This guide gathers riverside walks and waterfront parks by river: first the Thames, from Dartford to Gravesend and out to Cliffe, then the Medway, from Rochester down to the estuary at Rainham. Each place has an InKent page with its address and details.
The Thames: Dartford to Cliffe
The Darent Valley Path is a waymarked route that starts on the banks of the Thames at Dartford and passes through Central Park, beside the park’s cafe and visitor centre. Kent Downs National Landscape says it runs for 19 miles between Dartford and Sevenoaks, and Explore Kent gives Dartford as the nearest railway station.
At Greenhithe, part of the former grounds of Ingress Abbey, a Tudor Gothic house built in 1833, is now a park open to the public. Footpaths lead past old stone relics, including a Grade II listed folly known as the Cave of the Seven Heads, then along a boulevard to the Thames. Surfaced riverside paths through Ingress Park give views towards London, with a mosaic of HMS Worcester at the river end. The riverside is part of the King Charles III England Coast Path, which continues east to Swanscombe. No charge is listed and no opening hours are published.
The Swanscombe Peninsula Trail is a 4 mile circular walk from Swanscombe High Street onto the marshes, following the England Coast Path beside the Thames. The peninsula is a Site of Special Scientific Interest on the south bank, opposite Gravesend and Tilbury. Swanscombe station is the nearest railway station. Buglife notes that some unmarked tracks across the peninsula are gated, so keep to the public footpaths. No charge or opening hours are listed.
Gravesend’s Riverside Leisure Area takes in Fort Gardens, Gordon Gardens with its lake, the Gordon Promenade on the river front and the Canal Basin marina. There is a children’s play area by the lake, a privately run cafe on the promenade, and public toilets by the cafe and by New Tavern Fort. National Cycle Route 1 runs along the promenade. Fort Gardens is locked half an hour before sunset. New Tavern Fort and the Chantry Heritage Centre open at weekends from April to September, 12 noon to 5pm, and on bank holiday Mondays.
RSPB Cliffe Pools is a reserve of former industrial lagoons and grassland near Cliffe, with trails looking over the pools and the Thames. Visit Medway lists free entry, and the reserve’s car park is open daily from 10am to 4pm, except over the Christmas period. Dogs are allowed only on the Saxon Shore Way and public footpaths.
Check before you go: car park times, opening hours and path conditions change.
The Medway: Rochester to the estuary
Esplanade Gardens in Rochester are riverside gardens below the castle, with a play area, an outdoor gym and, according to Parks and Gardens UK, the last stretch of the Medway Valley Walk. They are public gardens, and Medway Council does not publish opening hours.
The Knights and Kingfishers Walk is a 4.7 mile circular route from Strood station, along the River Medway and Jane’s Creek, past Temple Manor, then up through Rede Common and Broomhill Park. It is mainly on pavements; paths through Rede Common can be muddy, and there are four flights of steps. Medway Council and the Kent Community Rail Partnership offer the route map as a download.
Sun Pier House on Medway Street, Chatham, is a not-for-profit arts space beside the River Medway, with an exhibition gallery, artist studios and a cafe. Visit Medway says gallery hours vary, so check its website before you go.
The Strand Leisure Park on Pier Road, Gillingham, has riverside walks alongside play parks, crazy golf and a miniature railway. The park is open daily and locked in the evenings, and parking is charged. The Paddle Steamer Medway Queen is berthed at Gillingham Pier on Pier Approach Road and opens on Saturdays until 12 December 2026.
Riverside Country Park in Rainham is a 100-hectare Green Flag coastal park beside the Medway Estuary, with walking and cycling trails, including a Sustrans cycle path, and mudflats, salt marsh, reed beds and ponds for birdwatching. It has a playground, a visitor centre and a cafe. No entry charge is listed and parking is £3.50 a day. It opens daily at 8am and closes at 5pm from November to February.
Check before you go: the Strand’s cafe and railway are seasonal, and the Medway Queen’s 2027 dates are not yet published.
Planning a riverside walk
- Stations: Dartford is the nearest railway station to the Darent Valley Path, Swanscombe to the Peninsula Trail, and the Knights and Kingfishers Walk starts and ends at Strood station.
- Daylight: Fort Gardens is locked half an hour before sunset, Riverside Country Park closes at 5pm from November to February, and the Cliffe Pools car park is open 10am to 4pm.
- Dogs: at Cliffe Pools, dogs are allowed only on the Saxon Shore Way and public footpaths.
Frequently asked questions
Which riverside walks are circular?
The Swanscombe Peninsula Trail is a 4 mile circular walk from Swanscombe High Street, and the Knights and Kingfishers Walk is a 4.7 mile circular route from Strood station. The Darent Valley Path is a linear route of 19 miles, so you need a plan for getting back.
Where can I find a cafe or toilets by the river?
On the Gravesend promenade there is a privately run cafe, with public toilets by the cafe and by New Tavern Fort. Riverside Country Park lists a visitor centre from 9am to 3.45pm and a cafe and toilets from 10am to 4pm. The Strand’s cafe is seasonal, and Sun Pier House has a cafe. At Cliffe Pools the nearest public toilets are in Cliffe and Cooling.
Can I walk from Greenhithe to Swanscombe?
The riverside at Ingress Park is part of the King Charles III England Coast Path, which continues east to Swanscombe, and the Swanscombe Peninsula Trail also follows the coast path. Check the route before you set out, and keep to the public footpaths on the peninsula.