New festival Estuary 2016 got off to a glittering launch this year for the first ever festival celebrating the beauty and diversity of the Thames river.

Artists from around the country diverged on the historic Tilbury Cruise Terminal at the Port of Tilbury as well as at other sites dotted along the Thames banks in South Essex and Gravesend.

Thousands of people descended on the exhibits for the 16-day festival, which ran from September 17 to October 7, from the Points of Departure art exhibition on both sides of the Thames, to the Shorelines Literary Festival.

Here are some of the best pictures from the music, literature, art and film event, which will be returning as Estuary 2018 in two years’ time.

For more info, visit http://www.estuaryfestival.com/