Thames Tidefest will be held on September 4th 2022 and brings a host of free and low cost fun for all the family to enjoy on and around the Thames at Chiswick in London.
There’s lots to do for the family that’s absolutely free, including River dipping, Circus skills and stalls, plus lots to see such as the sailing race, fishing match and the RNLI lifeboat. Full details HERE
The summer is here and it won’t be long before Thames Tidefest is underway once again on September 4th. Book Your tickets NOW before they are all snapped up !
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Paddle Sports
You could try your hand at Kayaking, Canoeing, Sea Kayaking or Stand-Up Paddleboarding..just head over to our booking page for details HERE
Guided Walks & Adventures
From archaeology and history to secret islands and rock legends our selection of guided walks and adventures will fascinate and thrill get your tickets booked NOW on our booking page HERE
River Cruises
Everyone loves a boat trip and our have amazing low prices and brilliant guides and historic boats ! Book NOW on the booking page HERE
FREE events and activities
Some of our activities don’t need to be booked and are absolutely free ! Find out more HERE
The summer is here and it won’t be long before Thames Tidefest is underway once again on September 4th. Book Your tickets NOW before they are all snapped up !
1662282000
days
hours minutes seconds
until
Thames Tidefest
Paddle Sports
You could try your hand at Kayaking, Canoeing, Sea Kayaking or Stand-Up Paddleboarding..just head over to our booking page for details HERE
Guided Walks & Adventures
From archaeology and history to secret islands and rock legends our selection of guided walks and adventures will fascinate and thrill get your tickets booked NOW on our booking page HERE
River Cruises
Everyone loves a boat trip and our have amazing low prices and brilliant guides and historic boats ! Book NOW on the booking page HERE
FREE events and activities
Some of our activities don’t need to be booked and are absolutely free ! Find out more HERE
Thames Tidefest is nearly upon us, so make sure you get down to Strand On The Green on Sunday September 8th and get involved with all the amazing events that are happening. Our programmes have just come back from the printers..so here is a preview of what’s on offer
Andrew Peel from the RSPB will be hosting two inspirational bird watching walks aimed at highlighting the amazing diversity of bird species that can seen in central London thanks, in no little part, to the habitat provided by the Rivers Thames. From electric blue Kingfishers to snowy white Little Egrets, from delicate Goldfinches through to colourful Rose-Ringed Parakeets you are likely to see so many amazing birds on the walk. If possible bring your own binoculars and be ready to learn more in an hour than you did at school !
What’s even more amazing is that the guided walks cost just £2 for adults and £1 for children. So click the link below and book your ticket now !
It’s absolutely Free to come along to Strand On The Green and enjoy the day by the river at Thames Tidefest 2019. There will be music from four different acts throughout the day, a huge variety of stalls, lots of kids activities and above all a chance to enjoy our beautiful river !
Here is a taste of what will be on offer
Foreshore and River Exploration.
Come along and try river dipping with Thames 21. They’ll also be water testing and counting the micro plastics in a sample from the river.
Alongside this will be seine netting supervised by the Institute of Fisheries management to show what is living in the Thames. Their catches will be on display before being released back into the Thames.
Meanwhile on the stalls The Environment Agency and ZSL will have a fish tank displaying live fish from the river.
A whole range of free, family-friendly activities and displays will be available at the Strand-on-the-Green. Marquees on the riverside embankment will host displays, children’s activities and games, stalls run by river and environmental groups. Play the safety game with the PLA or make clay seed bombs to take home with the Thames Water group.
MUSIC !! Duffy and Bird will be hosting an expanded programme of live music featuring at least 4 different bands throughout the day.
FREE Events at Kempton Nature Reserve
Guided Bird & Nature Walks Around Kempton Nature Reserve
Kempton Nature Reserve is a 50 acre wetland site, and used to be an operational reservoir. It is now a site of Special Scientific interest for wetland birds such as gadwall and shoveler. Walk the circular paths and uncover the wildlife gems with local wildlife experts. In spring and summer the reserve’s main lake, meadows, ponds and woodlands comes alive with butterflies and dragonflies. You might see swifts, a common sandpiper, little grebe or if you are lucky a kingfisher or a sparrowhaw. The walks will last 1.5hrs and you will be guided by local experts. Walks will start at 9.30am and 11.30am. To book please email jane.clarke@thameswater.co.uk
Family Nature Trail at Kempton Nature Reserve
find the answers to the wildlife quiz, and use a magnifying glass to uncover wonderful mini-beasts. Follow the circular path through the reserve’s beautiful habitats to find the answers to the nature quiz. The Trial will be open between 1pm and 5pm and admission is free but booking is required. To book please email jane.clarke@thameswater.co.uk
Thames Wildlife Walk with London Wildlife Trust:
Walk the foreshore and surrounding green spaces,hear about the animals that share the river with Londoners. Learn to identify some of the colourful dragonflies and interesting plant species. This wildlife walk will be led by one of the Trust’s dragonfly experts, and will reflect on a variety of plant and animal species that can be regularly seen on the Thames, as well as some of the rarer or secretive ones. Tickets are Free but must be applied for using the link below where you will also find full details.
50 peg Open – £1000 prize money plus pools and trophy
Sunday September 8th. 11.30am to 4.30pm – draw 8.30am
Strand on the Green, Kew Bridge London W4 3RE
We will be fishing three zones; the gravel foreshore downstream of Kew Bridge on the north bank, and below Chiswick road bridge and Barnes railway bridge on the south. In all sections there are large shoals of roach, dace and bream. Waders are essential and wading up to thigh depth is allowed within the confines of your peg. All species can be weighed in except eels.
Join the Gasworks Dock Partnership’s Heritage Cruise on a 2 hour tour to explore the rich industrial and waterways history of London’s River Lea. There will also be an exhibition in the Gasworks Gallery focusing on the River Lea and the Gardens and Cody Dock Cafe will be open as well.
All aboard the Windrush for a magical Thames Cruise !
Take a boat trip along the Thames. The River Thames Society is organising four hour-long boat trips around the Thames Tideway islands, leaving from Kew Pier on the historic Thames launch the “Windrush”. Guided commentary is included.
A guided boat trip and visit to Chiswick Pier and back aboard the Thames Discoverer.
The beauty of the River Thames and the knowledge of Peter Finch..what a great trip !
Join Peter Finch – chairman of the River Thames Society, and an authority on the river, on guided river cruise aboard the magnificent Thames Discoverer. Peter will point out local landmarks throughout the trip.
At Chiswick Pier, you will see and hear about the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, their boat and the equipment they use. The RNLI at Chiswick is a working lifeboat Station. If they have to respond to an emergency on the day, and are not available, then Peter will take you on a short walk to explore the delights of old historic Chiswick. The round trip will last just over an hour and is suitable for all ages.
Come on a visit to this special place on the Thames – Oliver’s island at Strand on the Green – and hear about the long history and its current environmental importance. You will get to this secret island by kayak (provided) with kind permission of the PLA, who own the island, we are able to offer places for a limited number of visitors to this normally ‘out of bounds’ site for a series of archaeologist-led tours by Dr Fiona Haughey.
A 20-minute guided tour of the Museum which helped launch the careers of Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones and many others in the 1960s, followed by an illustrated Walk along the Embankment using archive photos to compare then and now. Participants are then welcome to come back to the museum to peruse the exhibits. This ticket will entitle you to membership and free access to the museum for one year and an Eel Pie Passport
Come and explore the Thames foreshore at Strand-on-the-Green with Lara Maiklem (aka London Mudlark) where you can find evidence of the ancient past right up to the recent present underneath your feet! Uncovered twice a day, the dynamic inter-tidal zone reveals its secrets so come and look for this ‘treasure’ before it erodes away.
Come and discover Brentford’s best kept secret and learn about the importance of this small island on the Thames. Lots Ait is home to John’s Boat Works, the Two-Lipped Door Snail and a thriving community of boat dwellers. It was also a key location for the film ‘The African Queen’. Meet John and a former apprentice from the original boat yard and hear about Lots Ait’s amazing boat building history.
Join us for guided adventure in Deptford Creek for adults and accompanied children ages 9+. Wade in a wild river and experience a different perspective of London history and urban wildlife. Led by our conservationist with 30 years’ experience, we guarantee you some good, clean, muddy fun! The expeditions lasts about two hours. Participants need to be reasonably fit as you will be walking on the bed of a wild river. We provide waders, a waterproof and a walking stick and suggest you wear old clothes. Advance booking is essential.
Time: 10am-12pm
Meeting point: Creekside Discovery Centre, 14 Creekside, Deptford, SE8 4SA
Tickets: £12 adults, £10 seniors/students, £8 children Booking Details: BOOK HERE
Paddlesports
Kayaking and Canoeing with Edge Progressive Paddling
Edge Progressive Paddling are a membership club run by volunteers for the local community who will be organising a set of multi boat paddling sessions on the Thames near Kew Bridge. They have many types of boat and vessels and their qualified and experienced Level 1 and Level 2 coaches will make sure you get the right one for your session! Sessions will last for 45 minutes, catering for both individuals and families. Wear light clothing and old pair of trainers or shoes. Please arrive 15 minutes early to get kitted up with bouyancy aids and paddles.
There’s a dry bag to put your small possessions and we have changing rooms on site.
Venue: Kew Bridge Arch, Strand on the Green.
Times: 10am – 5pm
Ages 7+
Cost: FREE
Bookings. Just turn up on the day !
Stand Up Paddleboarding
SUP specialists Active 360 will be running pre-booked 50 minute supervised sessions at Kew Bridge from 9.30am for those new to paddleboarding, although all those under 18s must be accompanied by an adult. Lots of other events too.
Cost: £8 adults £4 under 18s (with parent)
Foreshore clean-up
9.00 – 10.00am. A £5 Paddle and Pick event including a short SUP lesson
Red Dragon Racing
3/4 people per board races between railway bridge and Kew Bridge for 16 people
Cost: £8
Paddleboard Trips
3 hr Eco tour and lesson 13.15-15.15pm. Chiswick Island and back.
Cost: £40
3 hr SUP trip and lesson 13.15-15.15pm.
Cost £40
2 hr Trip and lesson downriver to Barnes and back 14.00-16.00.
Cost: £30
Building the Thames Garbage Patch
Reusing plastic collected from the Thames for SUP building workshops. Followed by a race with boards made from waste plastic bottles to highlight the scourge of plastic pollution.
‘Through the porthole – the pleasures, perils and pitfalls of houseboat living on the Thames’: a double-bill presentation from Chiswick Pier Trust and the River Thames Society
Over a thousand people live afloat on the Thames between Teddington Lock and the Thames Barrier. To the outsider, these floating villages look like an idyllic and affordable alternative to the over-heated London housing market. Whilst the great views of the river, the sense of community and the closeness of nature are genuine, it’s not always plain sailing. This double bill, presented as part of TideFest 2017, gives a more realistic view of life on the Thames, including the complicated and unregulated process of buying a houseboat.
1:45pm: ‘Life Afloat’ – Film on the Pleasures and Perils of Houseboat-living on the tidal Thames
Life Afloat is a 55 minute film which delves into the stories of house boat residents and challenges the romantic view of life afloat. Residents interviewed for the film include actor Imogen Stubbs, who likens living on a boat to ‘living in a whale or a womb’, and artist Denis Postle who describes the experience as ‘like living inside a cello or a double bass’. The film looks at how tidal life for these communities has changed throughout the decades. Originally a pursuit for bohemians and those with little income, changes have taken place alongside those of London house prices and river-side property development. The film reflects on these changes and the impact it will have on the future of these floating communities.
Registration and refreshments from 1:30pm.
“Houseboat living” on the thames
3:00pm: ‘Buying a Houseboat on the Thames – Understanding the Risks and Pitfalls’ – Talk from Hilary Pereira of the River Thames Society
Buying a houseboat on the Thames is a high-risk venture in an increasingly expensive yet unregulated market. There are many questions to consider and speaker will guide the audience through these, including the differences from buying a flat and provide an illustrated guide to the various pitfalls that can catch out unwary buyers. Hilary has lived afloat for many years, initially on the canals, but, for the last 40 years, on the Thames where she has also brought up two children on board. This is a unique opportunity to hear from an experienced Houseboat resident and owner.
Admission: £3 per event or £5 for both. (no charge for pensioners or under 16s)
Free to Chiswick Pier Trust and River Thames Society members
Hilary Pereira, Houseboat expert.
A Plastic Ocean Film Showing
Plastic Oceans Festival – Two 90 minute environmental films to be shown at the One Over the Ait
There will be a special screening of “A Plastic Ocean” as part of Tidefest 2017. It’s a new adventure documentary that brings to light the consequences of our global disposable lifestyle. An international team go on a mission around the globe to uncover the shocking truth about what is lurking beneath the surface of our seemingly pristine seas.
Come on a visit to this special place on the Thames – Oliver’s island at Strand on the Green – and hear about the long history and its current environmental importance. With kind permission of the PLA, who own the island, we are able to offer places for a limited number of visitors to this normally ‘out of bounds’ site for a series of archaeologist-led tours by Dr Fiona Haughey.
Access to the island is courtesy of the London Kayak Company Ltd whose volunteers will check off each group before they access the kayaks and make sure each member has a lifejacket.
For those aged over 16 only. Please wear trainers or similar and lifejackets will be provided.
Times: 10am, 10.30am, 11am, 11.30am, 12 noon. ( 5 groups of 6 )
Venue: Strand on the Green Sailing Club, under Kew Rail Bridge (between City Barge and Bull’s Head pubs)
Cost: £5 per person
Oliver’s Island
Lots Ait Boatyard Tour – Brentford
Come and discover Brentford’s best kept secret and learn about the importance of this small island on the Thames. Lots Ait is home to John’s Boat Works, the Two-Lipped Door Snail and a thriving community of boat dwellers. It was also a key location for the film ‘The African Queen’. Meet John and a former apprentice from the original boat yard and hear about Lots Ait’s amazing boat building history. View the ‘Back to the Future’ exhibition curated by Wendy Kloos and learn about its historic past and discover the natural environment of this small island and its wild inhabitants with archaeologists Dr Fiona Haughey and Ynys Crowston-Boaler.
Suitable for accompanied children over 12 yrs.
Venue: Meet at Goat Wharf (by the gate on 10mins beforehand) adjacent to 41 High Street, Brentford, TW8 0BB
Times: Tours are at 2pm, 3pm, 4pm and 5pm for groups of up to 20 persons.
Cost: £3 per person
Lot’s Ait Boatyard
TideFest Discounts at London Museum of Water & Steam
London Museum of Water & Steam is home to magnificent collection of steam pumping engines and tells the history of London’s water supply. This great little museum by Kew Bridge is offering a special TideFest package where all kids under 15 yrs get in free of charge and adults receive a special £8.00 rate, instead of £11.50, by quoting Tidefest or presenting a Tidefest programme. The discount is valid on the day or afterwards with a programme.
London Museum of Water & Steam is home to magnificent collection of steam pumping engines.
Lea Navigation Reedbed Boat Tours
Thames21’s “Love the Lea” Programme has been working to improve the River Lea for the last five years, to provide habitats for wildlife and improve the water quality of the river they have been putting in new reedbeds into the Lea Navigation. Join them on board the ‘Alfred Le Roy’ for a relaxed trip on the river with commentary from Thames21 project officers. Advance booking required.
Please wear sensible footwear. Suitable for accompanied children over 8yrs.
Trips will be leaving at 10:30am, 1:00pm
Cost: Free of Charge to first 40 people in the queue
Meeting point: Thames21 Lock Office, Navigation Way Off Gilender Street, Bromley By Bow, E3 3JY
Finishing point Crate Brewery, The white building, Queen’s Yard, Hackney Wick, London E9 5EN
Kayaking and Canoeing with Edge Progressive Paddling
Edge Progressive Paddling are a membership club run by volunteers for the local community who will be organising a set of multi boat paddling sessions on the Thames near Kew Bridge. They have many types of boat and vessels and their qualified and experienced Level 1 and Level 2 coaches will make sure you get the right one for your session! Sessions will last for 45 minutes, catering for both individuals and families. Wear light clothing and old pair of trainers or shoes. Please arrive 15 minutes early to get kitted up with bouyancy aids and paddles.
There’s a dry bag to put your small possessions and we have changing rooms on site.
Venue: Kew Bridge Arch, Strand on the Green.
Times: 10am – 5pm
Age: 7+
Cost: FREE
Bookings. Just turn up on the day !
Hogsmill Nature Reserve
Hogsmill Nature Reserve
Thames water are opening up their Hogsmill Nature Reserve at Surbiton for Tidefest. Come and along and enjoy:
* Bird watching with Surbiton District Bird Watching Society
* Meeting the Environment Trust volunteers from Berrylands Reserve
* Learning glass bee hive with Kingston Beekeeping Association
* Mosaic making with Swallow Mosaics
* Arts and Crafts & Face Painting
* Pond dipping
Venue: Surbiton Lagoon, Lower Marsh Lane KT1 3BW
Timings: 11am -3pm
Cost: FREE
Bookings: No need to book
Community Activities and Stalls at Strand on the Green
A whole range of free, family-friendly activities and displays will be available at the Strand-on-the-Green. Marquees on the riverside embankment will host displays on the Thames Tideway Tunnel, children’s activities and games, stalls run by river and environmental groups. The London Wildlife Trust will be there to talk about the capital’s wildlife and to sign up Dragonfly Detectives as part of an exciting new project to survey the capital’s rivers and ponds. There will be a charity stall run by WaterAid as well as live music, ice creams, refreshments and lots of information to take away.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Times: 10am to 5pm
Thames Water Marquee
Thames Water are organising some fun, interactive, craft activities to help you learn about the biodiversity of the river and why we need to protect it. They will be handing out freebies to help you to save water, energy and money, along with an opportunity to take part in the Network Challenge where you get to design your own water system.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3R
Foreshore Activities – River Dipping and Seine Netting
On the Foreshore at Strand-on-the-Green there will be children’s activities including river dipping, water testing and games designed to explain and increase understanding of what’s going on in the river run by the environmental charity Thames21. Alongside this will be seine netting supervised by ZSL and the Institute of Fisheries management to show you what lives in the Thames. The Environment Agency will have a fish tank displaying live fish from the river.
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Times: River Dipping from 11am. Seine netting 1pm to 4pm
Cost: Free to all but bring your wellies
MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) Time Truck
The new MOLA Time Truck will be parked up next to Kew Bridge and hosting a rolling drop in demonstration of the Thames Water sponsored Cleaning up History education programme. This innovative activity includes hands on education around London’s sewers combined with the thrill of archaeological discovery. There will also be an opportunity to learn more about the Time Truck, MOLA’s ambitious outreach plans, and Thames Water’s education programme.
Venue: Kew Road (west of Kew bridge) W4 3NG
Times: 10am to 5pm
Booking: Just turn up
Cost: FREE OF CHARGE
Local Artists Tent
Steph Curtis-Raleigh will be joined by other local artists to celebrate art and the river. For a third year, there will be a river painting which is free for everyone to contribute to – young or old. The river will ‘flow’ during the day to be unveiled in all its glory at the end of Tidefest.
All visitors will have access to paper, paints, glitter, glue and other goodies to express themselves. We will run a competition and email a voucher to the best drawing of the day. This will allow us to use social media to post pictures of the paintings and to announce the winning one etc
Venue: Strand on the Green Embankment W4 3RE
Music at Tidefest
Duffy and Bird will be playing two sets in the Kew bridge Piazza to entertain visitors.
Their music features Al Bird on guitar and Tricia Duffy on vocals. 2 birds, 1 capo. Unique twists and interpretations of great tunes. Rock, pop, country and a bit of jazz.
12-3pm
Venue: Kew Bridge Piazza
Building the Thames Garbage Patch
Reusing plastic collected from the Thames for SUP building workshops. Followed by a race with boards made from waste plastic bottles to highlight the scourge of plastic pollution.
Cost: Free
Bookings Bookings: via Active 360 website
Contact: 020 3393 5360
Meet ‘Slurper’ the plastic straw monster at Strand on the Green
At Tidefest we all want to see a reduction in single use plastic so as part of the campaign to stop the plastic tide we have linked up with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) and are challenging people to refuse plastic straws and help to persuade businesses to stop handing them out. Check out the last straw challenge at https://www.mcsuk.org/clean-seas/straws
MCS beach clean volunteers find thousands of plastic drinking straws around UK coasts annually, and millions of people have seen film footage of the harm they do to wildlife such as marine turtles.
People can also get involved with The MCS plastic challenge #GOplasticfree
Come along and show your support and have a photo with Slurper to share with your friends.
FREE Events at Kempton Nature Reserve
Thames Wildlife Walk with London Wildlife Trust:
Please wear sensible footwear. Suitable for accompanied children over 8yrs.
