10 top places to visit along the Thames
AlamyTake us to the river
While Londoners often take the River Thames for granted, many visitors only see it from the Southbank, a boat tour and then from the plane window on their way out of the city again. And yet the mighty waterway is 346km, and today boasts hundreds of attractions on its banks, from the antique to the all-new, from east London to west. So, to help celebrate the longest river in England, here are our top 10 spots to visit alongside and over it.
Rex FeaturesBEST FOR: Adrenaline junkies
If you have a good head for heights, pull on some climbing boots, a helmet and a harness and climb the O2, otherwise known as the Dome. London's former white elephant has been reborn as a world-class music venue, which has seen the likes of Prince and Beyoncé play to sell-out crowds, and is also now home to London's branch of hipster New York cocktail bar, Brooklyn Bowl (we recommend the Wythe Avenue: bourbon with raspberry liqueur, fresh raspberries and cranberry juice). However, it's the tours of the bouncy white roof that are truly ingenious - and unmissable. Climb by daylight to take in the full beauty of the London skyline and make out landmarks up to 15 miles away, or opt for a sunset or twilight ascent for breathtaking views of the city lights. £26, Peninsula Square, London SE10 (+4420 8463 2000; www.theo2.co.uk)
© National Maritime Museum, GreenwichBEST FOR: History buffs
The Cutty Sark recently underwent an astonishing refurbishment after a devastating fire. Now the fastest and last remaining tea clipper of its kind sits like a glowing, golden bird on land, illuminated from beneath by glass walkways. Children will adore the experience of walking underneath the 963-ton vessel, as well as climbing aboard to find out what life was like on a 19th-century sailing ship. The events programme features live music and educational activities, making this an excellent all-weather family day out. Tip: the ship's location, on a deep curve of the Thames, is particularly thrilling to approach by boat. Adults £13.50, children aged 5-15 £7, King William Walk, Greenwich, London SE10 (+4420 8858 4422; www.rmg.co.uk/cuttysark)
Flickr.com/TheGrapesLondonBEST FOR: Thirsty bookworms
The Thames is dotted with many venerable drinking establishments, but one of the most legendary is The Grapes at Limehouse, which just so happens to have Gandalf as its landlord. Well, not exactly, but Sir Ian McKellan is the proprietor of this East End boozer, that proudly traces its lineage back to 1583. Enjoy a pie and a pint in the snug bar where Charles Dickens used to drink (he namechecked The Grapes in Our Mutual Friend) or opt for the full white-linen-and-crystal experience in the elegant dining room upstairs, while watching the lights of Canary Wharf glitter on the water outside. 76 Narrow Street, Limehouse, London, E14 (+4420 7987 4396; www.thegrapes.co.uk)
AlamyBEST FOR: Fans of style and substance
Downriver from London Bridge, past the Mayor's Building and under Tower Bridge, you'll find yourself on a comparatively quiet stretch of water overlooked by a cool, modernist building (a banana warehouse in a previous life): this is home to the Design Museum. The temple to innovation has a permanent collection devoted to all aspects of design, from fashion to furniture, plus a programme of temporary exhibitions. The Blueprint restaurant on the first floor, the ground-floor café and the Riverside Garden all provide excellent views of the water, and there's a fantastic shop that stocks everything from Anglepoise lamps to Miffy books. Entry adults £8.80, students £6.60, children under 16 £4.40, those under 6 go free, 28 Shad Thames, London SE1 (+4420 7403 6933; www.designmuseum.org)
AlamyBEST FOR: Curious explorers
Tower Bridge has made cameo appearances in countless films and television shows. However, to really understand this prime example of Victorian engineering, join a tour up the vertiginous walkways that reach 42m above the Thames. You'll learn about the history of the bridge and its ingenious bascule design, a layout that allows tall ships to pass beneath. Visit the interactive displays in the Victorian Engine Rooms to bring the story of this iconic structure to life. And yes, a red double-decker bus has made the terrifying leap from one side of the open bridge to the other. Adults £9.00, concessions £6.30, children £3.90, Tower Bridge Rd, London SE1 2UP (+4420 7403 3761; www.towerbridge.org.uk)
BEST FOR: Food with a view
The sixth-floor restaurant at Tate Modern has one of the most spectacular views of any dining room in London, if not the world, with the dome of St Paul's peering grandly through the wall of glass that spans one side of the airy space. Furthermore, the place is unpretentious and buzzy: babies are as welcome as business folk. If you really want to impress a date, take them to the bar for a glass of wine before dinner and watch the river churn below, while the sun sets behind that iconic skyline. Bankside, London SE1 (+4420 7887 8888; www.tate.org.uk)
BEST FOR: Aspiring Don Drapers
Londoners are spoiled when it comes to cocktail bars, but one of the very best is the Royal Festival Hall's Skylon. This Modernist masterpiece has double-height windows that command spectacular views of the river, soaring concrete columns and mid-century furniture that befits its 1951 'Festival of Britain' origins. Watch the mixologists at work from a seat at the bar or enjoy the view of the Southbank crowds from the riverside lounge. There's an extensive wine list but the cocktails are the real draw: the menu covers the classics as well as seasonal specialities. Royal Festival Hall, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 (+4420 7654 7800; www.skylon-restaurant.co.uk)
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BEST FOR: Floating above the city
Yes, many cities across the globe have their own souped-up ferris wheels but none come close to the London Eye (literally, at 135m it's the tallest in the world). Both an architectural masterpiece and an innovative feat of engineering, it's fast become a well-loved part of the landscape since its completion in 2000, thanks to its elegant design. With its unbeatable location on a curve of the river that takes in everything from Westminster to Windsor Castle, the Eye feels like a fast-track to the heart of the capital and the surrounding countryside. Adults and children over 4 £29.50, Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Road, London SE1 (+44 871 781 3000; www.londoneye.com)
© Sophie Mutevelian/Garden MuseumBEST FOR: Green-fingered folk
The Garden Museum is one of those treasures that feels like a delightful surprise to even the most jaded Londoner. Sat quietly off the bustling Lambeth Palace Road, the museum's collection of ancient implements, paintings and exhibitions on gardeners past and present is housed in the deconsecrated parish church of St-Mary-at-Lambeth. Outside, a 17th-century-style knot garden pays tribute to John Tradescants the Elder and Younger - great plant hunters whose tombs inspired the museum's creation and whose discoveries fill its flowerbeds. The garden café serves lunch and cakes made with ingredients grown within this secret urban oasis. £7.50 adults, 5 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 (+4420 7401 8865; www.gardenmuseum.org.uk)
BEST FOR: River walkers
Upriver, at Richmond, life on the Thames has a distinctly tranquil, laid-back flavour, as evidenced by the White Cross pub. At high tide the drinking spot is marooned on its own island, so you can bob up in your boat, pull on the wellies that have been thoughtfully provided and enter from the water. There's been a watering hole (sorry) on this spot ever since 1748, and everything from the roaring fire to the dog-friendly philosophy renders this one of those pubs where you feel like a local, even if you've come from further than around the bend in the river. Riverside, Richmond, Surrey TW9 (+4420 8940 6844; www.thewhitecrossrichmond.com)