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?
...or read more in my monthly archives
Jan24 Feb24 Mar24 Apr24 May24 Jun24 Jul24 Aug24 Sep24 Oct24 Nov24
Jan23 Feb23 Mar23 Apr23 May23 Jun23 Jul23 Aug23 Sep23 Oct23 Nov23 Dec23
Jan22 Feb22 Mar22 Apr22 May22 Jun22 Jul22 Aug22 Sep22 Oct22 Nov22 Dec22
Jan21 Feb21 Mar21 Apr21 May21 Jun21 Jul21 Aug21 Sep21 Oct21 Nov21 Dec21
Jan20 Feb20 Mar20 Apr20 May20 Jun20 Jul20 Aug20 Sep20 Oct20 Nov20 Dec20
Jan19 Feb19 Mar19 Apr19 May19 Jun19 Jul19 Aug19 Sep19 Oct19 Nov19 Dec19
Jan18 Feb18 Mar18 Apr18 May18 Jun18 Jul18 Aug18 Sep18 Oct18 Nov18 Dec18
Jan17 Feb17 Mar17 Apr17 May17 Jun17 Jul17 Aug17 Sep17 Oct17 Nov17 Dec17
Jan16 Feb16 Mar16 Apr16 May16 Jun16 Jul16 Aug16 Sep16 Oct16 Nov16 Dec16
Jan15 Feb15 Mar15 Apr15 May15 Jun15 Jul15 Aug15 Sep15 Oct15 Nov15 Dec15
Jan14 Feb14 Mar14 Apr14 May14 Jun14 Jul14 Aug14 Sep14 Oct14 Nov14 Dec14
Jan13 Feb13 Mar13 Apr13 May13 Jun13 Jul13 Aug13 Sep13 Oct13 Nov13 Dec13
Jan12 Feb12 Mar12 Apr12 May12 Jun12 Jul12 Aug12 Sep12 Oct12 Nov12 Dec12
Jan11 Feb11 Mar11 Apr11 May11 Jun11 Jul11 Aug11 Sep11 Oct11 Nov11 Dec11
Jan10 Feb10 Mar10 Apr10 May10 Jun10 Jul10 Aug10 Sep10 Oct10 Nov10 Dec10
Jan09 Feb09 Mar09 Apr09 May09 Jun09 Jul09 Aug09 Sep09 Oct09 Nov09 Dec09
Jan08 Feb08 Mar08 Apr08 May08 Jun08 Jul08 Aug08 Sep08 Oct08 Nov08 Dec08
Jan07 Feb07 Mar07 Apr07 May07 Jun07 Jul07 Aug07 Sep07 Oct07 Nov07 Dec07
Jan06 Feb06 Mar06 Apr06 May06 Jun06 Jul06 Aug06 Sep06 Oct06 Nov06 Dec06
Jan05 Feb05 Mar05 Apr05 May05 Jun05 Jul05 Aug05 Sep05 Oct05 Nov05 Dec05
Jan04 Feb04 Mar04 Apr04 May04 Jun04 Jul04 Aug04 Sep04 Oct04 Nov04 Dec04
Jan03 Feb03 Mar03 Apr03 May03 Jun03 Jul03 Aug03 Sep03 Oct03 Nov03 Dec03
Jan02 Feb02 Mar02 Apr02 May02 Jun02 Jul02 Aug02 Sep02 Oct02 Nov02 Dec02
