A View From The Thames

Posted by Alex Plim on Jan 25, 2012 in Getaways | 0 comments

The River Thames has been in existence for something close to 58 million years. It is by far the oldest attraction in a city famed for its history, offering a transient avenue of clear space that cannot be obstructed or built upon. Indeed, it is timeless and peaceful, a vital respite in a metropolis that lives for the moment and does so cacophonously, yet it is so often overlooked – in both senses of the word – despite being one of the finest places from and across which to view London.

There are plenty of ways to enjoy the expansive views afforded by the unimpeded nothingness that the Thames flows beneath, but the best has to be aboard one of the thirteen vessels in the Thames Clipper fleet, each christened with impressive sounding names like Cyclone and Typhoon. Established in 1999, this service is, essentially, a waterborne Tube line, spanning 12 terminals from the London Eye to Royal Arsenal Woolwich, and along its course it passes most of the sights that get photographers’ trigger fingers twitching.

The best bit? It’s £4-6 for a single journey, which is quite pricey if you’re using it just to get directly to a destination, but an absolute bargain if you treat it as a sightseeing activity. Keep your eyes peeled as you drift past the following piers…

London Eye Pier

I’d love to know if anyone’s ever gotten onto a Thames Clipper at this pier without noticing the great big Ferris wheel that it sits beneath. They would be forgiven, of course, if their attention was instead occupied by the gothic protrusions of the Houses of Parliament, or the imperial dome of St. Paul’s cathedral that pokes out from the distant skyline to the north.

But there are other buildings of note to see here. On the South Bank, you’ll see the various concrete surfaces that angle themselves into the shape of Southbank Centre, while a little way to the east sits the OXO tower – one of the most prominent and recognisable protrusions that features on London’s cityscape. On the North Bank, don’t miss the regal contours of Somerset House, one of the city’s most impressive neoclassical edifices.

London Bridge City Pier

Views of Tower Bridge don’t come any better than this. Have your camera at the ready, for the clipper doesn’t stop to allow for photographs, and make sure you position yourself strategically at the rear of the boat, the only area that passengers are allowed to be outside. Meanwhile, don’t forget to soak up the elegant Tower of London at the same time, sparing a thought for the many prisoners who were brought to the tower upon the very same waters, before meeting their fate beyond Traitor’s Gate.

If you’ve a particularly keen eye, you’ll spot the Gherkin poking out from behind the Tower, faced on the south side of the river by the Shard, which, once complete, will be the tallest building in the European Union. You should also take a moment to appreciate HMS Belfast, moored beside City Hall, a poignant monument to Britain’s illustrious martial heritage.

Greenland Pier

I’m putting this one in because I live just next to Greenland Pier, and it’s a lovely part of London that’s relatively untapped. The main thing you’ll notice is Canary Wharf, reaching for the ceiling of Planet Earth like metallic stems that have grown from the seeds of commerce originally brought to London by the Thames. Otherwise, enjoy the chunky buildings that squat on the riverfront, most of which used to be warehouses but are now trendy flats before the once-vibrant dockland area fell into indolence.

Greenwich Pier

There’s really no more appropriate way to see Greenwich than from the murky waters of the Thames, for it is this river that put the area at the centre of the maritime world. You’ll be able to see the Royal Navel College from your vantage, and beyond that the distinctive red ball that is held above the Royal Observatory, which, in turn, is where the Greenwich Meridian line is delineated. Moving further north and eastwards, the river completes the elaborate horseshoe curve that defines its shape in the minds of many, and rounds the spectacular bubble of the O2 arena.