Desborough Island, River island in Surrey, England
Desborough Island is an artificial island on the Thames, located south of Walton-on-Thames between the main river channel and the Desborough Cut. The land consists of open grassland, sports grounds, and water treatment facilities.
The island came into existence in the 1930s when the Thames Conservancy dug the Desborough Cut to improve navigation and reduce the risk of flooding. The new channel separated a section of land from the riverbank, forming the island as it exists today.
Desborough Island served as the filming location for Culture Club's 1983 music video for Karma Chameleon, standing in for an American river setting. Visitors walking along the water today are unlikely to guess that this quiet stretch of the Thames once appeared on television screens around the world.
Two bridges from Walton Lane connect to the island, giving access to the grasslands, sports areas, and conservation zones. Some parts may be closed or restricted at certain times, so it is worth checking ahead before making the trip.
The Desborough Cut shortened the original course of the Thames by about three-quarters of a mile, and the island was essentially a byproduct of that engineering work. This means the land was never planned as an island but simply appeared as the river was rerouted.
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