At 215 miles neatly and long dividing London between South and north, the River Thames is the silvery thread which offers continuity for a City that’s constantly changing. The sinuous loops & eccentrically named gets to provide the main focus for several of London’s greatest sights. Royal Palaces, world renowned theatres and art galleries, an excellent fortress, a World War II war cruiser, an observation wheel and lots of famous bridges may all be observed out of the Thames. A number of these sights could be visited and many are free. And so climb aboard as we have a light journey across the capital city’s best artery.
- Hampton Court Palace
We start way upstream at the fantastic Medieval palace of Hampton Court 3.5 hours from Westminster by boat (substantially quicker by train from Waterloo). This is quite quicker compared to Henry VIII will have tricked his oar powered Royal Barge. Hampton Court Palace is a jewel full of architecture that is spectacular from the Tudor period through to the wonderful additions by Sir Christopher Wren for King William III and Queen Mary. The art technique is of the best with world renowned paintings and tapestries by such luminaries as Mantegna, Kneller and Verrio. The gorgeous Tudor kitchens happen to be lovingly laid out just as they will have been seen in the 16th Century. Peacocks for dinner anyone! When the newer members of the household get yourself a tad restive, the backyard garden features a great maze and a brand new “Magic Garden.”
2 & 3. Tate Britain Tate Modern
We travel downstream into the center of London passing Battersea and 9 Elms on the South. This area is undergoing a huge transformation with great new towers seeming to show up each week. Battersea Power Station is at last being converted into something helpful after decades of neglect, and also the entrance of the American Embassy. When the American friends of ours do finally go in their brand spanking new Kieran Timberlake designed mega embassy, they are going to be just a brief walk across Vauxhall Bridge from Tate Britain. This particular art gallery designed by the high sugar magnate Henry Tate on the website of the existing Millbank Penitentiary, houses British Art from 1545 to the existing. Although not much contemporary Art. That is being found a few of miles further downstream at Tate Modern. Tate Britain has a really wide range of British fine art and sculpture from Millais and also the pre Raphelites to Henry Moore and Francis Bacon, but specifically JMW Turner, maybe the best of all the British artists. The Clore Galleries are high in Turner’s work left to the country by the artist.
- The Palace of Westminster
Just a few 100 yards earlier Lambeth Bridge the familiar and unmistakable shapes of The Palace of Westminster normally referred to as the Houses of Parliament hove into view. This good Victorian Gothic edifice by Charles Barry with design by Augustus Pugin is a must see for those visitors to London. The exterior is quite stunning, bookended by The Victoria Tower in the Southern end and also the Elizabeth Tower (known the planet over as Big Ben) at the North. Any British citizen is able to go to the MP of theirs (although it is not a terrible strategy making an appointment). Tours of the inside of the Palace are performed occasionally if the Home is in downturn and on many Saturdays. - The London Eye
We continue a brief distance North of Westminster Bridge to another “must not miss” website on the Thames. It is The London Eye, the capital’s own observation wheel. Even once the climate is terrible, that let us face it, is uncommon in London, the views from the greatest point of its of 135 meters, are stunning. Step into 1 of thirty two pods and experience the great feeling of soaring above the cityscape seeing all of those famous structures from an ever increasing height. The Queen’s Gardens at Buckingham Palace are difficult to find out until you are fortunate enough being invited to a Garden Party, along with this’s a particular location in which you do get yourself a perspective. Bring the binoculars of yours and maybe you will catch a glimpse of a package of corgis getting removed for a stroll by a person in a headscarf…..! The London Eye rests at the beginning of the happening Southbank area where there’s usually a thing going on may it be street entertainers, drama that is excessive in the National skateboarding or Theatre by experts (plenty of material right here for future “fail army” posts on YouTube!) In the Summer go and also have a drink in the beautiful gardens atop the South Bank Centre (look for the yellow staircase).
6 & 7. HMS Belfast Tower Bridge
At Blackfriars Bridge we enter the stretch and also the City of the Thames which was at one stage probably the busiest shipping port in the globe. There is not much to remind us of that today apart from the unusual restored crane as well as a great deal of old warehouses which have been changed into luxurious riverside apartments. This particular area of the river is additionally replete with popular sites. The battlecruiser, HMS Belfast, a veteran of World War two as well as the Korean War, sits nobly in warm water between Tower and London Bridges. As with the Imperial War Museum, it is available each day and certainly one for all those that really like the notion of a life on the ocean wave. Tower Bridge should qualify as a candidate for many famous bridge of the globe. Attempt to time the visit of yours to coincide with a “lift” once the 2 good bascules impressively rise to let delivery to pass through. There’s an excellent museum at Tower Bridge along with a death defying high level walkway paved with glass to make a deal.
- Tower of London
From Tower Bridge you obtain a spectacular view of London’s oldest fortress, prison & palace. The Tower of London is to not be missed. One thousand years of age, it’s Europe’s most full medieval castle. And individuals still live here, particularly the Yeoman Warders or maybe Beefeaters with the gorgeous costumes of theirs. If that was not enough, the Tower is guarded by a detachment of Guardsmen that are here to defend the jewels in the crown or perhaps rather, The Crown Jewels. Probably the most spectacular collection of jewels and royal regalia on the planet! There’s simply much in excess of historical past to do justice on the Tower so take the advice of mine and work with an azure Badge Tourist Guide being the best out of the trip of yours. - Greenwich Park
Further downstream at Royal Greenwich we are able to envision the Royal Observatory, the Cutty Sark (one of probably the fastest tea clippers in the world) as well as the Royal Naval College (the film makers of The Golden Compass, Les Miserables as well as many more have all used Christopher Wren’s spectacular structures as a backdrop.) Do not overlook the National Maritime Museum as well as the recently restored gem that’s the Queen’s House. Have a picnic and take pleasure in the terrific ideas from the hillside of Greenwich Park.
The River Thames keeps on giving. Use the Oyster card of yours on the countless river bus services which run on the river and also see London from an alternative angle. Better still, book London layover tours who can point out every one of the sites mentioned here a lot more. Bon voyage!