Port of London, Seaport along the Thames in Essex, Kent, and Greater London, United Kingdom
The Port of London is a seaport running along the River Thames from Teddington Lock to the North Sea, crossing through Essex, Kent, and Greater London. It includes both a tidal river section and deep-water docks closer to the river's mouth.
The port dates back to Roman times, when a wooden harbor built in the 1st century made London a key trading point. By the 18th and 19th centuries it was the busiest port in the world, before the growth of larger ships shifted most activity downstream.
The Thames has drawn filmmakers for decades, and many famous scenes have been shot along its banks. Visitors walking along the river today can easily recognize stretches of water that have appeared on screen.
The eastern section of the port, closer to the Thames estuary, is the most active and the easiest to observe for visitors who want to watch port activity. Conditions along the river vary a lot with the tides, so timing a visit around low or high water makes a difference.
The Port of London Authority, the body that manages the port, was founded in 1908 and is based in Gravesend in Kent, outside London itself. Barges are still used today to carry building materials for large city projects, keeping heavy loads off the roads.
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