Help

Bridge Headways (clearance)

Headway is the gap between the standard water level and the highest point of the underside of the bridge

What the colours mean:
Caution!

Less than 3.7m/12ft

 

Less than 4.25m/14ft

 

More than 4.25m/14ft

Bridge Headways for Tidal Thames:

The clearance shown is at MHWS (Mean High Water Spring) - this is the lowest clearance to be experienced

Note: the PLA (who can advise on current conditions) maintain a listening watch on channel 14)

Bridge Headways for Wey Navigation:

All bridges 1.8m/6ft

Caution!


Close

Bridge Headway (non-tidal, tidal, Wey)
up

Halfpenny Bridge
Headway:
4.73 metres
15 feet 6 ins
 
St John's Bridge
Headway:
4.22 metres
13 feet 10 ins
 
Bloomers Hole Footbridge
Headway:
3.50 metres
11 feet 6 ins
 
Eaton Footbridge
Headway:
2.97 metres
9 feet 9 ins
 
Radcot Bridge
Headway:
3.45 metres
11 feet 4 ins
 
Old Man's Footbridge
Headway:
4.27 metres
14 feet 0 ins
 
Tadpole Bridge
Headway:
4.52 metres
14 feet 10 ins
 
Tenfoot Footbridge
Headway:
3.71 metres
12 feet 2 ins
 
Shifford Lock Cut Bridge
Headway:
3.66 metres
12 feet 0 ins
 
Newbridge
Headway:
3.50 metres
11 feet 6 ins
 
Hart's Footbridge
Headway:
3.27 metres
10 feet 9 ins
 
Swinford Bridge
Headway:
4.49 metres
14 feet 9 ins
 
Oxford Western-by-pass Bridge
Headway:
4.11 metres
13 feet 6 ins
 
Godstow Bridge
Headway:
2.56 metres
8 feet 5 ins
 
Medley Footbridge
Headway:
3.05 metres
10 feet 1 ins
 
Osney Bridge
Headway:
2.28 metres
7 feet 6 ins
 
Osney Railway Bridge
Headway:
3.55 metres
11 feet 8 ins
 
Road Bridge
Headway:
3.71 metres
12 feet 2 ins
 
Grandpont Bridge
Headway:
3.91 metres
12 feet 10 ins
 
Folly Bridge
Headway:
3.12 metres
10 feet 3 ins
 
Donnington Bridge
Headway:
5.03 metres
16 feet 6 ins
 
Isis Bridge
Headway:
5.03 metres
16 feet 6 ins
 
Kennington Railway Bridge
Headway:
4.11 metres
13 feet 6 ins
 
Nuneham Railway Bridge
Headway:
4.80 metres
15 feet 9 ins
 
Abingdon Bridge
Headway:
4.24 metres
13 feet 11 ins
 
Culham Lock Cut Bridge
Headway:
3.78 metres
12 feet 5 ins
 
Culham Road Bridge
Headway:
4.49 metres
14 feet 9 ins
 
Appleford Railway Bridge
Headway:
3.96 metres
13 feet 0 ins
 
Clifton Hampden Bridge
Headway:
4.09 metres
13 feet 5 ins
 
Day's Footbridge
Headway:
4.64 metres
15 feet 3 ins
 
Shillingford Bridge
Headway:
5.26 metres
17 feet 3 ins
 
Wallingford Bridge
Headway:
5.00 metres
16 feet 5 ins
 
Wallingford By-pass Bridge
Headway:
5.10 metres
16 feet 9 ins
 
Moulsford Railway Bridge
Headway:
6.60 metres
21 feet 8 ins
 
Goring Bridge
Headway:
5.15 metres
16 feet 11 ins
 
Gatehampton Railway Bridge
Headway:
6.96 metres
22 feet 10 ins
 
Whitchurch Bridge
Headway:
4.14 metres
13 feet 7 ins
 
Caversham Bridge
Headway:
4.57 metres
15 feet 0 ins
 
Christchurch Bridge
Headway:
4.57 metres
15 feet 0 ins
 
Reading Bridge
Headway:
5.38 metres
17 feet 8 ins
 
Sonning Bridge
Headway:
4.32 metres
14 feet 2 ins
 
Shiplake Railway Bridge
Headway:
5.43 metres
17 feet 10 ins
 
Henley Bridge
Headway:
4.34 metres
14 feet 3 ins
 
Hurley Upper Towpath Bridge
Headway:
3.98 metres
13 feet 1 ins
 
Hurley Lower Towpath Bridge
Headway:
4.39 metres
14 feet 5 ins
 
Temple Bridge
Headway:
6.26 metres
20 feet 6 ins
 
Marlow Bridge
Headway:
3.86 metres
12 feet 8 ins
 
Marlow Bypass Bridge
Headway:
6.02 metres
19 feet 9 ins
 
Bourne End Railway Bridge
Headway:
4.72 metres
15 feet 6 ins
 
Cookham Bridge
Headway:
4.62 metres
15 feet 2 ins
 
Cookham Lock Cut Bridge
Headway:
3.81 metres
12 feet 6 ins
 
Boulters Lock Bridge
Headway:
5.26 metres
17 feet 3 ins
 
Maidenhead Bridge
Headway:
5.66 metres
18 feet 7 ins
 
Maidenhead Railway Bridge
Headway:
9.80 metres
32 feet 2 ins
 
M4 Motorway Bridge
Headway:
7.77 metres
25 feet 6 ins
 
Summerleaze Bridge
Headway:
7.30 metres
24 feet 0 ins
 
Windsor Bypass Bridge
Headway:
6.25 metres
20 feet 6 ins
 
Windsor Railway Bridge
Headway:
5.41 metres
17 feet 9 ins
 
Windsor Bridge
Headway:
4.01 metres
13 feet 2 ins
 
Black Pott's Railway Bridge
Headway:
5.94 metres
19 feet 6 ins
 
Victoria Bridge
Headway:
6.17 metres
20 feet 3 ins
 
Albert Bridge
Headway:
5.69 metres
18 feet 8 ins
 
Old Windsor Lock Cut Bridge
Headway:
4.34 metres
14 feet 3 ins
 
Runnymede (M25) Bridge
Headway:
7.01 metres
23 feet 0 ins
 
Staines Bridge
Headway:
5.94 metres
19 feet 6 ins
 
Staines Railway Bridge
Headway:
6.40 metres
21 feet 0 ins
 
M3 Motorway Bridge
Headway:
6.50 metres
21 feet 4 ins
 
Chertsey Bridge
Headway:
5.82 metres
19 feet 1 ins
 
Desborough Channel Upper Bridge
Headway:
5.18 metres
17 feet 0 ins
 
Desborough Channel Lower Bridge
Headway:
5.18 metres
17 feet 0 ins
 
Walton Bridge
Headway:
5.56 metres
18 feet 3 ins
 
Sunbury Lock Cut Bridge
Headway:
5.94metres
19 feet 6 ins
 
Hampton Court Bridge
Headway:
5.92 metres
19 feet 5 ins
 
Kingston Bridge
Headway:
7.29 metres
23 feet 11 ins
 
Kingston Railway Bridge
Headway:
6.81 metres
22 feet 4 ins
 
Teddington Lock Cut Bridge
Headway:
5.58 metres
18 feet 4 ins
 

Tower Bridge Navigation

There is heavy congestion at all states of the tide near Tower Bridge, including large tugs and tows as well as passenger vessels operating between London Bridge, City, Tower, and St Katharine’s piers.

In the summer, this congestion increases as private cruisers and yachts enter or exit St Katharine’s Haven lock. This lock is operational for two hours either side of High Water.

You should navigate this area with extreme care using No. 1 (North) Arch of Tower Bridge inward bound if the way is clear to navigate. Outward bound, smaller vessels should use No. 3 (South) Arch Tower Bridge.

During the summer, large cruise ships are active in the Upper Pool. These vessels may be manoeuvring on or off Tower Bridge Upper Tier moorings (HMS Belfast) or George’s Stairs Tier. Large vessels passing from the east of Tower Bridge always approach slowly to allow the bridge to lift. They could be either bow or stern first depending on the tide. A Harbour Master’s launch, call sign “THAMES PATROL”, will be controlling traffic in these situations. You must contact “THAMES PATROL” on VHF Channel 14 if you wish to pass this area at these times. Large vessels may turn in the river above Tower Bridge when the tide is flooding in order to berth alongside HMS Belfast. This is likely to restrict the ability of smaller vessels to pass.


Close popup

Thames Bridges - Lights and Shapes

An arch closed to navigation:

An arch closed to navigation is indicated by three red discs (or 3 red lights at night) forming the points of an upside-down triangle –you must not proceed through an arch which is closed to navigation.

Bale of Straw or White Light:

A bale of straw suspended in the centre of the arch by day or a single white light by night – indicates that this arch has reduced head room.

White Special Signal Light :

White special signal light (Very Quick Flash or Isophase White 4 seconds) – indicate large vessels approaching or using the arch. You should not impede the passage of vessels transiting these arches.

Two Amber Lights Side-by-Side:

Two amber lights side by side (day or night) - indicates a main working arch usually lying within the authorised channel and ordinarily used by commercial vessels. The absence of such lights in an arch does not mean that the arch cannot be used. These non lit arches are also available for navigation by vessels of suitable draft and air draft relative to the height of tide provided it does not compromise your vessel’s safety.


Close popup

 Bridge clearances for the Tidal Thames

 (navigational arch at MHWS (Mean High Water Spring)

Tap for Tidal River bridge navigation signs
Snapper
Headway:
2.90 metres
9 feet 6 ins
 
Richmond
Headway:
5.50 metres
18 feet 0 ins
 
Richmond Rail
Headway:
5.50 metres
18 feet 0 ins
 
Twickenham
Headway:
6.10 metres
20 feet 0 ins
 
Richmond Footbridge
Headway:
5.70 metres
18 feet 8 ins
 
Lots Alt Footbridge
Headway:
3.90 metres
12 feet 9 ins
 
Kew
Headway:
5.20 metres
17 feet 0 ins
 
Kew Railway Bridge
Headway:
5.50 metres
18 feet 0 ins
 
Chiswick
Headway:
6.60 metres
21 feet 8 ins
 
Barnes Railway Bridge
Headway:
5.40 metres
17 feet 8 ins
 
Hammersmith (South)
Headway:
3.50 metres
11 feet 6 ins
 
Putney
Headway:
5.20 metres
17 feet 0 ins
 
Fulham Railway Bridge
Headway:
6.60 metres
21 feet 8 ins
 
Wandsworth
Headway:
5.70 metres
18 feet 8 ins
 
Battersea Railway Bridge
Headway:
5.40 metres
17 feet 9 ins
 
Battersea
Headway:
5.40 metres
17 feet 9 ins
 
Albert
Headway:
5.20 metres
17 feet 0 ins
 
Chelsea
Headway:
6.40 metres
21 feet 0 ins
 
Victoria Railway Bridge
Headway:
5.90 metres
19 feet 4 ins
 
Vauxhall
Headway:
5.60 metres
18 feet 4 ins
 
Lambeth
Headway:
6.30 metres
20 feet 8 ins
 
Westminster
Headway:
5.30 metres
17 feet 5 ins
 
Charing Cross Railway Bridge
Headway:
6.90 metres
22 feet 8 ins
 
Waterloo
Headway:
8.50 metres
27 feet 11 ins
 
Blackfriars
Headway:
6.90 metres
22 feet 8 ins
 
Blackfriars Railway bridge
Headway:
6.90 metres
22 feet 8 ins
 
Millennium Foot
Headway:
8.80 metres
28 feet 10 ins
 
Southwark
Headway:
7.20 metres
23 feet 7 ins
 
Cannon Street Railway Bridge
Headway:
7.10 metres
23 feet 4 ins
 
London Bridge
Headway:
8.60 metres
28 feet 3 ins
 
Tower
Headway:
8.50 metres
27 feet 11 ins
 
Tap for Rules
QE2
Headway:
53.90 metres
176 feet 10 ins
 
London Cable Car
Headway:
60.40 metres
198 feet 2 ins
 

Wey Navigation
Headway:
All Wey bridges:
1.8 metres
6 feet