Down by the river in London

Down by the river Thames of London you will find a vast array of an eclectic combination of the different versions of London developed over the years. You have the West End with the “Old” – Big Ben, Lambeth Palace, and Westminster Abbey. Then there is the “New” in the East with Bank (the Gherkin among many other new skyscrapers) and Canary Wharf. The in between is a real mixture of time and culture overlapping creating the London we all visit today.

Living and saving money to finance further travel in Central London does come with its hardships. You feel almost as if you are in a permanent state of poverty and every penny is a battle to save and finding affordable activities couldn’t be easier than visiting the river any day of the week. Out the front door: I turn left, take a right, walk straight and within 5 minutes I am on the shores of the Thames smack bang in the middle of Westminster or Tower Bridge.

It’s a brisk summer morning before the city is awake. The cool breeze is balanced by the strengthening summer sun warming my skin. It’s only 8am and there are remnants scattered everywhere of London’s big Saturday night. I am always surprised on a Sunday morning in central London of the peace and tranquillity almost as if it has gone through a portal and is now a small quiet village in the countryside. Barely a car passes me along Embankment as I walk towards Westminster. Even the tourists are late risers this morning. There’s a young couple laying in an embrace napping on a flat bit of outcropping concrete, possibly only just met a few hours earlier.

I cross over Westminster Bridge passing just one stray girl; heels in one hand to the Southern Bank of the Thames. I explore the empty South Bank Centre which is usually a busy hub of activity. A few council workers have begun clearing up the mess left from the day before so it is fresh and in its glory when the tourist begin to pour in around 9am. There’s a lone skateboarder at the Undercroft Skatepark; the protestors not yet set up to collect petitions to save it from conversion into something new and change the face of South Bank.

Now headed East towards the “New” I am entranced by the stillness of the river which is usually turbid from wakes of the many boats usually filling its waters. The tide is low and small beaches have formed on both banks. I pass the empty front lawns of the Tate Modern and continue. Walking through the old cobbled streets I imagine myself back in the day when the buildings around me were first made, and admire the recreation of Sir Francis Drake’s galleon the Golden Hinde II. I continue under London Bridge and approach the Tower Bridge of London which is almost empty with a few early risers there to take photographs without having to compete with all the other visitors for the best angle and near impossible clear shot. It is odd to cross the bridge without feeling like you are being herded like cattle, but this morning I primarily had it to myself and felt like I was walking on air as my heart lifted with such a special experience. The surrounds of the Tower of London also empty of the usual throngs. I can see the skyscrapers towering above each providing a new unique shape to the skyline looming over these old relic structures that have been iconic to London for over a century.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With my walk almost at an end heading along the Northern Bank to Temple where I turn back up to my flat with its still sleeping occupants I am joined by morning joggers all just starting their morning run along the river banks. There are more cars on the road now as it is nearing 10 am and the city has awakened and I pass one last walk of shame victim before picking up some fresh croissants for breakfast.

During the evening I wandered back down by the river to The Tattershall Castle for a relaxing drink with some friends. The Tattershall Castle is one of the many converted boats into bars/restaurants and their decks are positioned to make the most of the surroundings. I sit directly across from the London Eye with my pint of cider enjoying the new spectacle of tourists trying to get last minute shots before the light is gone. Darkness finally prevails and the structures along the bank are lit up almost as bright as Sydney’s Vivid Festival. I always feel lucky to have such a place on my doorstep.