A Walk on the north side - Tower Bridge to Greenwich

Tower Bridge to Greenwich - 18 February 2013 (6.5 miles,10.4km) 

Anne, Ellen, Kerry, Theresa, Jan and Sally

This was a diverse and interesting walk along the north bank of the Thames. The walk started in the area of the Roman settlement Londinium, still evident in remains of walls. The docks along the bank were heavily bombed during WW2 and many of the warehouses destroyed, but redevelopment has followed the same scale and layout and allowed for attractive marinas (below) quite a surprise so close to the city. 

The Shard from the north bank near Wapping

Marina near Tower Bridge - north bank

We continued down Wapping High Street past a gorgeous row of Georgian houses built for dock officials in the early 19th century.

The old Wapping Hydraulic Power Station, now an Arts Centre known as the Wapping Project was closed but worth noting for a return visit - perhaps for a meal. You can find more information about the Wapping Project in an article from the Guardian here.
Our walk continued through Limehouse where, as the name suggests lime kilns were once built and where for hundreds of years a shipbuilding and kitting out area functioned. Eventually we arrived at Canary Wharf for a coffee break amongst the 'suits' and then continued walking south to Island Gardens at the southern tip of the Isle of Dogs where we were suddenly  confronted by the new-classical buildings of Greenwich across the river. A round red brick building provided an entrance to a bleak winding staircase leading to the tunnel under the Thames and out again in Greenwich.

Walking east from Greenwich

Woolwich Arsenal to Crayford Ness - January 28 2013 (8.5 miles, 13.7km) Wendy and Anne

 Salt marsh near Crayford Ness - near the mouth of the Thames

How interesting to head out to the Thames east of the city of London. A place of contrasts as shown by the photos above and below. The last time I saw a group of Antony Gormley's figures, they were in Australia. If you haven't seen these figures in the outback, click the above link for a treat.

Meanwhile, back in London, more Gormley figures at Woolwich Arsenal (and Wendy).

Cast iron humanoids by Antony Gormley 

 Royal Arsenal - Woolwich

First established 1621

Arsenal Woolwich used to be the home of the Arsenal Football Club before they moved to north London. 

During WW1 the Royal Arsenal covered 1300 acres and employed about 80,000 people. It suffered heavy bombing during WW2 and the ordnance factories closed in 1967. There is an interesting collection of fine buildings, some renovated, including a museum and a great bar/restaurant.

Greenwich to Woolwich Arsenal - Monday 11 March 2013 (5.75 miles 9.25km) Anne and Ellen

We began this walk in Greenwich with a bitingly cold head wind and probably a temperature of  -3. However, the sun came out and the weather was kind. Again, a walk of contrasts: from Sir Christopher Wren's Royal Naval College to the Millenium Dome or 02 stadium, with views across to Canary Wharf.

Ellen with O2 and Canary Wharf in the background

Sculpture at 02 (courtesy Ellen)

The Thames Barrier is designed to cope with sea level rises until 2030 and is a major part of the effort to protect London from flooding. It looks great and does not pose any height restrictions for shipping. There were evidently 41 different proposals for the design of the barrier. I am glad they chose this one!

Thames Barrier - operating since 1982 and raised  more than 110 times.

Interactive Map of the Thames Path

For an fantastic interactive map of the Thames Path and an overview of the Thames Path route click here and then click on the link for the photographic interactive map.

Welcome to our blog!

Welcome to our blog! A record of our 2013 wanderings along the Thames path.

We are a group of expatriate women living in London and this year we are walking the Thames Path from the mouth, east of the city of London, to the source in rural Gloucestershire nearly 200 miles upstream.

Our guide is The National Trail Guide which you can find here and here and here. You will find photographs, accommodation guides, maps etc. All you need to begin walking.

It's cold. Very cold. So our winter walks have concentrated on the path within London - from Hampton Court in the west to Crayford Ness in the east, a total of 50 miles (80km). This has taken us through 2000 years of human history, past many world famous buildings, past (and over) 23 bridges, past (and through) tunnels under the river and past ferries crossing the river as they have done for thousands of years.

We thought that with the cold, the wind and the snow, these city walks would give us greater flexibility to seek the warmth and comfort of cafes and pubs, for respite from the elements. This has proved the case. But we have not yet abandoned our journey and we have always reached our goal for each walk.

'We are here on the planet only once, and might as well get a feel for the place.'