Changes

[[London]]'s location was determined by the presence of a safe crossing-point of the river, and the role of the Thames as a gateway for trade enabled the capital to grow and to become Britain's largest port. Extensive docks were excavated along the Thames to the east of London in the eighteenth and nineteeth centuries. The river also served as a highway for trade until the development of railways in the nineteenth century.

[[London]]'s location was determined by the presence of a safe crossing-point of the river, and the role of the Thames as a gateway for trade enabled the capital to grow and to become Britain's largest port. Extensive docks were excavated along the Thames to the east of London in the eighteenth and nineteeth centuries. The river also served as a highway for trade until the development of railways in the nineteenth century.

The River Thames has also strong associations with the English, later British, Royal Family. Many significant royal homes are or were situated by the river, and monarchs would travel between them by lavishly-decorated barges. These include (west to east) Windsor Castle (still a royal residence), Hampton Court Palace, Richmond Palace, Kew Palace, Whitehall Palace (the [[Palace of Westminster]]), the Tower of London, and Greenwich.

The River Thames also has strong associations with the English, later British, Royal Family. Many significant royal homes are or were situated by the river, and monarchs would travel between them by lavishly-decorated barges. These include (west to east) Windsor Castle (still a royal residence), Hampton Court Palace, Richmond Palace, Kew Palace, Whitehall Palace (the [[Palace of Westminster]]), the Tower of London, and Greenwich.

Commercial river traffic is now largely confined to container traffic using the extensive docks at [[Tilbury]] in [[Essex]]; the docks in [[London]] have been filled in or are used for leisure and housing. Leisure craft form the majority of the boats that ply the river (but this was true a century or more ago: see, for example, the works of [[Jerome K. Jerome]]).

Commercial river traffic is now largely confined to container traffic using the extensive docks at [[Tilbury]] in [[Essex]]; the docks in [[London]] have been filled in or are used for leisure and housing. Leisure craft form the majority of the boats that ply the river (but this was true a century or more ago: see, for example, the works of [[Jerome K. Jerome]]).