New Public Realms along the River Thames

Battersea Park from Chelsea Quay.

With the completion of the new Tideway Tunnel, or Super Sewer, the tunnels that were dug down to the tunnel have been covered over. Instead of leaving these concrete-topped areas unused they have been turned into areas, of varying size and shape, that the public can access. This has allowed the public better access to the embankments and the River Thames.

Each of these new public realms is unique, with each one containing extracts of poetry, newly commissioned public art and, in some cases, allows the public to 'dip their toes' in the river. Accessible ramps, benches and planting make these wonderful places to visit.

As construction developed and artists were commissioned, the River Thames was given three distinct themes for its west, central and east sections.

• West: 'Recreation to Industry: Society in Transition'
• Central: 'Babylon to World City: Civic London'
• East: 'The Shipping Parishes: Gateway to the World'

Intertidal terraces.

So, let's take a look at these public realms, their art and what they have to offer.

Putney Embankment - 'Recreation to Industry: Society in Transition'

Putney Embankment was the first of the new public spaces to open.

It consists of granite paving with smooth surfaces, while tactile paving informs of changes in levels.

Timber-laid benches, with spaces at the ends for wheelchair users, along with other seating offer views upstream to Hammersmith and downstream through the arches of Putney Bridge. 

The public art was designed by Claire Barclay and is called 'Water Finds a Level' and includes a bronze marker for the start line of the University Boat Race. Then there are bronze handrails cast from oars that were used along the River Thames and artwork, along the walls, showing Putney's rich heritage.

Carnwath Road Riverside - 'Recreation to Industry: Society in Transition'

This pocket park sits on top of one of the three 'main drive sites', from where the tunnel boring machines began making the tunnel. 

The space has non-slip paving and has seating on the Thames Path, with the whole site being fully accessible. 

The public art was designed by Sarah Staton and is entitled 'Standing Heron and Heron in Flight'. 

It consists of two bronze-cast herons. One heron is placed at the river end of the site, while the other is visible when approaching the site, from Carnwath Road.

Chelsea Quay.

Chelsea Quay - 'Babylon to World City: Civic London'

Chelsea Quay is situated where the River Westbourne enters the River Thames.

Brick, instead of granite paving, was used to complete Chelsea Quay.

Timber benches and other seating atop the raised brick areas offer views across to Battersea Park, as well as along the River Thames, in both directions.

The raised terraces, although not accessible to all, protect the quay from flooding at high tide.

Lighting of two different colours has been incorporated into the ventilation shafts, showing if the tide is coming in or going out.

Intertidal terraces along its eastern and western edges have been planted with native species and will provide refuge for fish, while allowing birds to nest, too. The river wall is textured to promote the algae and river weed to flourish.

The lower terraces have been designed to be floodable, allowing people to literally 'dip their toes' into the river.

The public art was designed by Florian Roithmayr and is called 'Moving In'. 

It includes a tactile artwork formed of brickwork integrated into the vertical surface of the public space, steps, intertidal terraces, and the river wall. Groupings of colourful glazed bricks, in specially formulated patterns, echo the Chelsea Flower Show and the historical Ranelagh Pleasure Gardens

This artwork is designed to change as the River Thames rises and falls over parts of it, while the weather will change other pieces.

Walking with Keilyn: Richmond to Kingston Vale... and beyond

Sunday February 22, 2026. 

Light rain changing to clear skies, with winds up to 5 mph, 13°C (55°F).

An unplanned trip to London resulted in an epic excursion with various modes of transport used.

As there were engineering works on the Metropolitan line, resulting in trains not going further north than Harrow-on-the-Hill, a rail replacement bus service was in place. Deciding against this we took a taxi to Watford High Street station.

At Watford High street station we waited for a train to Euston. As it pulled into the station Keilyn gave the driver a wave, which he responded to with a wave and a 'toot' from the train horn. The Lioness line train whisked us off to Willesden Junction, where we changed to a Richmond-bound Mildmay line train, which took us through Acton and across the River Thames.

On leaving Richmond station we grabbed a hot drink from Costa and began our walk. 

The Quadrant brought us onto The Square and then Sheen Road. We followed this road, passing wonderful architecture and some remarkable almshouses, all the while aeroplanes flew lower as they began their approach to Heathrow Airport.

We continued heading west until we reached East Sheen Cemetery. This cemetery is home to many Commonwealth War Graves, actors, such as Roy Kinnear, along with ordinary people. The cemetery is also the last resting place of William Ellsworth Robinson (1861-1918), who the world knew as Chung Ling Soo.

'National Firefighters Memorial' by John W. Mills

The concept for this memorial was the brainchild of Cyril Demarne, who had been a firefighter and had served in London throughout the Blitz.

This memorial was commissioned by the Firefighters Memorial Charitable Trust, which was set up in 1990, and was designed by John W. Mills. The Memorial depicts three wartime firefighters, cast in bronze, was originally called ‘Blitz’. It was dedicated to the men and women of the Fire Service, in London, who lost their lives as a result of their duties during this period of history. It was unveiled by Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother on May 4, 1991, in Old Change Court.

Walking with Keilyn: Victoria to Chelsea... and beyond

Tuesday February 17, 2026: Sunny with winds at 2 mph, 7°C (44.6°F)

Another day and another trip to London with Keilyn. This time Keilyn wanted our trip and what we would visit to be a surprise, so I planned a route in secrecy,

A taxi dropped Emma, Keilyn and myself at Watford Metropolitan station, while Erin remained at home as she was going out with her friends, later in the day. Emma, meanwhile, was off to see her parents in Chesham, so left the train at Moor Park, leaving Keilyn and I travelling onward.

We boarded a Jubilee line train, at Finchley Road, and took it to Green Park, where we changed to a Victoria line train to Victoria.

On exiting the station we headed southwest, along Buckingham Palace Road, passing Victoria coach station, the National Audit Office and the offices of the British Transport Police, before turning up Pimlico Road. 

A beautiful drinking fountain, a sculpture of St George and the Dragon and a wonderful statue of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart were spotted as we made our way ever westward. 

Pimlico Road brought us onto Royal Hospital Road, with the Margaret Thatcher Infirmary and Cemetery to our left, followed by the Royal Hospital Chelsea. As Keilyn is now a fully fledged Army cadet I had decided that I would take her to the building next to the Royal Hospital... The National Army Museum.

After the obligatory photo with the Challenger 2 tank, which stands outside of the museum, we headed inside to begin our exploration. 

York Square Gardens: The Inspiration for Albert Square, Walford

York Square Gardens, the inspiration for Albert Square, Walford.

In the Limehouse area of London's East End, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, is York Square Gardens. This square, which is similar to many other residential squares in the East End, has a unique claim to fame.

Back in 1984, following a lot of scouting for suitable locations, York Square Gardens and the surrounding streets were chosen as the inspiration for 'Albert Square', Walford, in a new soap opera that the BBC were going to broadcast.

EastEnders first aired on BBC One 41 years ago today, on February 19, 1985.

The Queen's Head, the inspiration for The Queen Victoria pub in EastEnders.

York Square Gardens is much larger than its television counterpart, but the similarities are quite easy to spot.

Both have terraced houses surrounding a green square, with roads surrounding the open space. While the fictional 'Albert Square' has 'The Queen Victoria' pub, York Square Gardens has two: 'The Old Ship' and 'The Queen's Head', the latter of which is the inspiration for 'The Queen Victoria'.