The River Thames looks mighty and imposing as it flows through London, but at first it is practically just a swamp.
This is what is revealed Ed Prattan adventurer who waded, swam and kayaked more than 200 miles down the river from its source to the sea.
Ed has a history of crazy adventures and has previously travelled 22,000 miles around the world on a unicycle.
Her recent trip down the Thames was followed by hundreds of thousands of people on TikTok, with one of her videos receiving more than 4.2 million views.
Ed began his journey in Gloucestershire, where the river originates. Its starting point, known as Thames Head, has no fixed location, but instead arises from a group of shifting springs near Cirencester and Coates.
Adventurer Ed Pratt (pictured) swam, waded and kayaked more than 200 miles down the River Thames from its source to the sea. His journey was followed by hundreds of thousands of people on TikTok, with one video receiving more than 4.2 million views.
Ed began his journey in Gloucestershire, where the Thames begins. Its starting point, known as Thames Head (above), has no fixed location, but instead arises from a group of moving springs. Image courtesy of Creative Commons License License
Ed rowed around London on his journey, where he passed by the Palace of Westminster and under Tower Bridge.
For the first few days, Ed trudged through muddy, foliage-rich waters while crouching under the arches of small bridges.
On day four, once the water became more passable, Ed picked up his kayak in Cricklade, Wiltshire.
The little boat, which he named ‘Thamesy McThamesface’, served him well for the rest of the voyage.
Ed rowed through Oxford, Reading, Henley, Windsor, Shepperton and Kingston before reaching the bustling London section, where he passed the Palace of Westminster and travelled under Tower Bridge.
Ed rowed past Oxford, Reading, Henley, Windsor, Shepperton and Kingston on his journey. The picture above shows the Thames flowing through Henley-on-Thames
Ed spent most nights camping on the riverbanks or in nearby parking lots, except when strangers invited him inside.
During his journey, Ed capsized twice, came across sunken ships and picked up plastic trash that had washed up in the river.
He spent most nights camping on the riverbanks or in nearby parking lots, except when strangers invited him in.
He spent a night on a Dutch barge and was even invited to stay in the captain’s cabin. HMS Wellingtonwhich is moored in central London, next to Victoria Embankment.
Ed started each day at the exact point where he had left the river the day before.
After 19 days, she arrived at the seafront at Sheerness in Kent, which lies near the mouth of the River Thames where it flows into the Thames Estuary and eventually into the North Sea.
On his journey, Ed capsized twice, came across sunken ships and picked up plastic rubbish that had ended up in the river. The image above shows the town of Windsor from the banks of the Thames.
After 19 days, Ed arrived at the seafront at Sheerness in Kent (above), which lies near the mouth of the River Thames.
In a TikTok video posted at the finish line, Ed described the final leg of his journey as a “beautiful paddle” and felt “relieved” to have reached the end.
The adventurer set out on the journey with the intention of “raising money and raising awareness” for The river trusta charity whose aim is to conserve the rivers of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Ireland. It set a target of donating £10,000 to the charity and managed to raise over £20,000.
In the video, Ed noted that the fundraiser was still open for donations and thanked those who had followed the journey.
