The River Thames <<tehmz>> is the most famous and most important river in England. It is also one of the longest rivers in England. The river is about 210 miles (340 kilometers) long. The Thames flows from south-central England to southeastern England, where it empties into the North Sea. The river measures about 5 miles (8 kilometers) wide at its mouth on the North Sea. Part of the Thames serves as a major English trade route.
Several cities and towns lie along the River Thames, including Oxford, Reading, Windsor, London, Tilbury, and Southend-on-Sea. The river winds through the center of London. It passes such famous buildings as the Houses of Parliament and the Tower of London.