diamond geezer

 Wednesday, November 16, 2016

Throughout most of London, the official Thames Path runs along both sides of the river. But if you're trying to walk it, which side is better?

I've attempted to answer the question by splitting up the river into sections, bridge to bridge, and comparing north with south.

What I've done...
• I've colour-coded each section of the Thames, from west to east, using traffic light colours.
• Green means good access to the riverside, amber means intermittent access to the riverside and red means poor access to the riverside.
• Bold text indicates the riverside path with the better walk.

A few caveats...
» This is all about riverside access, not about how good the view is.
» But if access is a tie, then it's about the scenery.
» Yes, it's a bit subjective.
» From Westminster Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge I think it's a tie.
» Yes, I know it's not possible to cross the river at all the points I've mentioned out east.

But blimey, when it comes to walking the Thames through London, there is a very clear result.

SOUTH BANK	Hampton Court Bridge	NORTH BANK
Mostly inaccessible in Surrey, but better in Kingston		Lovely walk around the edge of Hampton Court Park
	Kingston Bridge
A little built-up, but full Thames-side access		Mostly private and inaccessible
	Teddington Lock
Top stroll around the Ham Lands Nature Reserve		Mostly private and inaccessible
	Hammerton’s Ferry
Petersham Meadows – one of the best sections		Good, but not as good as the other side
	Richmond Bridge
Along the edge of old Richmond		Mostly confined to an alleyway
	Richmond Lock
Attractive hike round the Old Deer Park and Kew Gardens		Brief access at Isleworth, but otherwise no
	Kew Bridge
Open access past the National Archives along a broad path		Lovely to start with, then diverted through residential Chiswick
	Chiswick Bridge
Along Mortlake's picturesque riverfront		Rowing club territory, with river views blocked by trees
	Barnes Bridge
Full access to quiet, undeveloped riverside		Includes the historic waterfront streets of Hammersmith
	Hammersmith Bridge
A long quiet stretch leading to Putney's boathouses		Modern development with inland diversions, then Fulham Palace
	Putney Bridge
Wandsworth's new riverside quarter is the first lowlight		Progress entirely blocked by the Hurlingham Club
	Wandsworth Bridge
A short heliport diversion, else full modern riverside		Luxury flats, and a long diversion round Chelsea Creek
	Battersea Bridge
Relentless modern riverside		The classy Chelsea Embankment
	Albert Bridge
The glories of Battersea Park		Further Chelsea Embankment
	Chelsea Bridge
Blocked at Battersea Power Station, then nouveau Nine Elms		The Pimlico riverside is half accessible
	Vauxhall Bridge
Round MI6, then the Albert Embankment		Millbank past Tate Britain
	Lambeth Bridge
Peak Albert Embankment		Blocked by the Palace of Westminster
	Westminster Bridge
The ever-popular South Bank (London Eye)		The Victoria Embankment (Charing Cross)
	Waterloo Bridge
The ever-popular South Bank (National Theatre)		The Victoria Embankment (Temple)
	Blackfriars Bridge
The ever-popular South Bank (Tate Modern)		Confined riverside walkways
	Southwark Bridge
Shunted back along Clink Street		Confined riverside walkways
	London Bridge
The Queens Walk, past City Hall		Diverted from the river, then cobbles by the Tower
	Tower Bridge
Mostly riverside, with developmental diversions		Mostly back from the river through Wapping
	Rotherhithe Tunnel
Occasionally interrupted round the tip of Rotherhithe		Quite good access, except through Limehouse
	Canary Wharf Pier
Good access, except around Deptford Dockyard		A couple of riverside promenades, and some road walking
	Greenwich Tunnel
Maritime Greenwich, and the post-industrial peninsula		Quiet walkways skirting postwar estates
	Blackwall Tunnel
Peninsula east, then a big detour near the Thames Barrier		Apart from the odd park, almost completely inaccessible
	Woolwich Ferry
Modern flats from Royal Arsenal to West Thamesmead		Gallions Point, then a surprisingly bleak lonely footpath
	Tripcock Ness
A long unloved walk past Thamesmead and Crossness		One unwelcoming path at Creekmouth, otherwise inaccessible
	Rainham
Grey estuarine approach to Erith		Dystopian industrial, then landfill
	Coldharbour Point
Out of sight through industrial Erith, then open marshes		An isolated hike alongside landfill heaps
	Crayford Ness
SOUTH BANK		NORTH BANK

Blimey, there is a very clear result. South wins, by a landslide.

Look at the green. Most of the south bank is accessible, including the entire stretch from Kingston to Putney Bridge. There's not much green on the north bank, except from Battersea to the City. South wins.

Now look at the red. In outer London a lot of the north bank is inaccessible, particularly from Kingston to Chiswick, and from the Blackwall Tunnel to Rainham. There's not much red on the south bank, and when Battersea Power Station reopens there'll be almost none. South wins.

Now look at the bold. Almost the whole of the south bank is bold, and very little of the north bank. Throughout almost all of London, the south bank of the Thames has better public access than the north. South smashes it.

In conclusion, if you're ever planning to walk the Thames Path through London, walk the south bank.

And a final question. Why does the south bank have so much better access than the north? Is there a reason, or is it just a coincidence?

posted 07:00 :

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