A month or so ago I described, briefly a walk I undertook from St Pancras Station, along the Regent’s Canal to Regent’s park and then south via Hyde, Green and St James’ Parks to Westminster and across Lambeth Bridge. Friends and former work colleagues with who I walk a couple of times a year asked me to organise something in central London to compensate for the lack of opportunities to go somewhere outside the capital with any confidence. I had this idea for a circular walk but that first section was 15 kilometres so I thought that would do.
However I was keen on the loop, so today, in the blistering sunshine, decent heat and increasing humidity (actually it was a bit sweaty but also lovely) I did the rest of the loop.
I’m not very good at judging distances but with these appy things on my phone I’d measured the first one so I set the route mapper as I descended from the number 3 bus at Lambeth Palace – London residence of the Arch Bish of Cantab, and next to the delightful Tradescant Garden Museum – if you are looking for something to do when you’re next in London, add it to your list.
My route took me along the south bank – a veritable tourist trap though not as crowded as it would have been pre Covid – across Tower Bridge and along the Thames Path as it hugged the embankment and Wapping High Street.
I’ve never walked this bit and it was delightful. There are some famous, or maybe infamous pubs here – the Captain Kidd, the Prospect of Whitby, the Town of Margate
and many of the curious little passages between the buildings leading to steps down to the river where you can go exploring at low tide though don’t get caught out.
One of the things I never get used to is brought home hereabouts. This is a picture of Canary Wharf’s many towers. For all the world it seems to be on the far side of the river but it is less than two miles away and one the same side. The meander of the Thames is well known but it’s a veritable trompe d’oeil at ground level.
The river hugging piece ends at Limehouse basin where the Regent’s Canal – remember him? – joins the Thames via its final lock. I followed the delightful towpath back to St Pancras and caught a train home.
And my mapper? It told me I’d walked 20 and a bit kilometres. Just as well I didn’t propose the whole thing to my team.
I will post more details of some of the features when we do the first section of the walk, but this is a taster. If you’re ever in town and want a guide to show you just why London is not only the greatest but most intriguing city in, well, the South East of England, just drop me a line!
ignore the north south line – my train!
TanGental 
A lovely day in London town 💜
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What a lovely, lovely, lovely post. I very much enjoyed my virtual walk with you. I especially savored all of those little stairways leading down to the water (and the river bed at low tide?!) Thank you from Boston, MA, USA.
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So much to see and so many alleys and steps to explore. Looks as though you have another career as a Hidden London guide!
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I’d quite enjoy that! There are many hidden treasures, beyond Dog
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Thanks for taking us along. Those stairs to the river are quite curious.
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They are. Smugglers, ne’er do wells and politicians probably…
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Love all the hidden places in London and I want to see those steps! My son lives in Sydenham so I may call for a guided walk when I’m down….
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Ready when you are!
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Enjoyed that, thanks. Haven’t we had some lovely weather.
River photos reminded me of the book ‘Mudlarking’, which was serialised on R4 last year, I think. I was fascinated by it and when I looked at my photos of a short walk I’d done with friends on a day out, from Tower Bridge to the Imperial War Museum, it was fantastic and quite thrilling to see the ancient Queenhithe dock and the steps at Trig Lane in my photos! Interesting to think how busy the river must’ve been up to the 1950s really. The crowds had thinned out to nothing once we got past Waterloo Bridge, even by the Eye.
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It was fairly quiet, the absence of overseas tourists standing out.
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Oh, how you make me want to visit London now…
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Any time you need a guide, companion!
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I would let you know for sure! I have been there several times and would so love to go again. High up on my bucket list.
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Fabulous walk. I know I’ve done part of that, although many years ago, because I remember The Prospect of Whitby and all those little stairs and alleys.
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They are curious. Oddly I’ve never walked that stretch seeing them only from the river before…
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It’s a lovely city but a tour guide is almost a necessity. We kept getting lost.
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Next time Jan…
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Geoff, I was very grateful to enjoy your 20 something kilometres walk from the comfort of my lounge. With overseas travel out (at least for us Australians), we need to post our local travels which are overseas and exotic for someone else.
Take care & best wishes,
Ro
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