Kew Bridge to Tower Bridge

Battersea Bridge to Tower Bridge - 24 February 2013

How familiar we all are with this section of the Thames. It is our constant companion and in fact, almost our  backyard. Most Australians have a great affinity for water and most of us here in London, love to be beside the water. The coast of England has its charms, but our immediate need to be beside water can be met by wandering along the Thames. The vista changes daily.
Here we see the Houses of Parliament at Westminster from the Lambeth or south side of the Thames, just near Lambeth Palace, the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Houses of Parliament from Lambeth Walk

Further west, the view across the Thames from Battersea Bridge, looking towards World's End Chelsea.

The Thames from Battersea Bridge - late winter afternoon light

This section of the Thames was not one we walked as a group. However, all of us have walked it several times during our time in London.

Kew Bridge to Battersea Bridge - 11 February 2013

This section of our walk provided us with several challenges - amongst them snow, probably sub zero temperatures and mud. but it is also one of the most beautiful sections of the Thames Path. For an urban walk it is quite countrified, with unmade paths (mud!) trees and flowering shrubs.

Chiswick Bridge is an elegant structure, mad of concrete but faced with Portland stone and built in an 18th century style.

The views across the river from the south side are also interesting - Dukes Meadow sporting complex and the Hurlingham Club in Fullham. As we approached Barnes Bridge we passed the White Hart pub, one of my favourites. On a summer day you can cycle to this pub and sit right on the riverside with a drink and watch the rowers passing up and down the river and the joggers passing up and down the path. Continuing on, we passed St Paul's School, one of the country's most elite and then on to Hammersmith Bridge, a green suspension bridge, built in 1887 and designed by engineer Joseph Bazalgette.

Hammersmith Bridge built 1887 by Joseph Bazalgette.
The most ornate bridge on the Thames.

Further on still lies the Harrod's Furniture Depository, built in a Baroque style to house furniture that was too big for the store itself (now flats).

The section from Mortlake to Putney is the stretch of water famous for the annual Oxford versus Cambridge boat race which has taken place since 1829, usually in April or May.

Near Putney Bridge looking west

We had a much needed break from the weather at Carluccio's in Putney.

From Putney Bridge we continued through Wandsworth Park, past beautiful painted barges and some very large modern houseboats near the modern Riverside Quarter - a new development with an open plaza and a couple of restaurants.

The path continues on with a few diversions off the river and around the Battersea heliport and past the churchyard of the lovely St. Mary's Battersea, built in 1775 and incorporating several 17th century monuments from its medieval predecessor.

St. Mary's Battersea (1775)

We ended our walk at Battersea Bridge, another bridge designed by Joseph Bazalgette and constructed in 1885.