The Thames Festival

In 2013, the Mayor’s Thames Festival undergoes an exciting transformation – it is extending from a concentrated weekend of riverside animations to a season of bespoke events that spans ten days and, over the years to come, it will be initiating and programming more and more activities both upriver and downriver from the area it has historically occupied between Westminster Bridge and Tower Bridge.

There will be an evolution to its character too, as the festival goes back to source and becomes more focused on events inspired by the Thames and water-related issues. Launching modestly in 2013, and growing in stature thereafter, the festival aspires to feature extraordinary new creative commissions, amazing river events, incentives to get people on to the river, and many new activities to connect, involve and inspire people with London’s greatest natural asset.

- Adrian Evans, Festival Director

Please sign up to our mailing list and follow us on Facebook/Twitter to receive regular Festival updates throughout the year.

Images from this year’s festival

  • Homage to Rio streamers. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Zandra Rhodes, Deputy Mayor Victoria Borwick, Simon Hughes MP and festival director Adrian Evans. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Kids’ Choir performs with the Junk Orchestra. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Circolombia performing in The Scoop at More London. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • One Thousand Pans. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Godiva performers in the Night Carnival. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Homage to Rio Stage. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Stallholder in the Festival Market. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Shishi-Odori dancers perform in the Night Carnival. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Festival Audience. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Performers in XX Scharnhorst on HMS Belfast. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Zumba sessions in The Scoop at More London. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • London School of Samba performing at Homage to Rio. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Where the Wild Words Are. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Performers in the Night Carnival. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • One Thousand Pans. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Scrabble Sunday in the Sunken Garden. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Festival goers enjoying the Thames beach. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Burnt Out Punks. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Classic boats at St Katharine Docks. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • London School of Samba performing at Homage to Rio. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Circolombia performing in The Scoop at More London. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Lost and Sound. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Rivers of the World art installation in front of Tower Bridge. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Zumba sessions in The Scoop at More London. Photo by Barry Lewis.

  • Homage to Rio performers. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Festival Audience. Photo by Steve Stills.

  • Performers in the Night Carnival. Photo by Barry Lewis.

Photos and videos from 2012

Some feedback from our lovely audience:

‘Sometimes I really love living in London. Another magical and completely free Thames Festival has come and gone, it does make you very proud’

‘THAMES FESTIVAL IS AMAZING, loving life’

‘From my house I can hear the roar in the stadium and the fireworks from Thames Festival. This is a night of celebration!’

‘A fantastic time over the two days of the festival - such a beautiful, peaceful event. London well deserved a treat, thank you loads’