Digital Windlass

Travel the river by the stories on the water.

Digital Windlass brings modern technology and living heritage together to enrich your journey along England's waterways* — the history that shaped each reach, and the practical know-how to travel it well.

*A live build-out — the Medway, the River Wey and the Thames today; more journeys in time.

Choose your adventure

Pick a stretch to begin.

Medway 2 stretches

Thames 5 stretches

Wey 1 stretch

09 / SOON

More waterways

The journey carries on — the Oxford Canal next, then more waterways, days out and attractions along the water.

Oxford Canal · days out · and beyond
Our mission

Free to use, and facts over fiction. We enrich your time along England's waterways with history-led stories, clear navigation for safe and comfortable travel, and the best places to moor up and explore each river's past in more depth. We never sell the history, and we'll always show you where our information comes from and when we last checked it.

Upper RiverTonbridge → Allington · non-tidal
10 locks~19 miles draft 1.2→2.0 m5 kn limit
Events on the RiverMedway, Thames & Wey · Oxford soon

Events on the River

Festivals, heritage days, rallies and talks along the water — and the people and places worth planning a trip around.

Something wrong — or is it your event? Dates move and events get cancelled. If a listing here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we’ll check it. And if you organise an event listed here and would rather it wasn’t, just ask — we’ll take it down. No reason needed. Please write from a contact published on your own site so we can confirm it’s you. Email us about a listing — every message is logged and any fix goes back through our checks.
Details are provided for information only — please confirm with the organiser before travelling. Access varies from person to person and we don’t assess it for you — if getting to or around a venue matters to your plans, check with the organiser first. Digital Windlass isn't responsible for third-party events, and ticket links open the organiser's own site.
Digital Windlass is free to use. We don't take payment for a listing appearing here or for where it ranks — that's an editorial decision. If that ever changes, or a link earns us a fee, we'll say so on the listing itself. Any revenue goes back into the platform.
Water safety

Water safety on the river

More than half of the UK's accidental drownings happen at inland waters — rivers, lakes and reservoirs — not at the coast. The Medway is beautiful, but cold water and currents catch out even strong swimmers, and warm, sunny days are when most incidents happen.

A short, practical summary — in an emergency always call 999. The guidance below is drawn from the RNLI, RLSS UK and RoSPA.

If you fall in: Float to Live

The cold makes you gasp and want to thrash about. Fight that instinct — the first effects pass in under a minute.

  1. Tilt your head back, with your ears in the water.
  2. Relax and try to breathe normally.
  3. Gently move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat — it's fine if your legs sink, everyone floats differently.
  4. Float until your breathing is back under control.
  5. Only then call for help, or swim to safety if you can.

Cold water shock is real — even in a heatwave

Water below 15°C can trigger cold water shock. The seas around the UK average about 12°C, and inland rivers can be colder still, even in summer. It causes an involuntary gasp and a sudden loss of control over your breathing, and can lead to cardiac arrest — even in fit, young, healthy people.

Don't jump or dive in to cool off. If you do swim, enter slowly to let your body acclimatise.

If you see someone in trouble: Phone, Float, Throw

  • Phone — call 999. Inland, ask for the Fire & Rescue Service; at the coast, ask for the Coastguard.
  • Float — tell them to float on their back until help arrives.
  • Throw — throw them something that floats. Don't get into the water yourself.

The Water Safety Code

Stop and ThinkSpot the dangers — cold, depth, currents, and especially locks, weirs and sluices.
Stay TogetherDon't go alone, and keep young children within arm's reach.
FloatIf you fall in, float on your back until your breathing settles.
Call 999In an emergency, call for help straight away.

On these waters in particular

  • Never swim in or near locks, weirs and sluices — undertows and machinery are deadly.
  • The tidal river runs fast and the tidal range is large — check tides and conditions, and follow the harbour authority and RYA guidance.
  • Wear a lifejacket on the water, and don't mix alcohol with boating or swimming.
  • Tell someone your plans, and carry a means of calling for help (a phone in a waterproof pouch).
RNLI — Float to Live
The lifesaving float technique and cold water shockOpen → RLSS UK — Water safety advice
The Water Safety Code and drowning preventionOpen → RoSPA — Water safety
Advice for rivers, lakes, canals and the seaOpen →
This page summarises advice from the RNLI, RLSS UK and RoSPA so you can act fast — it doesn't replace them. For the full guidance, follow the links above. In an emergency, call 999.