St Paul’s Cathedral from the Millennium Bridge
A few hours between meetings in central London gives me the opportunity for a walk along the north side of the Thames Embankment from St Paul’s to Charing Cross.
Millennium Bridge
Our first stop is the Millennium Bridge, opened to celebrate the year 2000 it became colloquially known as the ‘wibbly-wobbly bridge’ due to its initial instability – it moved as you moved! This led to its closure, but it was reopened after structural changes and now it is a solid as a bridge should be!
Close by are two other millennium monuments – a sundial provided by the Worshipful Company of Tylers and Bricklayers and an obelisk from the Worshipful Company of Scientific Instrument Makers.
Millennium Sundial
Millennium Obelisk
On the South side of the River is the Tate Modern, housed in the old Bankside Power Station. The original coal-powered station was built in 1891 was replaced by an oil fired station opened in 1952. It closed down in 1981. It remained an empty building for over 10 years until it was announced that the Tate gallery would take over the building as a gallery. It opened in 2000.
Tate Modern at the old Bankside Power Station
The river is still a vibrant waterway with both commercial and passenger traffic.
River Boat heading towards Westminster
Barges going upstream
Upstream I can see Blackfriars Station.
Blackfriars Station
to be continued……
