Monday February 16, 2026: Sunny spells with light showers, winds at 4 mph, 10°C (50°F)
I made my way to London, via the Metropolitan and then Jubilee line, and arrived at London Bridge station, where I met up with my friend Ashley. It had been a long time since we had seen each other, let alone made a walk together, so I was excited for this one.
Our walk began by visiting the King's College London Guy's Campus, where we saw one of the few remaining pedestrian alcoves from the old London Bridge. We left the campus and made our way along Newcomen Street, where I pointed out the coat of arms affixed to the wall above the door of 'The Kings Arms' pub. This massive coat of arms was once above the entrance to the southern entrance to the old London Bridge. From here we made our way up Borough High Street towards London Bridge, where we joined The Queen's Walk, heading east.
We stopped for a drink at 'The Vault 1894' , which is situated beneath the southern approach of Tower Bridge. The window offers a unique perspective of the River Thames and Tower Bridge. Suitably refreshed we began our walk.
We made our way along Shad Thames, which was empty of people, before we made our way onto the waterfront walk by Butler's Wharf. Relics of the history of the wharves are placed at irregular spots along this pedestrianised thoroughfare, that include propellers, anchors and the such. There are also a few pieces of public art, like 'Exotic Cargo' by Peter Randall-Page.
We crossed St Saviour's Dock, into which the River Neckinger flows, via the footbridge and joined Bermondsey Wall West and then Chamber Street. We then turned up Loftie Street and joined Bermondsey Wall East until we reached King Edward III's Moated Manor House. After taking a few photos and reading up on it, we explored the 'Salter family statues', before visiting 'The Angel' pub.
Apparently, 'The Angel', rebuilt around 1837 in its present form, is by far the oldest tavern in Rotherhithe. It is recorded in the 17th century and may go back to the middle ages. 'The Angel' was once sited diagonally opposite its current location, alongside the moat of King Edward III's mansion, but has long stood on the riverfront next to Rotherhithe on Redriffe Stairs. It was also believed that J M W Turner painted 'The Fighting Temeraire' here, but this turned out to be just a myth.
We then continued our walk eastward, along King Stairs Close, until we reached Elephant Lane, which we followed until we reached Saint Marychurch Street. Here we took in the historic Fire Engine House and the old Watchhouse, which is now a cafe. We then visited St Mary's Church Rotherhithe and saw the statue of Christopher Jones and the grave of Prince Lee Boo of Belau. Prince LeeBoo was one of the first people from the Pacific Islands to visit Great Britain. Unfortunately, he contracted smallpox some six months after his arrival and died in December 1784. He was just twenty years of age.
We then visited the 'The Mayflower' pub, the only pub in the United Kingdom that is allowed to sell both UK and US stamps. The pub is named for the Mayflower ship that took the Pilgrims to the New World, leaving London just a few metres away near Cumberland Wharf.
On leaving 'The Mayflower' we continued along Rotherhithe Street, passing the Brunel Museum and made our way towards the Surrey Basin Bascule Bridge, which is a relic of when nearly the entirety of this peninsula was commercial docks. We passed 'The Salt Quay' pub and split our walk between Rotherhithe Street and the Thames Path.
Soon we were passing 'The Blacksmiths Arms', where Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother once stopped for a drink and to pour a pint, before reaching the Old Dock of Columbia Wharf and the Grade II* listed Nelson House, which is the last shipbuilders' offices in Rotherhithe. It is now a private residence. Next we crossed Old Nelson Dock and made our way to Durand's Wharf, which is now a green space. Still following the Thames Path we passed Surrey Docks Farm, with its bronze statues of animals lining the pathway, while ponies and goats could be seen within the enclosures. Eventually we found ourselves at the entrance to Greenland Dock.
Like much of the rest of London Docks that went through a massive regeneration, from the 1980s onwards, many of the historic buildings, locks and hydraulic systems were lift in situ, thereby keeping the history alive.
We then crossed over the South Dock Marina lock and continued along the Thames Path. It was here that we crossed the old county border line between Surrey and Kent. Soon we found ourselves at Upper Pepys Playground. Along the southern edge of this small park a brick wall surrounds the historic dock yards that once produced Clippers, ships and Warships.
The dock directly behind the wall, from the playground, is where the Golden Hind was built. I leaned over the edge of the waterside wall and tried to get a photo of this historic dock, which now lies in a sad state.
Leaving the playground we joined Millard Road, turned onto Leeway and then Grove Street. This brought us to Sayes Court Park, where we looked at the Mulberry tree that is thought to have been planted by the Russian Tsar Peter the Great.
On leaving the park we joined Prince Street and made our way to 'The Dog & Bell', where refreshments were purchased. I have visited this pub on a number of occasions and it has always been a welcoming place. Today it was quieter than usual, but just as welcoming.
On leaving 'The Dog & Bell' we made our way along Watergate Street and turned onto Borthwick Street, by Twinkle Park. This in turn brought us to Deptford Green and, eventually, Creek Road. With time getting on, and the weather turning, we headed into 'The Gate Clock' for one last drink.
We left the pub and almost immediately boarded a number 188 bus to North Greenwich. The journey was uneventful, although the driver seemed to enjoy using his horn and tapping the brakes a little too hard on occasion.
We finally reached our destination and made our way into the bowels of North Greenwich station, where a Stanmore-bound Jubilee line train promptly arrived. We chatted and talked about the day, before I disembarked from the train at Baker Street, leaving Ashley to continue his journey to Stanmore.
My journey to Watford seemed to flyby as I scanned through my photos from the day, before working out the walk that I would be taking with Keilyn the next day.
Distance travelled:
- Bus - 1.6 miles (2.5 kms)
- Cable Car - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Car - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- DLR - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Ferry - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Overground - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- River Boat - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Taxi - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Train - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Tram - 0.0 miles (0.0 kms)
- Underground - 46 miles (74 kms)
- Walking - 7.6 miles (12.2 kms)
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