Thames Barrier
The 520m line of ten steel gates across the Thames at Woolwich, London's flood defence since the early 1980s and a striking piece of engineering to see from the Thames Path.
- Landmark
- Price: Free
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Did you know
The barrier has been closed 221 times for flood defence since it began operating in 1982, a count reported in 2025 and again in July 2026.
Local tip
The Thames Barrier Information Centre is open only on Saturdays from 4 April to 31 October 2026 (10.30am to 3.30pm) and charges admission. The outside toilets and car parks stay open daily from 9am to 5pm, and the gates can be seen for free from the riverside.
Finding it
- Address
- 1 Unit Way, Woolwich, London SE18 5NJ
- Nearest station
- Woolwich Dockyard (National Rail), 1039 m away
Details change, so check with the place before you set off.
More places nearby
- Thames Barrier ParkA 7-hectare postmodern riverside park in Silvertown beside the Thames Barrier, with dancing water fountains and adventurous planting.
- Woolwich FerryA free vehicle and pedestrian ferry across the Thames between Woolwich and North Woolwich, and a rare chance to cross the river by boat without paying.
- MaandeeqA Somali and Tanzanian restaurant on Anglesea Road in Woolwich serving beef suqaar, chipsi maya (chips mixed with egg) and big sharing platters of meat with rice, pasta or ugali.
- The CauseA multi-room, warehouse-style club in Canning Town's Royal Docks known for emerging electronic-music line-ups, bank holiday day parties and what Time Out calls a bit of an illegal-rave vibe.