The Thames: Britain's Great River With Tony Robinson
Season 2
The actor and television presenter embarks upon a 200-mile journey from source to sea to discover what makes the Thames one of the greatest rivers in the world.
Where to Watch Season 2
8 Episodes
- D. P. World London Gateway
E2D. P. World London GatewayIn the second episode, Tony explores the river's role as a vital trade artery connecting the country to the outside world, going behind the scenes at London Gateway, the newest and largest container port on the Thames. Later, he visits Whitstable, famous for its oysters that come from the Thames estuary. - New Covent Garden Market
E4New Covent Garden MarketTony watches a tunneling machine being transported up the river into central London, and discovers plans to build a new tunnel under the Thames to take pressure off the crossing at Dartford. He also makes a late-night visit to New Covent Garden Market, and meets a Paralympian in training at Marlow Rowing Club. - Southend Pier
E5Southend PierThe actor and presenter starts his journey heading up the estuary to Southend Pier, where as a young man he'd drive to with friends. But the pier was original conceived in Victorian times to attract day-trippers from London - and tempt them away from nearby Margate. It's now the longest pleasure pier in the world and, as Tony discovers when he lends a hand replacing a girder, it requires a lot of maintenance. - Thames WaterE6
Thames WaterThe actor and presenter starts the latest leg of his journey in Beckton. There he discovers how a new super-sewer is being built to help stop overflow from London's existing system ending up in the Thames. After a hair-rising cage ride down into the tunnel, Tony Robinson meets the engineer in charge of the project who explains how it will work. - Hampton Court PalaceE7
Hampton Court PalaceThe actor and presenter starts his journey in Richmond upon Thames, at Hampton Court Palace. This 1,000-room residence was King Henry VIII's favourite. Tony begins his tour by the Thames right where the loos would have been. It's also where the royals would have arrived by barge, and where merchants from as far away as Venice would have sold their fancy fabrics.
