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, Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-01.jpg) The pug-ugly Sea Containers House, by Blackfriars Bridge
![The remains of the old LB&SCR railway bridge at Blackfriars Bridge, Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-02.jpg) The remains of the old LB&SCR railway bridge at Blackfriars.
![The remains of the old LB&SCR railway bridge at Blackfriars Bridge, Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-03.jpg) Remains of the northern abutment of the old LB&SCR railway bridge.
» See the ornate pier on the South bank.
![Old sign on Blackfriars Bridge, Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-04.jpg) Old shipping sign on Blackfriars Bridge.
![Old sign on Blackfriars Bridge, Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-05.jpg) St Pauls and Millennium Bridge.
![High Timber Street on Broken Wharf, Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-06.jpg) High Timber Street on Broken Wharf.
![Billingsgate old market building, Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-08.jpg) 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.
![Billingsgate old market building, Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-07.jpg) Fishy roof detail.
![Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-09.jpg) Heading east on the north side of the Thames.
![Thames side walk, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-10.jpg) '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.
![Tower of London, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-11.jpg) Mini Beefeater in one of the windows at the Tower of London.
![St Katherine's Dock, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-12.jpg) 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.
![St Katherine's Dock, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-13.jpg) 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, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-14.jpg) St Katherine's Dock is situated close to Tower Bridge.
![Tower Bridge and St Katherine's Dock, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-15.jpg) Here's a classic tourist view of Tower Bridge (as seen on many movies too).
![Butler's Wharf from Tower Bridge., London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-16.jpg) 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.
![City Hall, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-17.jpg) New developments around City Hall.
![City Hall and Tower Bridge, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-18.jpg) City Hall and Tower Bridge.
![The Scoop, City Hall, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-19.jpg) Passing couple look down into the open auditorium area (known as The Scoop).
![The Scoop, City Hall, London, February 2007](images/thames-walk-20.jpg) 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, Thames, London, February 2007](images/london-feb07-33.jpg) London Bridge, complete with groovy red lights.
![London Bridge, London, February 2007](images/london-feb07-32.jpg) Blue and red lights by London Bridge.
![London Bridge City Pier, London, February 2007](images/london-feb07-34.jpg) London Bridge City Pier, South Bank.
![Night view, South Bank, London, February 2007](images/london-feb07-35.jpg) Night view, South Bank.
![HMS Belfast and the Gherkin, Night view, South Bank, London, February 2007](images/london-feb07-36.jpg) HMS Belfast and the Gherkin.
![London Bridge City Pier, London, February 2007](images/london-feb07-37.jpg) Curious pod-like thing annexed to the new building opposite Southwark tube station.
![Southwark tube station, London, February 2007](images/london-feb07-38.jpg) Southwark tube station.
![Interior, Southwark tube station, London, February 2007](images/london-feb07-39.jpg) The modernistic interior of Southwark tube station - time to head home to Brixton!.
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