Thames-side walk
Blackfriars to Tower Bridge and back again.
(Photos/words © urban75, 18th February 2007)

The weather wasn't too great, but we still enjoyed a pleasant afternoon stroll along the north bank of the Thames heading east to St Katherine's Dock and then across Tower Bridge to head west to catch the tube at Southwark.


The pug-ugly Sea Containers House, by Blackfriars Bridge


The remains of the old LB&SCR railway bridge at Blackfriars.


Remains of the northern abutment of the old LB&SCR railway bridge.
» See the ornate pier on the South bank.


Old shipping sign on Blackfriars Bridge.


St Pauls and Millennium Bridge.






High Timber Street on Broken Wharf.


Now an (ahem) 'stylish new venue space,' Billingsgate's name goes back at least a thousand years, and served as a general market for corn, coal, iron, wine, salt, pottery, fish and miscellaneous goods, before specialising in the fish trade in the sixteenth century

The current building was designed by Sir Horace Jones and built by John Mowlem in 1876 and enjoys Grade 2 listed structure. In 1998 the old fish market was extensively refurbished by leading architect, Richard Rogers.


Fishy roof detail.


Heading east on the north side of the Thames.


'Nuff flotsam and jetsam. When the tide is out, this little wharf is a great place to find old oyster shells discarded by littering Victorians and clay pipes.




Mini Beefeater in one of the windows at the Tower of London.


St Katherine's Dock. A focus of worldwide trade and commerce for over 1000 years, the site was extensively developed with new docks opening in 1828.

The docks always struggled because they weren't able to handle the large ships, and never really recovered after being badly hit by German bombs during WW2.


In 1968, the docks were the first in London to close, being sold to the Greater London Council. Most of the original warehouses were replaced with modern commercial buildings soon after, with the docks becoming a marina for the well heeled.


St Katherine's Dock is situated close to Tower Bridge.


Here's a classic tourist view of Tower Bridge (as seen on many movies too).




Butler's Wharf from Tower Bridge. Once full of tea, coffee and spice warehouses, it's now overflowing with prestigious apartments, restaurants, art galleries and designer shops.


New developments around City Hall.


City Hall and Tower Bridge.


Passing couple look down into the open auditorium area (known as The Scoop).


City Hall was designed by Foster's and Partners, and was, apparently, created from a geometrically modified sphere. So it's sort of round.




London Bridge, complete with groovy red lights.


Blue and red lights by London Bridge.


London Bridge City Pier, South Bank.


Night view, South Bank.


HMS Belfast and the Gherkin.





Curious pod-like thing annexed to the new building opposite Southwark tube station.



Southwark tube station.


The modernistic interior of Southwark tube station - time to head home to Brixton!.


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