River Thames to the strong current of the river, but also other river users. Organised swimming events take place at various points generally upstream of Hampton Court, including Windsor, Marlow and Henley. In 2011 comedian David Walliams swam the from Lechlade to Westminster Bridge and raised over £1 million for charity. In non-tidal stretches swimming was, and still is, a leisure and fitness activity among experienced swimmers where safe, deeper outer channels are used in times of low stream. A Thames meander is a long-distance journey over all or part of the Thames by running, swimming or using any of the above
Locks and weirs on the River Thames for catching eels. Additionally, Blake's Lock is located on a reach of the River Kennet that is administered by the Environment Agency as part of the River Thames, and is often counted as a Thames Lock. It is the only manual Thames lock below Oxford. The tide flows as far as Teddington Lock: the weir at Richmond Lock is only used at low tide, to maintain the water level above it. Chalmore Lock (1838) was removed in 1883. Locks and weirs on the River Thames The English River Thames is navigable from Cricklade (for small boats) or Lechlade (for larger