by around 6 - 7 meters approximately twice every 24 hrs. The actual time of the high and low tide at any point varries daily, as does the height. These times and heights are predicted in advance and these predictions are presented annually on Tide Tables.
However worth considering is that these predictions do not/can not take into account surface run off from heavy rain or the direction and strength of the wind which both affect how the tide reacts day to day.
Some of our vessels are limited by certain tide states
Filming on the River Thames can be most affected by tidal conditions as this 'significant' amount of water moving up and down the river which causes some serious currents and predictable rougher and calmer periods.
When the tide is low the river's less attractive high walls and beaches are revealed and on certain high tides the certain areas along the bank actually flood. Many cars have been completely swamped over the years along the Putney Embankment. I have seen an SLK that has had water lapping around its windows...
The tide also affects the time it takes to move up and down the river. Most boats double their journey time when punching the tide!
The tide adds another element to working on the Thames in London which we will happily assist you in harnessing to your advantage. Please contact us to discuss dates and times.
