Where is the River Severn? The River Severn is Britain's longest river. It is 350km long. Its headwaters are in Mid Wales, and its mouth is near Bristol.

River Severn

The Severn at Shrewsbury.

The River Severn, which has its headwaters on Plynlimon mountain in Central Wales, flows through the Marches and West Midlands of England before reaching the sea at the Bristol Channel.

It is one of Britain's longest rivers and, in the past, one of those most prone to give problems from flooding. Dams on the upper Severn (the largest of which is the Clywedog) now control the river.

The main cities of Gloucester and Shrewsbury (and many smaller towns) were built at places where it was possible to cross the Severn. The Severn Vale (the Severn Valley in England) gives a route between the southwest of England and the English Midlands and Birmingham. It is used by the railway, M5 and other important roads.

A tidal bore (tidal wall of water) reaches up the Severn from the Severn Estuary to beyond Gloucester.

You will find videos and more in the Local Studies part of this website.

Video: a video of the famous Iron Bridge over the Severn is available. This was the world's first iron bridge.

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