London’s Top 10 : River Sights

by



  1. Lambeth Palace

    The
    Archbishop of Canterbury’s official London residence is a famous
    riverside landmark. It dates from the 13th century, but it is the
    red-brick Tudor Gatehouse, dating from 1490, that gives the palace a
    distinctive appearance.

    • Lambeth Palace Road SE1

    • Closed to the public




    Tudor gatehouse, Lambeth Palace


  2. Houses of Parliament




  3. Savoy Hotel

    London’s
    first luxury hotel opened in 1889, on the site of the medieval Savoy
    Palace. Its Chinese lacquered “ascending rooms” were some of the first
    elevators in Europe. Oscar Wilde objected to the new-fangled built-in
    plumbing: he wanted to ring for his hot water like a gentleman.
    Adjoining the hotel is the Art Deco Savoy Theatre.

    • Strand WC2




    Rear of the Savoy Hotel, overlooking the Thames

  4. Millennium Bridge

    This
    stunning, blade-like suspension bridge links Tate Modern on Bankside
    with St Paul’s and the City opposite. Unfortunately, this new footbridge
    suffered from excessive movement when it first opened in 2000. It has
    since re-opened and is a delightful and apt approach to Tate Modern.




  5. Shakespeare’s Globe

    This
    modern reconstruction in oak, thatch and 36,000 handmade bricks is near
    the site of the original Globe Theatre, which burned down in 1613. The
    centre of the theatre is uncovered, so performances only happen during
    part of the year, but an interesting exhibition is open all year round,
    plus there is a café and restaurant with river views .




  6. HMS Belfast

    The last of the big-gun armoured ships, HMS Belfast
    was built in 1938 and saw active service in World War II and Korea. In
    1971 she was saved for the nation as an example of an early 20th-century
    British warship and opened as a museum. Visitors can tour the bridge,
    the huge engine rooms, the galley and the messdecks, where you get an
    idea of what life must have been like on board.

    • Morgan’s Lane, Tooley Street SE1

    • Open Mar–Oct: 10am–6pm daily; Nov–Feb: 10am–5pm daily

    • Admission charge




  7. Tower Bridge

    London’s
    enduring landmark is a neo-gothic wonder. A masterly piece of civil
    engineering, the bridge was built in 1894 with steam pumps to raise its
    two halves. Guided tours include views from the top .




    Tower Bridge

  8. St Katharine’s Dock

    The
    first and most successful piece of modern Docklands development was
    this handsome dock beside Tower Bridge. The site suffered severe bomb
    damage during World War II and was refurbished in the 1980s. The area is
    surrounded by pleasant apartments, shops and cafés, with further
    residential and commercial development planned .




    St Katharine’s Dock

  9. The Cutty Sark

    Built
    in 1869, this is the last of the record-breaking tea-clippers that
    brought the leaves to thirsty London. Currently closed for
    refurbishment, it suffered a major setback in 2007 when the ship was
    damaged by fire.

    • King William Walk SE20

    • Train to Greenwich; DLR Cutty Sark

    • Closed until at least 2010




    Figurehead of the Cutty Sark

  10. Thames Flood Barrier

    This
    huge barrier across the lower reaches of the Thames, just past
    Greenwich, was built in 1982 to prevent the dangerous combination of
    wind and tides from flooding the city. The Visitors’ Centre explains the
    problem, detailing a long history of flooding in London .




    Thames Flood Barrier