I fly to London City and spend the day looking for as many unique Thames crossings as possible!
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- Опубликовано: 6 сен 2024
- After my first flight into London City Airport, I had a few hours before my return so decided to set myself a challenge: find as many unique crossings of the Thames river as I could, and well, cross them! Here is how I got on! It was a tiring day but a lot of fun :)
The flights bit:
EDI LCY 0850 1020 BA8703 Embraer E190 G-LCYZ Seat 25D
LCY EDI 1945 2100 BA8714 Embraer E190 G-LCYM Seat 25D
£180 rtn
The challenge:
Crossing 1 - Woolwich Ferry (free)
Crossing 2 - Emirates Air Line (£4.00 single)
Crossing 3 - Greenwich Foot Tunnel (free)
Crossing 4 - Tower Bridge (free but tours available)
Crossing 5 - Millennium Bridge (free)
Crossing 6 - Blackfriars Bridge (you need a train ticket to access)
Maps courtesy of Google Maps
Movie Clips courtesy of The Giant Behemoth, 1959
Hi, I’m Steve. I am a travel reviewer and post my trip reports here on RUclips. I pay for my own travel and produce my own videos. If you have any questions about my journeys or travel advice in general, please drop me a comment - I do read every single one. I’d also love to hear any recommendations you may have for future content, or why not challenge me to try something a little out of the ordinary! If you are looking to collaborate on any type of project, I’d love to hear from you - email me your ideas and hopefully we can work together in the future.
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#London #RiverThames #BritishAirways
What a nice morning in Edinburgh yet all it's done here in Ayrshire the last 5 straight days is P doon, nobody talks in That London, last time I was down was back in Oct 2019 for my 50th, one uber driver that took us back to Heathrow on our last day was the only driver that wanted to talk, he also said how friendly the Scottish are and wanted to shake my hand cos he heard we like that lol, he was from Somalia .
I tell a lie we did have a local Staines taxi driver who gave us some great local knowledge on the place when he picked us up from Thorpe Park.
Thanks again Steve.
Cheers Gary! I am getting so sick of this rain!!!!
@@steve-marsh I went to Ayr once, there was a lot of it , and it chased me to Blackpool the following week. Could have been worse, the next year I was in Dublin in the rain !
Taking the Overground from Wapping to Rotherhithe would have taken you through the original Thames Tunnel, designed and built by Marc and Isambard Brunel. That was the first tunnel in the world to be built beneath a navigable river. There’s a small Brunel museum at the Rotherhithe end that’s worth a visit if you don’t have a plane to catch!
Yes, but Steve was making a film and each one of his crossings had to provide good material for us to watch. If he had taken us through the Wapping to Rotherhithe tunnel it would only have been a ride on an underground train. This tunnel is one for historians.
Thanks for the info! Lots of reasons to return to London for sure :)
@@steve-marsh Other than the woolwich ferry , there is the bus through the Blackwall Tunnel, and the pier to pier riverboat services, some serve stops on different sides of the river , using different sized vessels. Of course the tube network crosses under in various tunnels , including the waterloo and city line, and hungerford bridge at waterloo-charing cross is a footbridge next to the railway bridge. If going further out west on the narrower parts of the thames there are small ferries at Sunbury , or you can walk accross the lock gates and wier at teddington.
I'd actually love to join you join the trve loads in common
And ironically is used by the London OVERGROUND.
Steve, its always a thrill watching your vlogs so thank you for making them for us to enjoy.
Cheers Ronny! Really appreciate it!
Fizzing with pride to hear a Scotsman say London is one of the best cities in the world. Big love for Scotland from me, best country in the world
Cheers Andrew! It really is a spectacular city, and like I say, blessed to have it within an hours flight :)
What a good idea for a video. I live to the east of London so it was fun for me. I loved the film clip of the old Woolwich Ferry. They were paddle steamers and as kids we used to play pirates, until we were thrown off. Then we would get the next ferry and start over. The bad news was if we were thrown off of that one on the wrong side, we would have to walk back through the Woolwich foot tunnel. Happy memories.
Great memories! But you must be quite old if you are going back to the paddle steamers on the Woolwich Ferry.
@@ZL54JK8 Old enough😁
Haha that's so awesome! Genuine pirates :)
Being Ex Military and at at one point based in Woolwich we used to race the ferry across the Thames. As soon as the ferry started to move we got "'GO'' and made our way down the spiral staircase and ran through the tunnel and back up the other staircase at the other end. If you Beat the Ferry your prize was a ferry ride back across. If you were last or failed you had to repeat the run back across.. It pays to be a winner!!
One of your best videos (although I think I say that every time!) even if it wasn’t in Scotland.
I’m also terrified of heights, but crazy about bridges - preferably if I’m not walking on them.
It’s great how you always find new and interesting things to see - not the usual touristy things. And those views of the city after the rain are amazing!
This video was a great treat today.
Awww Heather, thank you! Don't worry, the next video won't be one of the best :D (as we try to find Autumn colours on a dull Scottish October day!) :D
That was class Steve. Really interesting and certainly showed me parts of London I've never seen before. Loved the cable car and I must try it myself someday. Talking of cable cars, and going off on a huge tangent, if ever you visit Dubrovnik take the cable car up to the top of Mount Srd which towers above the city. The views are incredible and you can get a cracking lunch up there to keep your good lady happy 😊
Cheers Davey! One of those places I've always wanted to visit - there seems to be so much unique interesting stuff going on over there! Alicja would love it I'm sure!!!
@@steve-marsh if you do decide to go over to Croatia someday gimme a shout Steve as I've been to loads of places over there and love that beautiful country. I can give you a few suggestions as to what to see & do 👍
You are right Steve, Greenwich is a very expensive place to live.
Well done, Kevin! I felt homesick when I saw that Gyle bus at the end of the video!
Don't worry Leon, the Gyle bus will always be there :D
Simply stunning. Thanks so much for sharing from Portland Oregon. I've just added London to my bucket list.
Cheers Steve! Portland is a constant on my bucket list, and having only spent a couple of days there I can't wait to return!
Awesome video Steve, a free ferry ride must have seemed like heaven for a Scotsman!
Ha ha ha!
You better believe it!!! Was tempted to stay on all day
Absolutely love your videos
Hey thanks so much! :)
Thanks for the response back Steve. When ever you can get back to the Daytona area let us know. We will show you around the unknown central Florida where tourists don’t usually go. We can take you back 2000 years nature wise and towns back to the 50,s and 60’s. We can show you as many gators or manatees you want! Thanks and we love your work. Go walk Hadrian’s wall! I did part of it once.
Great tip Robert! Oh, I can't even tell you how wonderful that sounds - I would do anything right now to visit your Country! Towns from the 50s and 60s melt my heart!
Not quite like Great Britain’s thousand year old towns but old enough for us! Florida was nothing more than a swamp 150 years ago and there’s still a lot of undisturbed land to colored. Offer stands. Show up and will show u around!
Land to explore. My phone has a mind of its own.
Always fun reading the info on what to do should you crash! 😄Done the Emirates cable car a couple of years ago Steve - great views. If anybody is ever down at the Greenwich side again I thoroughly recommend the Thames path walk down towards the barrier. Just follow the path riverside edge from the Emirates Airline kiosk and you soon walk into a scene from London's past with some of the last remaining aggregate factories and ship docks, and past that you will find one of London's finest old cockney boozers called 'Anchor and Hope'. From there you can sit outside with your drink by the river and watch the Emirates cars go over the water with the Canary Wharf towers backdrop in one direction, and the barrier and London City airport takeoffs in the other... Fantastic views on a nice dusk evening 👍
Sounds absolutely fantastic and definitely a part of the city to explore a bit more next time :) Cheers!
Thumbs up for the anchor and hope, as one of the locals described it to me, it’s a ‘ proper boys pub’ , a real slice of old dockland London.
As a Edinburgh Lad who's dad wanted to join the Met Police so we left "The Big E" and moved to London (Battersea) where I grew up. Just to add to your great video ... The only railway bridge that connects North and South England on the Thames is Battersea as all the other railway bridges have a station termination. It's also where the famouse Celtic Shield was found. Westminster and Lambeth Bridges (either side of The Houses of parliament) are painted to represent the two houses in parliament. Green (Westminster Bridge) The House of Commons. Red ( Lambeth Bridge) The House of Lords. (As can be seen by the seating in the houses. As a little lad I would with mum and dad come home for summer hols and stay with Granparents so seeing your vids bring back so many happy times in the 50s and 60s..... Thanks again. Excellent Work. 😉
Thanks so much for this info Edwin! Awesome! I feel a return to London :)
No there are others e.g at Gunnersbuty (Richmond- Willrsden & beyond)
Blackfriars Station spans Blackfriars Bridge. And has entrances on both banks.
Ha Steve, that was pretty special, loved the reprise it gave my memory, but top marks for your thinking content@!
Cheers Peter! It was a fun day and fun to try and plan as soon as I came up with the concept. Thanks so much for coming along!
You've seen more of London than I have and I've lived there for 25 years! In defence of City Airport, it's usually great. I fly up to Glasgow from there quite a bit and it's a lot less stressful than going to Gatwick or Heathrow
Mate that was wonderful, I found myself getting a little emotional watching this as it bought back so many wonderful memories of friends and good times, thank you again, stay safe and good luck, cheers, Si..
Cheers Simon, so glad to bring you some very familiar places!
Greenwich is great and deserves one of your vlogs. The best views are just outside to observatory, lots to see in the park. Then the naval college , Queens House and Greenwich Market (great at the weekend)- all free. There is often events around - The London Marathon, gigs at the bandstands in the park and much more. Also something good to do is get a roamer ticket on the Clipper and get on and off as much as you like just make sure you do an evening at dusk/night trip.
Thanks for the awesome tips Jacqui! The first place I'll be headed next time :)
Loved this video! I grew up in London and used to work for BA, so this was quite nostalgic for me. Hope you had a good night's sleep when you got home.
There is also the Woolwich Foot Tunnel (not always open!) - slightly longer, deeper than the Greenwich Foot tunnel. Plenty of buses between Woolwich and Greenwich. Oyster cards allow holders to go through the barriers without being charged. And Waterloo Bridge was built by women!
Thanks so much for the awesome info!
Amazing, Steve, and you thought Scotland was the only place where you could have all four seasons in a single day!
After all your fascinating videos, one on my own "home turf" -"London City Airport? I remember when it was all docks round there, mate!".. In fact when I was a kid in the 1950's and before we celebrated Hogmanay very much in the South, the sounding of the ships' sirens from the Docks was what heralded in the New Year.
Poor old "John Benn"! I'm glad I never saw that film clip when, with sister ships "WIll Crooks", "Squires" and "Gordon", the Ferries were the highlight of a trip into Woolwich. Equipped with paddle wheels either side which were capable of independent control, their "dances" were even more convoluted than those of today's boats, as the Port of London was still very busy, with sea-going ships being unloaded at riverside wharves right up to the Pool below London Bridge, where you saw HMS Belfast, and the Thames at Woolwich saw a constant traffic of big ships, and tugs with strings of barges, which the ferries had to dodge between. Those ferries were amazing, with their tall funnels, and distinctive tubby outline, and from the passenger accommodation on the lower deck under the vehicle deck, you could look through to the engine room and see the shining brass and copper fittings and the burnished steel driving rods of the beautifully maintained steam engines in action as they drove the paddle wheel shafts, and smell that steam engine aroma. The landing stages, then were much more basic, pontoons which rose and fell with the tide, while the wash from the paddle wheels foamed and churned around the massive timbers which supported them, and the smells from the water which was stirred up...suffice it to say that the Thames wasn't as clean as it is today!
You mention a bridge across the Thames at this location. The "East London River Crossing" has been a bone of contention for decades, with the environmental impact a major concern. Certainly road access across (or more accurately. under) the River between South and East London relying on the Blackwall Tunnels is problematic to say the least (You know you could have caught the 108 bus between the 02 and Poplar through the Tunnel to further add to your tally. But lots of people will say "Oh, you should've gone that way" and make their own suggestions. As an exploration of river crossings downriver from the centre of the City, I reckon you did well.) I've still not experienced the "Emirates Airline" from the O2 to the middle of nowhere in East London myself yet.
I've used both foot tunnels quite often - as well as the Greenwich one from Island Gardens to Cutty Sark,you experienced, there's one which parallels the Woolwich Ferry, and they can be quite eerie at night, as I found on my first time watching West Ham play at the old Boleyn Ground. It was the first fixture of the 1961/62 season, August Bank Holiday Monday, evening KO, I was twelve at the time and I went with my mates to see the Irons beat the 1961 "Double" winning Spurs 2-1 (Alan Sealey scored the winner....) On the way home, I got separated from my pals in the crowds, but I managed to find my way onto a bus to North Woolwich, only to find that the last Ferry had gone, and I had to walk the tunnel under the River on my own. I was glad when i'd climbed the stairs and got out on "my" side of the River!
Working near Canary Wharf for the last eighteen years of my employment, the DLR was a daily experience (I hate the Tube, so tried to avoid the overcrowded Jubilee Line whenever possible). The journey from Woolwich Arsenal, past London City to Poplar for Canary Wharf is quite amazing, especially after dark when the buildings are lit up, and the less picturesque parts of East London's riverside are shrouded in darkness: As the line follows the bends and loops of the Thames, the lights of Canary Wharf to the north side of the River, and the O2 to the south, seem to swap positions two or three times as you steadily get closer to them on the journey.
Thanks for sharing your day in London. After all the wonderful Scottish places you've shown us, it was a little strange to see you in such familiar surroundings!!
What an interesting comment! Good of you to take the trouble to write at some length. You bring many details to life with your unique recollections. So much of the old dockland is consigned now to the memories of the elderly. Certainly there are some good histories of the Thames and its docks, and I think John Pudney's book on "London's Docks" is one of the best. However, there are also several little books written by people who grew up in dockland and write from first hand experience. I recently read (although I bought it a long time ago)"The Barritts of Wapping High Street" by a lady who was born and grew up near the London Docks in Wapping, where her father was a dock policeman. Her authentic memories couldn't be bettered by any scholarly history and she brought post-war dockland vividly to life. Maybe you could write a similar book?
@@ZL54JK8 Thank you for your kind reply. I grew up (and still live) south of the River, but the Woolwich Ferry was always a favourite haunt, whether we were crossing with the family car on a journey to North London or Essex (it was the point where the South Circular and North Circular roads made a junction) or on foot just to enjoy the crossing - you soon got told to leave by the crew if you outstayed your welcome! - and perhaps take a bus from North Woolwich into the Royal Docks area to see the ships berthed there, whose masts, funnels and superstructures overshadowed the rows of terraced houses and the post-Blitz "pre-fabs" in North Woolwich. I remember the "house" colours painted on their funnels - Blue Star, the buff P&O with the black topping and the "Blue Funnel Line" boats, to name but a few.There was a lifting bridge near one of the locks giving access to the River where we'd get off and watch the ships entering or leaving the dock if the tide was right in the River outside. It's featured in this "RUclips" film ruclips.net/video/zmdvpF_I-_0/видео.html.
while Alan Snowden's film of a PLA cruise downriver to the Royal Docks in 1966 shows the next generation of Woolwich Ferry, only recently replaced, and the 1960's ferry piers: ruclips.net/video/NF8hKdNxZLI/видео.html
I used to work with a colleague who came from a family of dockers, and his memories would well be worth recording! One memory which stays with me from the early 1950's is of a small fleet of redundant Thames sailing barges which were rafted together on a mooring just downstream of the ferry crossing and the jetty (by the now demolished Royal Oak pub opposite North Woolwich Station) where there were always Sun tugs moored awaiting their next duty. I expect most of those fine sailing craft were broken up, but what prices they'ed fetch today!. At the end of my first term at secondary school, the headmaster bade farewell to the leavers at the last assembly of term, and one was going to become a "tea boy on a tug". I felt then what a fantastic career to be starting. No doubt he had family connections as Thames watermen are a close knit community, and this would be kind of apprenticeship to the River. I wonder what happened to him. There's a 1951 film noir "Pool of London" whose location scenes bring back the atmosphere of those days, with trams running in the Old Kent Road as well as the scenes on the River. All memories now, but I'm glad I was around to see it all!
@@hughrainbird43 Another fascinating dip into the past thanks to your comment. I should say you have a book well underway by this time! Like you, I grew up in the 1950s in the vicinity of the working river, but in my case it was the River Clyde in Glasgow. When in due course I ended up living and working in London, I understandably felt a close affinity with the dockland area. I remember seeing the Royal Victoria Dock with ships still there, and the Isle of Dogs was a remote, barren area, quite the opposite of the great "Canary Wharf" complex that exists there now.
My interest in London led me to take up London guiding, and I made a speciality of "Docklands". These tours proved popular because, as you know, in 1982 the LDDC was formed in order to renew the whole area and so change began to take place, to the curiosity of Londoners who wondered what was going to come about. Now, on the whole, we know the answer to that, and the whole area is transformed beyond the belief of people back in the 80's.
I've moved on now, and have inevitably lost touch with current progress. That is why videos such as this one Steve has kindly made for us prove so interesting to me. He has made us think of the Royal Docks, built downstream of the City for the big new steam ships that needed large amounts of space. George Parker Bidder, the great engineer of the 19th century, never would have thought his Victoria Dock opened in 1855 would one day provide the runway for an airport over a hundred years later! Nor would he have thought that such a thing as the Dockland Light Railway that Steve takes us on board would eventually use the same railway viaduct that he built for the London to Blackwall line opened in 1843. What he built back then has stood the test of time.
Mention of the Woolwich Ferry, and thinking also of old Dockland memories, leads me to mention that fine building that was once North Woolwich Station. It was beautifully restored and turned into a museum with a shop selling all sorts of interesting books and docklands memorabilia. But with the eventual winding down of the LDDC there wasn't enough money to keep it going, and I very much fear it may have gone to rack and ruin now. I hope not.
Good of you to give the You Tube video links. Thanks to YT there's a lot of old film available now. There didn't used to be. There was that excellent series called "The Making of Modern London", made by Thames Television back in the 1980s and they did a splendid programme on the River Thames. But there's a lot more footage around now, which is good. Also a DVD called "City of Ships" that is worth having. However, as your own comments clearly show, there is nothing to equal the living memories of the people who experienced it all at first hand.
Cheers Hugh! Once again thanks so much for putting so much time into making such an awesome reply and your words always take me back to very different times in my imagination :) Haha glad to bring you some very familiar places :)
@@steve-marsh Your video subjects often give rise to those memories: Long may they continue!
We were in London at the end of September. Greenwich is a lovely place we went down by boat and had a look round. I had no idea that you could walk under the Thames.
I think London is getting its buzz back. We are returning in December to see the lights.
Thanks Steve very interesting as usual.
Thanks Anna! I can't wait to have a proper look at Greenwich sometime :) Totally agree - London has so much swagger these days :)
@@steve-marsh The walk accross Greenwich Park and Black Heath is a killer if you are not fit. See if you can get into the Naval Hospital Too, Greenwich really deserves a good two days to do completely with the market, local bookshops etc, at least its got some good hotels now.
Another amazing vlog Steve!! Ever changing skyline with all the skyscrapers. Very interesting and evoked some memories from my childhood. Hope all is well, take care
Cheers Peter! It was a very enjoyable day and a lot of fun to plan too :)
On our train trip to Arran we have 3 nights in Greenwich! And when I researched the hotel, I saw the tunnel, which I had never heard of. Thanks for the brilliant tip of taking the cable car. Who needs London Eye ?! Which you have to queue for several lifetimes to board anyway! So excited. Great video!
Wow. Hats off to you, Steve! Such a clever take on a London day trip. Loved the gondola, especially. So many twists and turns in the day. Felt like a board game where you keep pulling wildcards from a stack and roll the pair of dice to make your move forward. Loved it! But much relieved when you finally got back safely after all that work. Goodness! Hope you soaked your feet when you got home.
Thanks so much Karen! It was fun to do and to plan as well, but squelchy feet on the flight home :D
Really fun to watch and I’m glad You enjoyed your wee London trip!😊
You'll be there next time :)
Greenwich Market is amazing. Next time if you can go and have a look. And of course the meridian line. Great video Steve 😊👌
Brilliant video and a great day out, spent many happy days in Greenwich, very touristy but still cool and the Naval museums are excellent.
Cheers Andrew! I really regretted not having more time in Greenwich!!!
1 of my old school friends was based on the Belfast before going onto HMS Glasgow and love watching (LADMOB) who does walks down in London all around the city :) Burke and Hare and graveyard tours he does are great :)
Sounds awesome - hoping to return to London with Alicja sometime soon :)
Great video, as someone who used to live in the North West, London was always a distant place that I wasn't able to visit. I've moved south to Warwickshire and now can get to London in 90 mins on the train for £30 with the children. It's been great discovering London as an adult and finding all these little gems you mentioned in your video. Loved it!
Wow, since when is Warwickshire south of London? I too am a Londoner born & bred in Bermondsey but now live in Yorkshire. I often drive down to see family and will always enjoy the sights and traditional Pie & Mash.
Such a cool city eh? History on every corner :)
@@user-itschad1954 I moved south to Warwickshire... Used to live up North which is why I never really visited London much until adulthood
Again, excellent work! Loved the views of London City.
I always follow along with you on google maps and as a result learn so much. Thank you for making these trips and dealing with all of the hassels so I don't have to.
Cheers Jimmy!
London has a lot of lovely places to see
Great video. Lots of my favourite parts of London. I must do the Woolwich Ferry some day. 👍👍
I'm an Orkney lad who has been living in London for 20 years and had no idea about the foot tunnel under the Thames! Every day's a school day.. Great video Steve!
I really hope you get the chance to take the Elizabeth line on your next visit to London.
A really enjoyable video about London, the cable car bit was my favourite very interesting crossing to say the least!! Well done 👍 👍
Cheers Michael! Glad you enjoyed it - I'm sure I missed many more crossings, but a very enjoyable flying visit :)
Absolutely brilliant Steve. Brings back so many happy memories. From Clare in NZ
Aww so glad Clare to bring you some familiar sights :)
That was excellent Steve...Thank you for sharing it with us...:):):)
Great video Steve. And you're absolutely spot on about the Captain coming on the PA for the 'familiarisation'. Even if the First Officer was flying the sector the Capt would still welcome the passengers aboard on the ground for the very same reason. In the event of an in-flight Emergency the Capt would assume flying duties while the FO would be busy with the ATC. Did you notice how the weather information was passed on describing the cloud cover as broken. I would have through the capt would avoid aviation parlance such as broken and scattered. I guess they get quite a few aviation enthusiasts as frequent flyers then.
@Nicky L Thanks Nicky. I'll pay more attention when the weatherman is on. With RUclips taking up most of my tube time, I can't recall when was the last time I wached weather report on TV!
Very good point Arshad! Tell you what though, it's such a pleasure to be flying again, really embracing every part of it :)
To get from North Greenwich to Heron quays via Canary wharf you went under the river and the DLR from cutty sark goes back under the thames as well.
I flew into London city once from Amsterdam. Flew on my favourite aircraft, the then Bae 146 whisper jet. Managed to get seated in the only row without windows!!!!! Great idea to hop the Thames, probably better to do it on a full day though. Gives you time to enjoy a few things.......like that beer you missed🤣🤣🤣👍
Tell me about it! :) Oh, and loved flying the whisper jet! But I always had a window - hard luck! :D
Brilliant video. Thank you for recording. Really enjoyed every minute.
Glad you enjoyed it Geoffrey
I worked for a company in California that had an office in Canary Wharf. Been to London so many times and never saw as much as you do in a day - wish I'd watched your channel instead of buying touristy book.
This video was so interesting and I’m sure lots of fun. Two things i learned from this video as many times I have flown is the pilot recognition and the plane turning around headed out. Thanks 🤗
Once again a thoroughly enjoyable video. Entertaining and educational at the same time. My feet hurt just watching all that walking you were doing. I just never thought of how many Crossings there are on the Thames. I hope you had as much fun doing it as I did watching it. Be well, stay safe, love from Texas.
What a nice comment! You remind me of the people I met when I visited Texas who were all so kind to me as a visitor. Love to you also from over here!
Kate thank you so much! And yes, every Texan I have ever met has been incredible! All the best to you! :)
That was fantastic,I can't
believe how many variations!!
Truly FANTASTIC Steve!!
You could also have done Greenwich to Canary Wharf on the Thames Clipper boat. Or walk through the Rotherhithe Tunnel (grim because of the traffic fumes).
Binging lots of videos I forgot to like them must go back over them and like, great content loved seen cobh one especially, I need a holiday now because of your channel 😂
I’ve been on the bridges but there’s also a lot more too see. I was born in Greenwich and also lived in Woolwich.
Great video Steve! A flight report with city tour! On flights to/from city airport, you get free food and drinks in economy.
If you are heading to Heathrow, you have to pay for them! (ok, maybe not during pandemic times...)😮
If you are in London next time, head to OXO tower. There is a restaurant that offers good view of London from above (well...3 to 4 storey counts right?😂)
Oh sounds fantastic, cheers! I'll be sure to go there next time, hopefully with Alicja
I've only had the pleasure of visiting the UK once (25 years ago this month)... a week of it in London. I took the Greenwich foot tunnel... I must have read it in a Rick Steves travel guide. I remember taking the DLR to somewhere in Canary Wharf. When you showed the little domed entrance I was immediately brought back to that day... I remember it was hot and humid and the tunnel was dripping but a relief from the heat. I can't imagine going to London just for the day and not staying at least one night!
You did the Greenwich foot tunnel, but missed the very similar one at Woolwich; it’s very close to the ferry. There used to be a second ferry at Woolwich, operated by the railway, but it closed in the early days of the 20th century.
Others have mentioned the Rotherhithe Tunnel. You can walk down the ramps where the vehicles go, or down steps just outside the tunnel portals, but thereused to be another way. The tunnel has four ventilation shafts, numbered from South to North. Shafts 2 and 3 are right on the banks of the river and these used to be additional pedestrian access points, with ornate wrought iron staircases and railings. The steps are still there, but locked off in the tunnel and the doors into The surface buildings if the shafts are securely locked.
London is absolutely packed with interesting stuff, thanks so much for sharing this
Thamestastic Steve! Spirited jaunt, I salute you.
Catching up on old vids.. did the Greenwich Tunnel during heatwave in 97 then caught DLR into Cannon St... refreshing 'ice box' on platform until we went up just one flight of escalators
Cheers for digging into the old stuff!
I saw parts of London I had never seen, and I never knew there were cable cars in London! Great video, thanks..
This was a fun one to plan too, so many more places if I'd had the time! Cheers
I think this was the perfect number of crossings, adding more would probably make it a bit repetitive. I think you covered all sorts of options except scuba diving
I see interesting things with your videos that I wouldn’t see otherwise, thank you. But, that being said, I still like Scotland the most. No pressure but I hope you never get too tired to do them.
Awww thank you! and don't worry - normal service will resume on the next one :)
To be honest: I hit 👍 the moment your video starts. They’re all just great!🎉 🤷♂️
One Thames crossing you should try,but be warned doing it on foot you'll do it only once,is the Rotherhythe Tunnel.Unlike the Greenwich and Woolwich foot tunnels you share this one with cars and the air stinks and then there's the bikes,and probably Sir Boris's brilliant idea of escooters now, riding down the narrow pavement.Once is enough!
Oh I'm glad I chose Greenwich! Cheers for the info though :)
See Jago Hazzard vid and stick with the virtual tour and be thankful pedestrians are banned from the blackwalls !
Unique.Fantastic. Lovely
Cheers Willie! It was a fun one to plan too :)
Oh, my goodness, I'm worn out watching you cover such a large area. Great idea for a video though! You thought of everything. We really enjoyed it! Brent was guessing where you would be going next after each crossing. Can't wait to get back to the UK. Here's hoping for spring or fall of 2022!
Haha thanks guys! London is such a fascinating place with a story to tell on almost every corner, love it, but boy is it tiring!!!!
That was a great trip. I DIDNT KNOW ABOUT THAT TRIP FROM LONDON CITY.
I loved this Steve, flying is so exciting. I love London so it was good to see some different areas and ways to get over the river. Your poor feet, hope you got a bath and a hot meal when you got in.
Thanks so much Marina, what a wonderful city it is! I really wish I'd had more time there, but I felt it in the legs the next day :)
Great!
Could also have included an Underground line ( e.g. London Bridge- Bank) in addition to an Overground (e.g. Rotherhithe-Wapping).
But probably there wasn't the time.
This has popped up but sadly can't watch it till later....just to say Steve's in my old manor now! Before I watch and off the top of my head....
(Do tunnels count?)
Woolwich ferry
Emirates Skyline
Thames clipper (now U-boats)
Tower bridge
Millennium wobbly bridge
Blackfriars station
Richmond bridge
Other transport that crosses the Thames
M25- Dartford tunnel & bridge
Blackwall tunnel
Pedestrian Tunnels
Greenwich foot tunnel
Woolwich foot tunnel
Overground from Chelsea wharf? Not sure it's called that.
Anything out of Charing cross....the proper one😉
London Bridge which isn't unique at all
District line into Kew
Waterloo & City line
Jubilee line: Canada water to canary wharf and canary wharf to the O2.
DLR into Woolwich
Bakerloo from Charing cross
Victoria from Pimlico (no passport required) to MI6
Mainline out of Victoria
Northern line in multiple (2)
Plus private rib boats and dining cruises
And many other bridges, Putney, Battersea, Westminster, Kingston, Fulham or whatever it is they're called...
So I'm really looking forward to it 😊
Hopefully there's something I missed...
And if you ever go to London. Do a U-Boat and the sky garden at the Walkie talkie at night....👍🙂
And I didn't check out the description first.
A final edit is there used to be a boat the served the Hilton hotel on the south side to Canary wharf...
This certainly wins comment of the day, love it Michelle, thanks so much! :)
Another great video Steve, thank you.
Thanks so much for coming along :)
Great to see so many familiar sights from another pair of eyes..the woolwich ferry, that takes me back...a few decades. Great quality video.
Thanks so much Michael!
Great video, appreciate all your efforts, knackering, we only live in Essex, given us some great ideas, enjoy all your video's, keep um coming 👍🏻 😀
Thanks so much Richard! Best wishes to you :)
There a little ferry that goes across the river from Canary Wharf to the Hilton hotel Rotherhithe. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canary_Wharf_%E2%80%93_Rotherhithe_Ferry
Ahhhhh! That would have been a cool addition!
Is there no end to your versatility, Steve? You bring us all the gems of Scotland and now a masterpiece of film and commentary from London! Some comments here seem to grumble about the river crossings you "missed", but the ones you chose were well chosen and there was a lot to enjoy. London is a big place, although, as W.S. Gilbert said, "a very great deal may be done in a day." You have certainly proved him right!
Thanks so much! Yeah, it's the same everywhere I go, people always tell me the things I've missed! But I can rest easy that I gave it my best shot :)
I really enjoyed watching that thank you Steve.
Thanks so much for coming along :)
I know I'm quite late but this was PURE GOLD. I need to follow in your footsteps this summer!
Cheers mate!
BA give you more legroom on the City flights than they do Heathrow. I'd also have counted the DLR as a method of crossing the Thames.
Good point! :) And love the aircraft, especially the 2x2 config :)
Amazing - I live in London and have not done all of those - well the cable car is the only one, I would go mental doing that, you're a stronger man than I on that one!! V cool day out
Haha cheers, I was so glad to have the video to focus on :)
You picked a crackin’ morning Steve, .. but bloody well done, .. just shows ya’ how small a country we are, or maybe just how good all our travel service can be .. Wicked vlog again Steve ✌️🙏👍
Ahh thanks so much Thomas!!! It was a fun one to plan too :)
Yet another great video, my wife and I have stayed several times in a hotel just down from Borough Market and know that area well, next time go to the sky Garden its free but you have to book.
Ohhh - I like the sound of that!!! Cheers :)
I can't belive I missed this one. So many familier places I have cycle past or crossed over. In the Greenwich tunnel, if a ship goes over when you are in it it's very spooky hearing a propeller over your head!
I don't know if anybody else has suggested this but the Rotherhithe road tunnel can be crossed on foot. The pavements are wide enough but the atmosphere is somewhat heavy with exhaust fumes.
Ahhh would have been another unique one!!!
How long since BA had a cooked breakfast? Good question. I remember commuting weekly between Heathrow and Paris CDG in the 1990s; I found out very quickly that for the same price I could travel British Midland Diamond Club (business class) and get a full breakfast and lounge access, while my colleagues travelled at the back of the plane on BA and were lucky to get a cheese roll. It was amazing how many hot breakfasts the BM crew could serve on such a short flight - though on one occasion the last of the flight attendants only just made it to her seat before the wheels touched the runway.
Still did it maybe 10 years ago at least?
BM Diamond! More memories! :)
I used to do BA London to Aberdeen regularly for work and the early morning flight you'd get a cooked breakfast, but nothing on the afternoon one. This was 2013-2015. Haven't flown it since the.
In the early eighties I used to fly to Heathrow from Edinburgh every Monday morning, back on Friday evening. British Midland did the best breakfast! We always flew British Midland for that reason.
Cheers, this is Sean in Atlanta. I am trying to come to London in November and you hit all the favourite places of mine in one short video! But you didn’t eat at Borough Market? You could’ve taken the Jubilee Bridge too because that’s kind of cool! Anyway, thank you so much for an awesome video and I hope to see more very soon!
Sean
Cheers Sean! And all the best with your next visit to London :)
I am thinking Jubilee Bridge ? where is that ( Oh, he did miss London Bridge Station to Cannon Street by rail then walk to Millenium go South -> Blackfriars Stn Walk all the platform, but that does work out a bit longer. My favourite bridge though is probably Southwark because it is so little used.
Brilliant! Thoroughly enjoyed this video!
Cheers Bill! Glad to hear it :)
One of my fav walks in London you partly covered, I used to fly in and out of LCY in my commuting days and stay at The Thistle Tower hotel ( Now changed its name) its a great walk from the Tower bridge along the South Bank to Westminster Bridge so much to see and do..... some lovely memories in this video Steve cheers :-)
Hello from New Zealand, extremely interesting video, thank you.
Thanks so much!
Great Steve and I live in London near Heathrow. I can probably see more deer here than up in boney Scots land 😃😃
Love the vlog this morning week. I must try the cable car next time I'm down in London
Please do, it's a rare bargain in London!
Super video as always Steve. Thank you 👍
Thanks so much :)
The IFS Cable Car is amazing at night. Looks straight out of a Sci fi film. They've changed them purple now.
I've been watching your videos a fair bit in the last few days. I have a suggestion for you. Wuppertal in Germany, check out their train system. Its 15 mins from Dusseldorf.
WOW! Such a hoot I'm watching it again!!!
Thanks,
Cheers Jerry!!!
Such an outstanding idea and attempt. Good work!
Thank you very much! A tiring but fun day! :)
What a fun change of venue! Thanks for taking us along!
Thanks Gwendolyn! Really enjoyed this wee adventure south :)
Really enjoyed that. That is a great challenge to do. So different. 👍
Thanks Trevor, a lot of fun to plan too :)
East London is completely unrecognisable to how it was 30 years ago. Complete regeneration. Overlooking the Thames now are blocks and blocks of new build flats etc with only the odd old factory still left waiting to be demolished… Fascinating really how all that has been consigned to the history books.
Steve, you have agreat talent to entertain. These crossings must be one of the most imaginative ways to see London. Wonderful editing, great sound and intriguing storyline. You have tempted me to make a similar video in the opposite direction say fro Bristol to Edinburgh. What challenge could you det me - bearing in mind at 84years old I will have to rely on public transport or taxies? Can I suggest that the take-off and landing clips might benefir fro clipping or speed-ramping? Just a thought. I can't get over the stability of your walking shots. I can't beleive you used the Ninja Walk in the middle of an airport!
Great idea and well planned trip - very entertaining, just a pity about the weather!
Cheers Collin! Ahhh not to worry, at least it wasn't as bad as the forecast! :)
First ever flight into London City Airport was a Test flight by a Scottish airline.
On 27 June 1982 Brymon's Captain Harry Gee landed a de Havilland Canada Dash 7 turboprop aircraft on Heron Quays, in the nearby West India Docks, in order to demonstrate the feasibility of the STOLport project.
Wow! Cheers for this awesome info :)
Brilliant video Steve I can relate to to few places you visited Blackfriars bridge tower of London millennium bridge me and my son did war of the world's immersive experience it was brilliant and we flew down and did it in a day the same as you . Thanks
Cheers Kenneth! Glad to bring you some familiar sights :)
Nice trip thanks.
Thanks for coming along :)
Wow another exciting interesting venture u achieved in London 😮xx
Thanks for another great video! Nice to be with you on the journey across all the transitions of the Thames! Wish you a great weekend when it comes! Stay Safe!
And all the best to you too! Thanks so much for coming along :)