Bermondsey foreshore
Photo by N. Cohen

When the tide is out, the Thames is the longest open – air archaeological site in London, and much of the foreshore is freely accessible to the public. However, many of the exposed archaeological sites are often unrecognised and unprotected, and almost all are vulnerable to the twice – daily scouring of the tidal river, and thus require close monitoring.

Who We Are

Building on initiatives pioneered by the Museum of London’s Thames Archaeological Survey that took place from 1993 – 1999, and the Thames Explorer Trust’s innovative education projects, the Thames Discovery Programme aims to communicate an understanding and informed enjoyment of the historic Thames to the widest possible audience. This ambitious project is hosted by the Thames Estuary Partnership, in the UCL Environment Institute, and the Thames Explorer Trust with generous support from Heritage Lottery Funding. Other partners include the Museum of London, English Heritage and the UCL Institute of Archaeology.

Getting Involved

The archaeologists from the programme are surveying 20 archaeological sites along the tidal Thames. This is supported by the work of the Foreshore Recording and Observation Groups, who monitor the surveyed sites for changes, as the daily tides scour away the remaining archaeological features. The FROG is made up of volunteer members of the public, who have been trained in foreshore recording techniques and health and safety by the project.

Public Events

We run a regular programme of activities for anyone interested in the archaeology and history of the river Thames, anyone that wants to find out more about undertaking historical research, join in with our public events or just want to discover more about the Thames Discovery Programme.