Which capital city stands on the River Thames?

Which capital city stands on the River Thames? London. The capital of the United Kingdom stands on the Thames in southeast England.

The river flows west to east through the city before reaching the Thames Estuary and the North Sea. Its navigable, tidal channel helped London develop into a major port, trading centre and political capital. The Roman settlement of Londinium was established near a practical crossing point around the 1st century AD.

The Thames remains one of London’s defining landmarks. It passes famous sites including the Palace of Westminster, the London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe, the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The river is tidal through central London, with the tidal reach extending upstream to Teddington Lock.

A common mix-up is assuming London lies on the Severn, Britain’s longest river. The Severn is longer, but it does not flow through London. Another point of confusion is London Bridge: the bridge and the river are separate landmarks, although the bridge’s location helped the Roman and medieval city grow.