List of main rivers of England facts for kids
England is a country with many amazing rivers! This article will take you on a journey to discover the main rivers that flow across England. We'll explore where they start and where they end up, whether it's the Irish Sea, the English Channel, or the North Sea. Get ready to learn about the waterways that shape England's landscape!
Contents
Rivers Flowing into the Irish Sea
This section covers all the rivers in England that empty into the Irish Sea. This includes rivers from the border with Scotland all the way down to the border with Wales.
Rivers of the Cumbrian Coast
These rivers flow into the Solway Firth, the Irish Sea, and Morecambe Bay. They are found along the coast of Cumbria and northern Lancashire.
Flowing into the Solway Firth
River Esk Area The lower parts of the River Esk are in England. However, most of this river is in Scotland. A small section even forms part of the border between England and Scotland.
River Eden Area
River Wampool Area
Flowing into the Irish Sea (Cumbria)
River Derwent Area
River Ehen Area
River Calder Area
- River Calder
Cumbrian Esk Area
River Duddon Area
Flowing into Morecambe Bay
River Leven Area
River Kent Area
Rivers of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coast
These rivers flow into the Irish Sea from Silverdale in Lancashire down to the Dee Estuary.
River Keer Area
River Lune Area
River Alt Area
River Mersey Area
River Dee Area The River Dee mostly starts in Wales. Even though a part of it flows through England, it goes back into Wales before reaching the Irish Sea. We only list the parts of the Dee and its smaller rivers (tributaries) that are in England.
Rivers Flowing into the Bristol Channel and Southwest Approaches
This section lists rivers that enter the Bristol Channel and the sea off the northern coasts of Devon and Cornwall. This area is sometimes called the Southwest Approaches or Celtic Sea.
Rivers Severn and Wye
The lower part of the River Wye forms the border between England and Wales. We only list the parts of the Wye and its tributaries that are in England.
The River Severn is a very important river. This section includes all the smaller rivers that join the Severn and are found completely or partly in England.
- River Severn (also called Afon Hafren)
Rivers of the Bristol Channel
These are English rivers that flow into the Severn Estuary and the Bristol Channel. They are found from the Severn Bridge south and west to Morte Point in North Devon.
Bristol Avon Area
River Axe Area
River Brue Area
River Parrett Area
River Lyn Area
Heddon, Umber & Wilder Areas
- River Heddon
- River Umber
- Wilder Brook
Rivers of the Atlantic Coast of Devon and North Cornwall
These rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean between Morte Point in North Devon and Land's End in Cornwall.
River Taw Area
River Torridge Area
River Camel Area
Rivers Flowing into the English Channel
This section includes all the rivers that flow into the sea along England's south coast.
Rivers of the South Coast of Cornwall and Devon
These rivers flow into the Atlantic Ocean between Land's End, Cornwall and Lyme Regis on the border of Devon and Dorset.
Helford River Area
Restronguet Creek Area
River Fal Area
St Austell River Area
River Par Area
- River Par
River Fowey Area
River Looe Area
River Tamar Area
River Plym Area
Erme & Avon Rivers Area
- River Erme
- River Avon
- The Gara (flows into Slapton Ley)
River Dart Area
River Teign Area
River Exe Area
River Otter Area
River Sid Area
River Axe Area
Rivers of the Coast of Dorset and Hampshire
These rivers flow into the English Channel between Lyme Regis and Hayling Island. This list does not include rivers on the Isle of Wight.
River Brit Area
- River Brit (or Britt)
River Frome Area
River Piddle Area
- River Piddle (also known as River Trent)
- River Sherford (flows into Lytchett Bay)
Dorset Stour Area
Hampshire Avon Area
- River Avon (also known as the Salisbury Avon)
River Test Area
River Itchen Area
Rivers of the Isle of Wight
These are all the rivers found on the Isle of Wight. They are listed starting from Cowes and moving around the island.
River Medina Area
- River Medina
- Gurnard Luck
Newtown River Area
Western Yar Area
- Western Yar (near Yarmouth)
Eastern Yar Area
Wootton Creek Area
- Wootton Creek
- Palmer's Brook
Rivers of the South East England Coast
These rivers flow into the English Channel and the Strait of Dover between Hayling Island and Foreness Point in Kent. This includes the coasts of Sussex and the south and east coasts of Kent.
River Arun Area
River Adur Area
River Ouse Area
River Cuckmere Area
Pevensey Haven Area
- Pevensey Haven
Wallers Haven Area
- Waller's Haven
Combe Haven Area
River Rother Area
River Dour Area
River Stour Area
Rivers Flowing into the North Sea
This section includes all the rivers along England's east coast.
Thames Estuary Rivers
These rivers flow into the Thames and Medway and their estuaries. This covers the coast of Kent west of Foreness Point and the south coast of Essex.
River Medway Area
- River Medway (shares the Thames estuary)
River Thames Area
- River Thames (in Oxford, the Thames is also known as the River Isis)
- River Darent
- Lea or Lee
- River Ravensbourne (its tidal part is known as Deptford Creek)
- Walbrook (flows underground)
- River Fleet (flows underground, also known as the Holbourne)
- River Tyburn (flows underground)
- River Wey
East Anglian Coast Rivers
These rivers flow into the North Sea along the coast of East Anglia. This includes parts of Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk up to King's Lynn.
River Crouch Area
River Blackwater Area
- River Blackwater (known as River Pant further upstream)
River Colne Area
River Stour Area
River Orwell Area
- River Orwell (known as River Gipping before its tidal part)
River Yare Area
River Great Ouse Area
Lincolnshire Coast and The Wash Rivers
These rivers flow into The Wash and the North Sea between King's Lynn and Cleethorpes.
River Nene Area
River Welland Area
The Haven Area
Steeping River Area
Saltfleet Area
- Saltfleet Haven
Grainthorpe Area
- Grainthorpe Haven
Tetney Haven Area
- Tetney Haven
Humber Estuary Rivers
This section includes all rivers that flow into the Humber. The Humber is an estuary formed where the Rivers Ouse and Trent meet.
River Ancholme Area
River Trent Area
Yorkshire Ouse Area
- River Ouse (it's called the River Ure further upstream)
River Hull Area
Sands Drain Area
- Sands Drain
Yorkshire Coast Rivers
These rivers flow into the North Sea between Spurn Point and Redcar, Cleveland. This covers the entire North Sea coast of the historic county of Yorkshire.
Barmston Main Drain Area
- Barmston Main Drain
Yorkshire Esk Area
Skelton Beck Area
- Skelton Beck
North East England Rivers
These rivers flow into the North Sea from Redcar north to the Scottish border. This includes rivers in County Durham and Northumberland.
River Tees Area
River Wear Area
River Tyne Area
River Blyth Area
River Wansbeck Area
River Lyne Area
- River Lyne
River Coquet Area
River Aln Area
River Tweed Area The River Tweed forms part of the border with Scotland. Only parts of the Tweed that are in England are listed here.
