Thames Valley

The Thames Valley is a geographical and political area in South East England around the River Thames west of London. Most definitions include Berkshire and Oxfordshire, and the area can also include Buckinghamshire and Swindon. The Thames Valley Police provides policing for Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. As of 2026, Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Swindon are proposing to form a Thames Valley mayoral strategic authority. The area is an important tourist destination and economic hub. The south of the region is on the M4 corridor and the Great Western Main Line linking London and the West, and is close to Heathrow Airport. The north has Oxford University and Oxford Brookes University. The Thames Valley is a national character area defined by Natural England. The character area covers southeast Berkshire, northern Surrey and parts of London. The physical geography of the rest of the region is defined by the Chiltern Hills and the Upper Thames Vale around Oxford.