National Character Area 114

Thames Basin Lowlands - Key Facts & Data

Landscape and nature conservation designations section contains a map

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated. The maps contain live frequently updated datasets.

Less than 1 per cent of the NCA lies within the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) (Natural England, 2011).

Designated nature conservation sites

The NCA includes the following statutory nature conservation designations (Natural England, Special Protection Areas; Special Area of Conservation; Ramsars; National Nature Reserves; Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Local Nature Reserves, 2021):

Please note: (i) Designated areas may overlap (ii) all figures are cut to Mean High Water Line, designations that span coastal/marine areas below this line will not be included.

Condition of designated sites
All designated sites within England are covered by Sites of Scientific Interest (SSSI) units. The condition to these SSSI units within the NCA are as follows (Natural England, Sites of Special Scientific Interest Units, 2021; 2023):



Landscape and nature conservation designations map for NCA114

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Landform, geology and soils section contains a map

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated. The maps contain live frequently updated datasets.

Elevation

At its lowest, the land is only 9m above sea level, but it rises to a maximum of 179 m. The mean height is 49m and the range of elevation is 171m (London Basin Natural Area Profile, Thames Basin Lowlands Countryside Character Area Description).

Landform and process

This is an essentially lowland area lying within the London Basin. The land is a gently undulating plain for the most part, rising towards the dip slope of the North Downs to the south and east and to the Thames Basin Heaths in the west (London Basin Natural Area Profile, Thames Basin Lowlands Countryside Character Area Description).

Bedrock geology

The Thames Basin Lowlands is geologically part of the London basin which is a syncline – a concave fold with the oldest sediments at its periphery – formed 20 to 40 Ma as a result of the Alpine Orogeny (mountain-building). The region became dry land during this time. The oldest rock here is the chalk, which Now laid down in warm shallow seas during the Cretaceous period. It is overlain by Palaeogene and Neogene sands and mudstones. Following a marine transgression some 55 Ma, the London Clay Now laid down. Overlying this are the Bagshot, Barton and Bracklesham Beds. These sands and clays were deposited on a large coastal plain. There are very small areas of sediments of other formations (London Basin Natural Area Profile, Thames Basin Lowlands Countryside Character Area Description).

Superficial deposits

Important Quaternary sediments are present, recording the changing temperatures during this period and the presence and absences of ice-sheets. The Anglian ice sheet advanced as far south as the northern rim of the London basin and forced the young River Thames to change its course to its current one. Fluvial sediments deposited by the Thames river system before the Anglian Ice Age, occur predominantly along the northern edge of the London basin, parallel with the axis of the syncline. Sediments deposited after the Anglian Ice Age are found along the flood plains of the current rivers. The youngest sediments are sands and gravels deposited by the Thames in its current location since the last ice age (London Basin Natural Area Profile, Thames Basin Lowlands Countryside Character Area Description).

Designated geological sites

The NCA includes the following geological sites (Natural England, Geological and Mixed Sites of Special Scientific Interest, 2021):

wdt_ID NCA_ID NAME NCAAreaHa Interest type Area (ha) 2021 Percent of NCA (2021) Count
2361NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND COASTAL PLAIN37,669.6Geological6.80.01
2371NORTH NORTHUMBERLAND COASTAL PLAIN37,669.6Mixed1,029.52.75
2382NORTHUMBERLAND SANDSTONE HILLS72,694.6Geological45.40.14
2393CHEVIOT FRINGE51,591.3Geological17.10.02
2404CHEVIOTS36,487.9Geological165.00.52
2414CHEVIOTS36,487.9Mixed3,488.99.61
2425BORDER MOORS AND FORESTS127,155.9Geological85.70.18
2435BORDER MOORS AND FORESTS127,155.9Mixed35.80.01
2446SOLWAY BASIN98,350.4Geological7.20.02
2456SOLWAY BASIN98,350.4Mixed5,569.25.74

Soils and Agriculture Classification

Heavy clayey soils result from the underlying geology (London Basin Natural Area Profile, Thames Basin Lowland Countryside Character Area Description).

The main grades of agricultural land in the NCA are broken down as follows (as a proportion of total land area) (Natural England, Provisional Agricultural Land Classification, 2019):


Landform, geology and soils map for NCA114

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Key waterbodies and catchments section contains a map

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated. The maps contain live frequently updated datasets.

Major rivers/canals

The following major rivers/canals (by length) have been identified in this NCA (Natural England, data informing the 2014 National Character Area Profiles, 2010):

Water framework directive

River basin management plans cover river basin districts and describe the challenges that threaten the water environment and how these challenges can be managed and funded. The plans include the classification of water quality of surface waters and ground waters.



Click on the Water Framework Directive layers on the below map to view the corresponding river names.

Key waterbodies and catchments map for NCA114

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Trees and woodlands section contains a map

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated. The maps contain live frequently updated datasets.

Total woodland cover

Ancient woodland is any area that has been wooded continuously since at least 1600 AD. National Forest Inventory (NFI) woodland includes all forests and woodlands (0.5 hectares and over). The total woodland cover within the NCA is as follows (Forestry Commission, National Forest Inventory, 2020; 2023; Natural England, Ancient Woodland, 2021; 2024; this does not consider Natural England’s ‘Ancient Woodland – Revised (England) – Completed Counties’ data as this is being updated in tranches and no full dataset is yet available):

Distribution and size of woodland and trees in the landscape

Woodland is predominantly oak, with oak/ash on the more basic rich soils in the west, oak/birch favours the less fertile, acidic land over the sands and gravels in the east. The west of the area is generally more sparsely wooded but most of this is semi-natural ancient woodland. Ashtead Common is a distinct and unique landscape of gnarled old pollard oaks in pasture (London Basin Natural Area Profile).

Woodland types

A statistical breakdown of the area and type of woodland found across the NCA is detailed below (Forestry Commission, National Forest Inventory, 2020; 2023):

Area and proportion of ancient woodland and planted ancient woodland sites (PAWS) within the NCA (Natural England, Ancient Woodland, 2021; 2024):


Trees and woodlands map for NCA114

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Boundary features and patterns

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated.

Boundary features

Fields are mostly bounded by hedges, although wire fences, often associated with pony paddocks, sometimes replace hedges particularly when close to urban areas. Oak is the commonest hedgerow tree (Countryside Quality Counts Draft Historic Profile Countryside Character Area).

Field patterns

Fields are generally small or medium-sized and uneven (Countryside Quality Counts Draft Historic Profile, Thames Basin Lowlands Countryside Character Area).

Agriculture section contains a map

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated. The maps contain live frequently updated datasets.

The following tables provide the most recently available statistics from Defra on agriculture within the NCA.

Farm type

The following farm types are located within this NCA (Defra, Structure of the agricultural industry in England and the UK at June, 2025):

Farm size

The following table outlines the sizes of farms within the NCA (Defra, Structure of the agricultural industry in England and the UK at June, 2025):

Farm ownership

The following table outlines the ownership of farms within the NCA (Defra, Structure of the agricultural industry in England and the UK at June, 2025):

Land use

The following table outlines the types of agricultural land use within the NCA (Defra, Structure of the agricultural industry in England and the UK at June, 2025):

Livestock numbers

The following livestock are farmed within the NCA (Defra, Structure of the agricultural industry in England and the UK at June, 2025):

Farm labour

The following table outlines the types of farm labour within the NCA (Defra, Structure of the agricultural industry in England and the UK at June, 2025):

Please note: (i) Some of the Census data are estimated by Defra so may not present a precise assessment of agriculture within this area (ii) Data refers to commercial holdings only (iii) Data includes land outside of the NCA where it belongs to holdings whose centre point is recorded as being within the NCA.



Note that the below map only shows agri-environment scheme coverage, and not other schemes.

Agriculture map for NCA114

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Key habitats and species section contains a map

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated. The maps contain live frequently updated datasets.

Habitat distribution/coverage

Patches of semi-ancient woodland are found in the central and western half of the NCA (London Basin Natural Area Profile).

Key Habitats

The NCA contains the following areas of key main habitats, as mapped by the national Priority Habitat Inventory (Natural England, Priority Habitats Inventory, 2021; 2024; Natural England, Wood Pasture and Parkland, 2020). Note: lakes and ponds were not included in 2021 data:






Key habitats and species map for NCA114

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Settlement and development patterns section contains a map

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated. The maps contain live frequently updated datasets.

Settlement patterns

Settlement density ranges from the heavily developed landscape in the northeast, in or close to Greater London, through to much sparser settlement in the west. Here settlements vary from scattered houses or farmsteads to small patches of more built-up estate developments (Office for National Statistics census data 2001).

Main settlements

Main settlements include Croydon, Sutton, Guildford, Epsom and Esher. The total estimated population for this NCA (derived from ONS 2001 census data) is 959,476 (Office for National Statistics census data 2001).

Local vernacular and building materials

There are a number of distinctive brick and flint farmhouses with a similar building style built during the 19th century and also examples of fine halftimbered buildings (Country Quality Counts Draft Historic Profile, Thames Basin Lowlands Countryside Character Area Description).

Settlement and development patterns map for NCA114

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Key historic sites and features section contains a map

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated. The maps contain live frequently updated datasets.

Origin of historic features

A number of landscaped parks are prominent in the area; these include Claremont at Esher, renowned for Bridgeman’s earthworks; Clandon landscaped by Capability Brown, and also Ockham and East Horsley. On the Wey, north of the M25, there are traces of the former industrial use of the river and navigation in the form of old mills and factories (Countryside Quality Counts Draft Historic Profile, Thames Basin Lowlands
Countryside Character Area Description).

Designated historic assets

The NCA includes the following designated historic assets (Historic England, National Heritage List for England, 2021; 2024):

Listed buildings

The NCA includes the following listed buildings (Historic England, National Heritage List for England, 2021; 2024):

Heritage at Risk Register

The NCA includes the following designated historic assets listed within the Heritage at Risk Register (Historic England, Heritage at Risk Register, 2021; 2023):



Key historic sites and features map for NCA114

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Recreation and access section contains a map

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated. The maps contain live frequently updated datasets.

Public access

The following areas of public access for recreation are located within this NCA (Natural England, 2021; National Trust, 2021):


Please note: Public access areas may overlap.
The following linear routes or public access for recreation are located within this NCA (Natural England, 2021; Sustrans; 2021):

Recreation and access map for NCA114

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Experiential qualities

Note that numbers and figures in the body of the text are based on the 2014 profiles, unless otherwise stated.

Tranquillity

Based on the CPRE map of tranquillity (2006) the NCA is subject to heavy disturbance particularly in the north east where it is close to or part of Greater London. The most tranquil areas can be found in the south west between Guildford and Fetcham and Guildford and Ash.

A breakdown of tranquillity values for this NCA are detailed in the table below (CPRE, Tranquillity Map, 2006):

Dark skies

Light pollution is a generic term referring to artificial light that shines where it is neither wanted nor needed, and can impact on people’s experience of the countryside within the NCAs. CPRE host an interactive map, depicting the light pollution and dark skies within the NCA.

Intrusion

The 2007 Intrusion Map (CPRE) shows the extent to which rural landscapes are ‘intruded on’ from urban development, noise (primarily traffic noise), and other sources of visual and auditory intrusion. This shows that almost the entire NCA is disturbed by visual and auditory intrusion. A breakdown of intrusion values for this NCA is detailed in the following table.

A breakdown of intrusion values for this NCA is detailed in the table below (CPRE, Intrusion Map, 2007):

Notable trends from the 1960s to 2007 are a steady growth in urban areas.