Route: London Docklands
Area: East London
Date of walk: 14th February 2015
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 5.6 miles
Weather: Mostly overcast
We took the Tube to Tower Hill Station and made the short walk via the Tower to Tower Bridge – “This must-see London attraction invites you to step inside the most famous bridge in the world to explore its iconic structure, spectacular views, modern exhibitions and magnificent Victorian Engine Rooms!”
It was a fascinating hour or so well spent, and the views along the Thames from the glass walkway were amazing
Instead of walking west towards London’s other nearby tourist attractions, we headed east towards London Docklands, first exploring St Katharine Docks and then joining the Thames Path to walk along the riverbank
When we reached Wapping we headed inland, hoping to be able to walk round Tobacco Dock, but this was closed for unexplained reasons, so we walked back to the river and enjoyed an excellent pint at the Captain Kidd, which is well situated on the banks of the Thames
The walk ended at Wapping Tube Station but the day didn’t end there – as the photos will show
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
Scroll down – or click on any photo to enlarge it and you can then view as a slideshow
The wonderful Gothic spires of St Pancras, as we walk to the tube station
A few minutes later we arrive at Tower Hill tube station and walk past the Tower of London
The Gherkin
Tower Bridge
The Shard and HMS Belfast
Zooming in on HMS Belfast
A weird contrast - the Tower of London, overshadowed by the Walkie Talkie Building, the Cheese Grater and the Gherkin
Looking along the Thames to Docklands from the walkway of Tower Bridge
The glass section of the walkway
We cross over the bridge to enter the engine rooms……
The financial district
We walk round St Katharine docks
Leading off the Thames Path, there are various places where steps (slippery ones) go down to the Thames
Looking across to Butler’s Wharf from the bottom of the steps
A view back to The Shard and Tower Bridge
Hermitage Basin
The Shard again
St John of Wapping, a former parish church badly bombed in the war, and restored into housing
We’d walked inland to see Tobacco Dock but the interior was closed
Bill Stickers is innocent!
Tobacco Dock
We ended the walk here and caught the tube from Wapping station
We went to Sloane Square to say hello to our niece, who has just started a new job there - it was lovely to see you Ellie
There was just time for a flying visit to the V&A
Back to St Pancras, one of my favourite buildings
We celebrate Valentine’s Day at the champagne bar
The Meeting Place statue
Leaving St Pancras
Very busy later that night - it’s like Piccadilly Circus
The reason for our visit - a great show to round off a great day
