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. 

John Evelyn's Mulberry Tree

John Evelyn's Mulberry Tree.

Walking through Sayes Court Park I was confronted by this fenced off tree. At first look the tree is definitely very old and, I assumed, fenced off to protect it. 

This was only partially correct as it turns out that this tree has a history. A history involving Peter the Great of Russia. Intriguing.

Walking with family: North Greenwich to Deptford... and beyond

Canary Wharf from the Olympian Way.

Saturday January 27, 2024.

I had decided to take a trip with Keilyn to North Greenwich, in order to walk towards Tower Bridge, as we had previously walked from North Greenwich to the Woolwich Foot tunnel... and beyond. Emma decided that it might be good for us all to go, but Erin was dead against it, preferring to spend her Saturday with friends, rather than 'trudge' around London. 

So, leaving her with her friends, the three of us jumped in a taxi to Watford Metropolitan station, jumped on a train, transferred to a Jubilee line train, at Finchley Road, and finally arrived at our starting point of North Greenwich just before 11:00.

'The Tide' at North Greenwich.

Our first stop was to the pop-up market, on Peninsula Square, for a hot drink, before heading towards 'The Tide', with its multi-coloured steps and great views.

From here we followed Olympian Way, which is part of the Thames Path, around the back of the O2 Arena, heading towards Greenwich proper.

'Liberty' by Gary Hume.

The first of the public art installations that we discovered, along the Olympian Way, was 'Liberty Grip' by Gary Hume, a strange piece of work that is modelled on mannequin arms. Vey odd, but still a delight to see.

At the back of the O2 Arena.

As I had never walked this part of the Thames Path, it was strange seeing the back of the O2 Arena, with its little pocket park for staff to use and the parts of the arena that you don't normally get to see.

'Tribe and Tribulation' by Serge Attukwei Clottey.

The next piece of public art we discovered was 'Tribe and Tribulation' by Serge Attukwei Clottey, which was a stack of container boxes, piled on top of each other. But, as you drew closer, you could hear sounds emanating from within the boxes. These 'sounds' were recordings from various Slave Fort locations along the former Gold Coast. It was delightful and disturbing, in equal measure.

'Here' by Jon Thomson and Alison Craighead.

Next, Keilyn spotted a signpost, which I had paid no mind to, seeing as it was just a signpost. However, I was wrong. This signpost had a name and was a simple piece of art, entitled 'Here', and was created by Jon Thomson and Alison Craighead.

'A Slice of Reality' by Richard Wilson.

But what I had heard about and was looking forward to seeing was suddenly in view. Quite possibly the largest piece of public art in London. 'A Slice of Reality' by Richard Wilson. A vertical section of an ocean-going dredger, left to rust in the River Thames. It was quite something to behold, when stood right next to it. It is a pretty awesome piece.

An old rotting dock with the new Canary Wharf.

We continued along the Thames Path, watching the skyline on the Isle of dogs change as our route meandered along the River Thames. There were plenty of other people using the route, too. Joggers, cyclists, dog walkers, but next to no families. Very odd. We passed the Greenwich Peninsula Golf Range, with Keilyn trying to reach through the mesh fencing to try and grab a golf ball. Fortunately, we found a few that escaped the confines of the range, so she was happy and hurriedly put them in her pockets.

The biggest 'Beer' sign that I have ever seen.

We discovered waterside pubs, a place where the Necrobus and other buses and cars were kept, boat repair yards, industrial works and much more.

Where some of the buses sleep.

Repairing the boat 'Alfie'.

Soon we could see Greenwich Power Station and, beyond, the Old Royal Naval College, and the masts of 'Cutty Sark'. All the while the kept looking across to the Isle of Dogs, trying to spot any new towers, since our last visit, to the Canary Wharf skyline.

Trinity Hospital.

After a slight detour, away from the river, we were soon passing the gigantic Greenwich Power Station, Trinity Hospital and heading along Crane Street, with its colourful pennants draped across the street, while signs and smells enticed weary travellers in for food and beer. 

Pennants.

Walking with friends: Borough Market to the Isle of Dogs... and beyond

With Covid-19 and the various lockdowns putting a pause on my walks with friends, around The Unfinished City, it is great to be able to start them up again.

Saturday April 2, 2022

After a breakfast of Pulled Pork Burger with apple sauce and sage & onion stuffing, from Hobbs in Borough Market, my friend Stephen and I began our first walk of 2022.

Borough Market is a food lovers paradise.

Heading towards the River Thames we made our way through the Contorted Tunnel, which Stephen had never seen, to the basement of Hay's Galleria. Climbing the stairs we headed out on to the embankment, by HMS Belfast, and followed the path to Tower Bridge. 

Tower Bridge and the Girl with a Dolphin.

Taking the eastern pedestrian path, across the bridge, we headed to St Katharine Docks Marina, where various yachts, barges, lifeboats and the Queen's Rowbarge 'Gloriana' were moored. As we rounded one of the buildings I pointed out Stanley Kubrick's original 'Monolith' from 2001: A Space Odyssey, which had been affixed to the wall of one of the buildings, back in 1977.

'Monolith' by Arthur Fleischmann.

From here we headed eastward towards Hermitage Basin and the Ornamental Canal, through Wapping Woods and on to Shadwell Basin. A small area of the basin was being used by Wapping Docklands Market, so we had a look around the different food stalls before heading in to the historic The Prospect of Whitby, for a well-deserved drink.

Our first drink in London together for a number of years.

'Peter the Great' by Mihail Chemiakin

A gift from the Russian People.

Monday May 13, 2013.

It was during one of my Greenwich walks that I stumbled across this rather odd, and creepy looking, statue of Peter the Great. 

I had started at the Thames Barrier before heading westward, to see HMS Ocean, which was moored at the Old Royal Naval College. After taking a few photos I continued on my journey towards Tower Bridge, happy that I had got the photos I had hoped for. 

But, as I turned the corner, on to Glaisher Street, I noticed this rather peculiar, odd and creepy statue. So, once again, I took some photos.