River Thames

The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford, Reading, Henley-on-Thames, Windsor, Kingston upon Thames and Richmond.

The river gives its name to several geographical and political entities including the Thames Valley, a region of England centred on the river between Oxford and west London, the Thames Gateway, the area centred around the tidal Thames, and the Thames Estuary to the east of London. The tidal section of the river is covered in more detail under Tideway.

Doctor Who
In the Spring of 2006, an alien space vessel piloted by the Slitheen of the Raxacoricofallapatorian race appeared in the skies over London. Suffering visible engine damage, the smoldering craft lurched downward, passing through Big Ben until finally crashing into the Thames. British officials recovered the vessel and took a single occupant to the mortuary at Albion Hospital.