thumb|The course of the River Thames.
The Thames Valley Region is a loose term for the English counties and towns roughly following the course of the River Thames as it flows between Wiltshire in the west to London in the east. It includes parts of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, North Hampshire,Surrey and West London. It does not include the source of the Thames at Thames Head in Gloucestershire, nor central London or the outflowing of the Thames into the Thames Estuary.

The phrase Thames Valley Region is sometimes used interchangaebly with M4 Corridor which denotes the route of the M4 motorway which travels through many of the same counties but on a more southerly course and extending far beyond the Thames Valley into South Wales.

Economy

The Thames Valley region is one of the wealthiest regions in the European Union, helped by good communications, a well educated work force, proximity to London, and strong local employers. Its economy was valued at £32 billion in 2007.

In the twentieth century, historic industries have been replaced by modern knowledge-based industries, primarily information and communications technology and life sciences.

The direct labour force amounts to 1 million people, but the total workforce within an hour of the Thames Valley towns is close to 3.7 million.

Since 2002, the Thames Valley has been the UK’s fastest growing region, averaging 3.5 per cent economic growth after inflation, well ahead of the 2.5 per cent national average.

Productivity is high, averaging £49,000 per worker in 2006, £8,600 higher than the south-east average. The workforce is skilled: 29 per cent of employment is in the knowledge economy, compared with the national average of 17 per cent, and 37 per cent of people in employment hold a degree. One-fifth of Thames Valley workers are employed in managerial and senior positions, five points higher than the UK average.

Tourism

The Thames Valley region is a major tourist destination in the United Kingdom, both for domestic and international tourists. Some major attractions include:

• Henley on Thames

• The City of Oxford

• Windsor Castle

Policing

The Thames Valley Police cover the counties of Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. Other forces cover the rest of the Thames Valley region.

Major towns and cities

• Bracknell

• High Wycombe

• Maidenhead

• Newbury

• Oxford

• Reading

• Slough

• Swindon

Universities

• Oxford Brookes University

• Oxford University

• Reading University

• Royal Holloway, University of London

• Silwood Park campus of Imperial College London

• Thames Valley University

See also

• M4 Corridor