This is a list of rivers of England, organised geographically and taken anti-clockwise around the English coast where the various rivers discharge into the surrounding seas, from the Solway Firth on the Scottish border to the Welsh Dee on the Welsh border, and again from the Wye on the Welsh border anti-clockwise to the Tweed on the Scottish border.
Tributaries are listed down the page in an upstream direction, i.e. the first tributary listed is closest to the sea, and tributaries of tributaries are treated similarly. Thus, in the first catchment below, the River Sark is the lowermost tributary of the Border Esk and the Hether Burn is the lowermost tributary of the River Lyne. The main stem (or principal) river of a catchment is labelled as (MS), left-bank tributaries are indicated by (L), right-bank tributaries by (R). Note that in general usage, the 'left (or right) bank of a river' refers to the left (or right) hand bank, as seen when looking downstream. Where a named river derives from the confluence of two differently named rivers these are labelled as (Ls) and (Rs) for the left and right forks (the rivers on the left and right, relative to an observer facing downstream). A prime example is the River Tyne (MS), the confluence of the South Tyne (Rs) and the North Tyne (Ls) near Hexham. Those few watercourses (mainly in the Thames catchment) which branch off a major channel and then rejoin it or another watercourse further downstream are known as distributaries or anabranches and are labelled (d).
The list will encompass most of the main rivers of England (as defined by the Environment Agency) and which includes those named watercourses for which the Environment Agency has a flood defence function. Many rivers and streams which are not classed as 'main rivers' also appear. Some minor watercourses are included in the list, especially if they are named as 'river'- such examples may be labelled (m).
For simplicity, they are divided here by the coastal sections within which each river system discharges to the sea. In the case of the rivers which straddle the borders with Scotland and Wales, such as the Border Esk, Tweed, Dee, Severn and Wye, only those tributaries which lie at least partly in England are included.
Western (Irish Sea) discharges from north-south This section includes all rivers entering the Irish Sea from England between the Scottish border and the Welsh border.
Cumbrian coast All rivers discharging into the Solway Firth, Irish Sea and Morecambe Bay from the Scottish border south to Silverdale on the Cumbria/Lancashire border.
Flowing into the Solway Firth Border Esk catchment
The lowest reaches of the Esk are in England but most of the river is in Scotland whilst a short section is followed by the England/Scotland border. Tributaries of the Esk which are wholly in Scotland are omitted from this list but may be found at List of rivers of Scotland. River Esk (MS) River Sark (or 'Sark Water') (R) (upper reaches in Scotland, part of river is followed by England/Scotland border) River Lyne (L) Hether Burn (L) Rae Burn (R) Black Lyne (Rs) Bailey Water (R) White Lyne (Ls) Carwinley Burn (L) Liddel Water (L) (part of river is followed by England/Scotland border) Kershope Burn (L) (larger part of river is in Scotland, part of river is followed by England/Scotland border) All further upstream tributaries of the Esk are wholly in Scotland.
Eden catchment River Eden (MS) River Caldew (L) Little Caldew (L) (Tributary and distributary) River Roe (R) River Ive (Rs) Roe Beck (Ls) Cald Beck (L) Gillcambon Beck (R) Carrock Beck (L) Grainsgill Beck (L) Blackhazel Beck (R) River Petteril (L) River Irthing (R) River Gelt (R) Old Water (R) Cam Beck (R) King Water (R) Gair Burn (Ls) Tarn Beck (Rs) Raven Beck (R) River Eamont (L) River Lowther (R) Haweswater Beck (L) Swindale Beck (or Swindale River) (L) Thacka Beck (L) (Distributary of River Peterill) Dog Beck (known as Myers Beck upstream) (L) Dacre Beck (L) Crowdundle Beck (R) River Lyvennet (L) (known as Lyvennet Beck upstream) River Leith (L) (known as Shap Beck upstream) Hoff Beck (L) Helm Beck (L) Swindale Beck (R) River Belah (R) Argill Beck (R) Scandal Beck (L)
Wampool catchment River Wampool (MS) Chalk Beck (L)
Minor coastal catchments River Waver (MS) River Ellen (MS)
Flowing into the Irish Sea Derwent catchment River Derwent (MS) River Marron (L) Lostrigg Beck (L) River Cocker (L) Dash Beck (R) (flows into Bassenthwaite Lake) Chapel Beck (L) Newlands Beck (L) (flows into Bassenthwaite Lake) Coledale Beck (L) Keskadale Beck (L) Scope Beck (L) (m) River Greta (R) Glenderaterra Beck (R) Naddle Beck (L) (m) St. John's Beck (Ls) River Glenderamackin (Rs) Mosedale Beck (L) Watendlath Beck (R) (flows into Derwent Water) Stonethwaite Beck (R)
Minor coastal catchments Lowca Beck (MS) Pow Beck (MS)
Ehen catchment River Ehen (MS) River Keekle (R) River Liza (enters head of Ennerdale Water)
Calder catchment River Calder (MS) Worm Gill (L)
Cumbrian Esk catchment River Esk (MS) River Irt (R) River Bleng (R) Mosedale Beck (flows into Wast Water) Lingmell Beck (flows into Wast Water) River Mite (R) Whillan Beck (R)
Minor coastal catchment River Annas (MS)
Duddon catchment River Duddon (MS) Kirkby Pool (L) River Lickle (L)
Flowing into Morecambe Bay Minor Coastal catchment Mill Beck (MS) Poaka Beck (L) Goldmire Beck (R) Dragley Beck (MS) Leven catchment River Leven (MS) Newland Beck (R) River Eea (L) River Crake (R) (drains Coniston Water) Church Beck (R) (enters Coniston Water) Yewdale Beck (R) (enters Coniston Water) Rusland Pool (R) Cunsey Beck (R) (enters Windermere, west bank; drains Esthwaite Water) Black Beck (enters head of Esthwaite Water) Trout Beck (L) (enters Windermere, east bank) River Brathay (combines with Rothay to enter head of Windermere) Great Langdale Beck (L) River Rothay (combines with Brathay to enter head of Windermere) Stock Ghyll (L) Scandale Beck (L) Rydal Beck (L)
Kent catchment River Kent (MS) River Winster (R) River Bela (L) Peasey Beck (Ls) (?known as Killington Beck upstream) Lupton Beck (L) Stainton Beck (Rs) (known as St. Sunday's Beck upstream) River Gilpin (R) River Pool (L) River Mint (L) Ashstead Beck (Ls) Bannisdale Beck (Rs)? River Sprint (L) River Gowan (R)
Lancashire and Cheshire coast All rivers discharging into the Irish Sea from Silverdale on the Cumbria/Lancashire border south to the Dee Estuary.
Keer catchment River Keer (MS)
Lune catchment River Lune (MS) River Conder (L) Artle Beck (L) River Wenning (L) River Hindburn (L) River Roeburn (L) Keasden Beck (L) River Greta (L) River Doe (Rs) River Twiss (Ls) (known as Kingsdale Beck upstream) Leck Beck (L) Barbon Beck (L) River Rawthey (L) River Dee (L) Deepdale Beck (L) Clough River (L) Borrow Beck (R) Birk Beck (R)
Cocker catchment River Cocker (MS) Broad Fleet (MS)
Wyre catchment River Wyre (MS) Main Dyke (L) River Brock (L) New Draught (L) (taking Woodplumpton Brook etc.) River Calder (L) Tarnbrook Wyre (Rs) River Grizedale (R) (m) Marshaw Wyre (Ls)
Ribble catchment River Ribble (MS) Wrea Brook / Main Drain (R) River Douglas (also known as River Asland) (L) Douglas Navigation River Yarrow (R) River Lostock (R) River Chor (R) Black Brook (R) Green Withins Brook? (m) Eller Brook (L) River Tawd (L) Freckleton Pool (R) Savick Brook (R) River Darwen (L) River Roddlesworth (L) River Blakewater (R) ?reference (rises as Knuzden Brook) Park Brook (L) River Calder (L) Sabden Brook (R) Hyndburn Brook (L) River Hyndburn (R) Pendle Water (R) Colne Water (L) River Laneshaw (Rs) Wycoller Beck (Ls) River Brun (L) River Don (R) River Hodder (R) River Loud (R) Langden Brook (R) River Dunsop (R) Brennand River (Rs) Whitendale River (Ls) Croasdale Brook (R) Bottoms Beck (L) (enters Stocks Reservoir) Skirden Beck (R) Holden Beck (R) Monubent Beck (L) Stock Beck (L) Long Preston Beck (L) Stainforth Beck (L) Cam Beck (L) Gayle Beck (L)
Minor coastal catchments Crossens Pool (MS)OS Contoured road map of Preston, Southport and Blackpool (sheet 29, Popular Edition 1928) The Sluice Three Pools Waterway
Alt catchment River Alt (MS) Downholland Brook (R)
Mersey catchment River Mersey (MS) The Birket (L) River Fender (R) Prenton Brook (L) Arrowe Brook (R) Greasby Brook (L) Newton Brook (L) River Dibbin (L) Spittal Brook (L) River Gowy (L) River Weaver (L) River Dane (R) River Wheelock (L) River Croco (R) River Waldron (R) Ditton Brook (R) River Bollin (L) Birkin Brook (L) River Lily (L) (m) (enters Tatton Mere) River Dean (R) Red Brook (L) Glaze Brook (R) River Irwell (R) (subsumed within the Manchester Ship Canal in lower reaches) River Medlock (L) River Tib (subterranean) River Irk (L) Boggart Hole Brook Moston Brook River Croal (R) River Tonge (L) Bradshaw Brook (L) Astley Brook Eagley Brook River Roch (L) Naden Brook (R) River Spodden (R) River Beal (L) Chorlton Brook Micker Brook (L) River Tame (Rs) Greenfield Brook (R) Chew Brook (L) River Goyt (Ls) River Etherow (R) Glossop Brook (L) Heyden Brook (R) Todd Brook (L) River Sett (R) River Kinder (R)
The Dee and most of its tributaries arise in Wales. Though a section of it passes through England, it passes into Wales once again before discharging into the Irish Sea via the Dee estuary. For other rivers entering the Irish Sea and Cardigan Bay from Wales, see List of rivers of Wales. Only those tributaries of the River Dee which flow wholly or partly in England are listed here – for a complete list of the rivers and watercourses of the Dee catchment see List of rivers of Wales.
Dee catchment River Dee (MS) (Afon Dyfrdwy in Welsh) Shotwick Brook (R) Caldy Brook (R) Henlake Brook (R) (m) Powsey Brook (R) Aldford Brook (R) Wych Brook (R) Emral Brook (L) Red Brook (L) All further upstream tributaries of the Dee are wholly in Wales.
Western discharges (for Bristol Channel & Southwest Approaches) from east-west This section includes all rivers entering the Bristol Channel and the sea off the northern coasts of Devon and Cornwall which is referred to variously as the Southwest Approaches or Celtic Sea.
Rivers Severn and Wye
The lowermost Wye forms the boundary between England and Wales. Only those tributaries of the River Wye which flow wholly or partly in England are listed here – for a complete list of the rivers and watercourses of the Wye catchment and for other rivers entering the Bristol Channel from Wales see List of rivers of Wales.
Wye catchment River Wye (MS) Valley Brook (L) River Monnow (R) River Dore (L) Worm Brook (L) Garren Brook (R) Gamber Brook (L) Rudhall Brook (L) River Lugg (L) River Frome (L) River Loddon (R) Wellington Brook (R) Humber Brook (L) River Arrow (R) Stretford Brook (R) Tippet's Brook (L) Curl Brook (R) Cynon Brook (L) Gladestry Brook (L) Cheaton Brook (L) Main Drain (L) Pinsley Brook (R) Hindwell Brook (R) Norton Brook (R) Letton Lake (L) Dulas Brook (R) All further upstream tributaries of the Wye are wholly in Wales.
The River Severn upstream of the M48 Severn Bridge. This section includes all tributaries of the Severn which lie wholly or partly in England. For tributaries of the Severn which lie partly or wholly within Wales, see List of rivers of Wales.
Severn catchment River Severn (Afon Hafren) (MS) Little Avon River (L) River Lyd (R) River Frome, Stroud (L) River Cam, Gloucestershire (L) River Leadon (R) River Chelt (L) River Avon, Warwickshire (L) River Swilgate (L) Bow Brook (R) Piddle Brook (R) River Isbourne (L) Badsey Brook (L) River Arrow (R) River Alne (L) River Stour, Warwickshire (L) River Dene (L) River Leam (L) River Itchen, Warwickshire (L) River Sowe (R) Finham Brook (R) River Sherbourne (R) Smite Brook (L)