Walking with family: Embankment to Gabriel's Wharf... and beyond

Saturday June 13, 2026.

Partly cloudy with a high of 22°C (71.6°F).

Today marks the official birthday of His Majesty King Charles III, which involves the Trooping of the Colour parade, a 41-gun salute, and a flypast by the Royal Air Force. It was the latter that my uncle Martin and I headed off to London to see.

Martin picked me up and we made the short drive to Croxley station, where we boarded a Metropolitan line train that would only take us to Harrow-on-the-Hill station, as engineering works had overrun.

Arriving at Harrow-on-the-Hill station, at 09;40, we made our way down the stairs from the platform and used the subway to reach Platform 2, where we would catch a National Rail Chiltern Flyer to Marylebone station. There was a wait of about 30 minutes, but at least we pretty much guaranteed a space on the train, unlike those waiting for the Metropolitan trains to start running again at around 10:30.

Sure enough we were soon aboard our train, speeding towards Marylebone station, where we disembarked and headed down to the Bakerloo line trains, which we took to Embankment station.

Leaving Embankment station we crossed Victoria Embankment and headed east, following the River Thames, until we reached Bazalgette Embankment. Here we explored one of London's newest public realms, which is built above one of the bore holes of the Tideway Tunnel. It was fairly empty with a few people sitting in some of the various seating areas, enjoying the morning sun, while a few skateboarders were practising their tricks a little further on. But it is always nice to get up close to the Lion heads that have always been out of reach.

Ben Wilson: Chewing Gum Man

 

Whilst traversing the River Thames, via the London MillenniuM Footbridge, you will often have to dodge people, usually tourists, crouching down in the middle of the thoroughfare taking pictures of the floor.

No, they aren't floor connoisseurs, but rather people trying to take photos of miniature works of art. 

Yes, really. Beneath the feet of the millions of people who cross the bridge yearly, are tiny works of art that many miss or are oblivious to. 

It all began, back in 2004, when the artist Ben Wilson decided that the various shapes, made by discarded chewing gum, would make good canvasses.

He began his artform in Muswell Hill and Trinity Buoy Wharf before extending across the London MillenniuM Footbridge and into Tate Modern.

Considering this unhygienic way of disposing of chewing gum, and its capacity to defy the natural order of decay, I am glad that someone is doing something to highlight the issue.

Obviously, with the footfall and weather these works of art are fleeting, so they are worth seeking out.

So, the next time you are walking across the London MillenniuM Footbridge, or visiting Tate Modern, keep an eye on where you are walking.

And if you are in Muswell Hill or Trinity Buoy Wharf and see any of these miniature works of art, stop and take a good look as they won't be there forever.