Family trip to London: Day 2, Greenwich

Looking towards The Shard from onboard Cutty Sark.

Friday October 31, 2025.

As is usual I awoke before everyone else.

So, without waking anyone I got myself together, dressed and sneaked out of the room. Once outside I turned south and went exploring. Tower Bridge Road was busy with traffic, while the paths were empty, except for those getting a morning jog in before work.

The Railway Houses, Page's Walk.

I crossed Tower Bridge Road and headed along Grange Road, before turning down Page's Walk. Here I saw the former stables buildings of the London and Croydon Railway and the South Eastern Railway, which opened a station, The Bricklayers Arms station, near here in 1844. It closed in 1981, with many of the buildings, including the station, demolished. Next to these stables are a row of railway houses, with brightly painted doors and shutters.

St Mary Magdalen Churchyard.

I then headed back to Tower Bridge Road and visited the Bermondsey Antique Market, in Bermondsey Square, which was still being set up as I arrived. This antiques market is on every Friday, from 06:00 till 14:00, and has been operating since 1950. I then walked through St Mary Magdalen Churchyard, where I saw another drinking fountain and a wide variety of tombs and gravestones. A few minutes later and I was back in the hotel room, where Keilyn was dressed and Emma was just waking up.

Breakfast was next, with us all tucking in and eating well. Full English, pancakes, toast, juice and coffee were all devoured, before we headed back to the room to pack and check out. After a visit to an Asda Express, to top up on drinks and snacks for the day ahead, we waited for a North Greenwich-bound 188 bus. 

Deptford Creek.

After boarding the bus, Keilyn and I headed upstairs to grab a seat at the front, while Emma chose to sit downstairs. The route took us down Tooley Street and onto Jamaica Road, where we passed King's Stairs Gardens and Southwark Park, before we moved onto Lower Road and then Surrey Quays Road. This brought us onto Redcliff Road, passing the Greenland Dock Bascule Bridge, and then back onto Lower Road. Evelyn Street, was next, passing Deptford Park as we approached Deptford. Creek Road took us over Deptford Creek and, shortly after, we alighted at Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich.

Cutty Sark.

Greenwich Church Street brought us to Cutty Sark Gardens and today's visit... Cutty Sark. 

The last time that we had been onboard Cutty Sark was Saturday October 13, 2012, when Emma and I had taken Erin, who was eleven months old, aboard. So, we made our way into the gift shop, where we purchased our tickets, and entered this historic vessel from 1869.

The Lower Hold of Cutty Sark.

We began our exploration of what was once the fastest sea vessel in the world by entering the rear of the Lower Hold, via a doorway cut through the starboard side of the hull. The floor of the Lower Hold is painted as though you are walking on the tops of tea boxes and also contains the Michael Edwards Studio Theatre, where a short video tells the history of Cutty Sark. Boxes of tea were also covered in photographs and snippets of the ship's history, which we passed as we made our way forward towards the front hatch, that would allow us to climb up to the 'Tween Deck.

The 'Tween Deck of Cutty Sark.

The first part of the 'Tween Deck, that we explored, was the fo'c's'le, which, considering its small size, was once home to twenty men. Following the ship's second voyage this was abandoned and the men moved into the forward deckhouse.  The deckhouse's previous occupants, the apprentices and petty officers, moved to a new aft deckhouse.

Interactive displays, models, personal items and much more were displayed throughout and along the entire deck, which we all studied. We then headed forward, once again, and climbed the steps to reach the Main Deck.

The view from the Anchor Deck.

Our first visit was to the Anchor Deck, from where we could look out at the views of London from this unique perspective. We then headed to the Weather Deck, where we explored the deckhouse and workshops, before watching some children enjoying climbing the rigging.

Keilyn takes the wheel.

We then moved towards the Poop Deck, where Keilyn and I had our photo taken with the Ship's Wheel. Emma and Keilyn headed down to the Dry Dock, leaving me to explore the Master's Cabin alone. 

The Master's quarters were followed by the Saloon, which was beautifully crafted and set out. Then it was on to the Second Mates' quarters, opposite which was the Pantry. Next was the First Mate's quarters which is opposite the Steward's room. 

The Dry Dock beneath Cutty Sark.

Leaving the cabin I found myself back on the Weather Deck, from where I took the stairs down to the Dry Dock. By now Emma and Keilyn had made their way through the Dry Dock and were now in the Gift Shop, so I took my time as I wandered the length of the Dry Dock, beneath the hull of Cutty Sark.

One of Cutty Sark's figureheads.

I took in the various figureheads, on display, before heading up to the Viewing Platform. Having seen everything that I could I made my way up to the Gift Shop. After a look around I headed outside, where Emma and Keilyn were sitting in the warm afternoon sun.

Leaving Cutty Sark Gardens we made our way back along Greenwich Church Street, turned down College Approach and entered Greenwich Market. We visited the stalls and entered the shops, making a few purchases, before leaving the market and heading for a bus stop. 

As we approached the bus stop another rain shower began. Luckily, the bus shelter offered some protection as we waited for another 188 bus, that would take us to North Greenwich. Almost twenty minutes went by before our bus arrived. As usual Keilyn and I headed upstairs, grabbing seats at the front, while Emma sat downstairs.

A mural.

The bus took us along College Approach, before turning onto King William Walk and then Romney Road, passing the Old Royal Naval College, to our left, and the National Maritime Museum and Queen's House on our right. Romney Road became Trafalgar Road, before we turned north along Blackwall Lane and then onto Millennium Way. 

North Greenwich bus station.

Alighting from the bus, at North Greenwich station, we descended the escalators to platform level and waited for a Stanmore-bound Jubilee line train to take us to Baker Street. The train was far busier than I was expecting, but many passengers alighted before we got to Baker Street, making the journey easier.

Starbucks kiosk, Baker Street station.

Arriving at Baker Street we left the crowded train and ascended the escalators and stairs, finally reaching Platforms 1 & 2. Keilyn had gone ahead and was waiting for us at Starbucks. With drinks purchased we sat on one of the benches and waited for the information boards to be updated. Two trains, one on platform 1 and the other on platform 4, were both Uxbridge-bound, so we sat and waited. Then, the boards updated and were informed that a Watford-bound train would be leaving, from platform 2, in ten minutes.

Looking across at the currently closed platform 3.

Platform 3 is currently out of use due to a faulty track, which means that there are no services between Baker Street and Aldgate.

So, we finished our drinks and as soon as the other passengers had left the train, we boarded and took our seats. The ride home was relaxing as we watched the tall buildings gradually give way to houses and then, eventually, greenery. The rain that had been coming in showers seemed to be ahead of us, as the blue skies that we were heading for soon turned cloudy and dark. Sure enough, as we approached Watford the rain began to fall in earnest.

After leaving the train we climbed the steps and exited the station, standing beneath its canopy as we awaited a taxi.

It was a wonderful few days, in London, seeing new things and visiting different places.

Distance travelled:

• Bus - 4.4 miles
• Cable Car - 0.0 miles
• Car - 0.0 miles
• DLR - 0.0 miles
• Ferry - 0.0 miles
• Overground - 0.0 miles
• River Boat - 0.0 miles
• Taxi - 0.7 miles
• Train - 0.0 miles
• Underground - 24.5 miles
• Walking - 2 miles