Major Rivers in the UK

List of Major Rivers in the UK

The rivers in Britain have been major sources of communication and travel since ancient times. The Romans reached what is now London by sailing down the Thames.

Millennium Bridge, The River Thames, London, UK — Millennium Bridge, The River Thames, London

Rivers and a series of canals built to connect some of them were important for transporting goods and raw materials during the Industrial Revolution.

Rivers also acted as borders between people and served as boundaries between geographical and administrative areas.

The two longest rivers in the UK are the River Severn in the south west of England and the River Thames, which flows through the capital. The River Thames is the deepest river in the UK.

Important ports in the UK grew up at the mouth of navigable rivers including Liverpool (The River Mersey), Bristol (The River Severn), Newcastle (The River Tyne) and Glasgow (The River Clyde).

Rivers are an important natural resource and provide a habitat for many animals, birds and plants in the UK.

Rivers in Britain also provide an area for one of the UK's most popular pastimes - fishing as well places to row, punt and kayak.

The River Cherwell in Oxford and the River Cam in Cambridge are famous for their university students punting through the dreaming spires.

St Paul's and The River Thames, London, UK — St Paul's & The River Thames, London

Major Rivers in the UK by Length

	River	Miles	km	Country
1	River Severn	220	354	Wales & England
2	River Thames	215	346	England
3	River Trent	185	297	England
4	River Great Ouse	143	230	England
5	River Wye	135	215	Wales & England
6	River Ure/River Ouse, Yorkshire	129	208	England
7	River Tay	117	188	Scotland
8	River Spey	107	172	Scotland
9	River Clyde	106	172	Scotland
10	River Nene	100	161	England
11	River Tweed	96	155	England & Scotland
12	River Avon, Warwickshire	96	154	England
13	River Eden, Cumbria	90	145	England
14	River Dee, Aberdeenshire	87	140	Scotland
15	River Witham	82	132	England
16	River Teme	81	130	Wales/England
17	River Don, Aberdeenshire	80	129	Scotland
18	River Bann	76	122	Northern Ireland
19	River Ribble	75	120	England
19	River Avon, Bristol	75	120	England
21	River Tyne	73	118	England
22	River Derwent, Yorkshire	72	115	England
23	River Aire	71	114	England
23	River Nith	71	114	Scotland
25	River Tees	70	113	England
25	River Medway	70	113	England
25	River Mersey	70	113	England
28	River Dee, Wales	70	112	Wales/England
28	River Don, South Yorkshire	70	112	England

List of Major Rivers in the UK

Major Rivers in the UK by Length

Map of the Major Rivers in Britain

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