I love London, but it’s just so big, so diverse, so London, that it’s difficult to get a grip on the experience. I’ve found that it’s a lot easier to get my head around this majestic city by devouring its experiences in bite sized chunks. This week I found myself in Shad Thames. It’s a familiar name, but a place I’d not visited until now. I enjoyed spending a day wandering its small and intriguing streets, and taking in major sights and lesser known curiosities.
Shad Thames: Getting There
The mainline London station to Shad Thames is London Bridge, which is also the tube station, served by the Jubilee and Northern (Bank branch) lines. From the station, it’s less than ten minutes walk (and a beautiful walk at that) down to the river, and then onward to Shad Thames. You’re south of the river here, and it forms a big part of the day of your visit.
London Bridge mainline station is currently undergoing a big development programme due for completion in 2018. The signage for the development proclaims that the station will be longer than the Shard is tall when work is complete. It’s the oldest mainline station in Zone 1, and one of the oldest in the world, having opened in 1836. It’s also the fourth busiest station in London and the UK overall. Be prepared for a fair bit of bustle and hustle as 70 million people pass through here each year.
Shad Thames: The Shard and More London
The area around London Bridge station isn’t short of the big London sights. As you emerge from the station onto Tooley Street, turn right and follow along the line of Hays Galleria to the left. Then walk left into the pedestrian area of More London. Stepping carefully out of the way of the passing crowd, turn around and look back. Yes, that’s the Shard. You can book to see the spectacle from London’s highest viewing platform here.
Whoever put the sightlines of More London and the Shard together had a beautiful vision. As you enter More London, your attention is captured by the view of the mighty Thames. Then when you turn around, you can see the Shard perfectly framed by the buildings and trees of the city. Glorious.
More London itself has some interesting extra details. There’s a tiny stream that runs down the centre of the walkway, carrying leaves along in their own game of Poohsticks. At More London you’ll find a whole lot of restaurants and cafes, many reasonably priced, in which to fuel your adventures.
Shad Thames: Enjoying the Riverside Sights
Once you emerge onto the riverside, you can start playing spot the sights. There’s the iconic Tower Bridge itself, under whose arches you walk through to Shad Thames. In front of you is the Gherkin, emerging in deep sea green splendour from a cluster of other tall buildings. And to the left, you can see the beautiful dome of St Pauls, serene, ornate, and commanding attention. You can read more about all the key things to do in London here, setting out so many ways to spend your days.
It reminds me of all the reasons I love London. Imagine yourself bundled up on a crisp winter day, like the one on which I visited, walking the Thames Path, transfixed by the skyline. You can try to name the bridges in order, although we’ve not yet managed that. You can watch the river life going by, almost like a city within a city. And in summer, I can imagine, even with my limited arty skills, sitting on a wall and trying to commit that beautiful cityscape to paper.
Shad Thames: On The Mighty Thames
Let’s stop for a while as we come out of More London and just admire the magnificence of the river. The Thames is such a big beast, and here you get a sense of the mightiness of her service to the capital. You can see her life as a source of pleasure: there are large and small trip boats plying their way up and down at varying speeds. Then there is the Thames as trade route and public service, with river police and a fire boat, plus four lifeboat stations. Cargo can make its way as far upstream as the Pool of London, a stretch of the Thames from London Bridge to just below Limehouse.
You might not have realised that the Thames
- has a tidal reach of seven meters
- drains the whole of Greater London
- provides two thirds of London’s drinking water
- has 45 navigation locks upstream
- has over 80 islands, including the Isle of Sheppey and Canvey Island, which are large marshlands in the estuary
- holds the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey on Thorney Island
- has waters ranging from freshwater to almost seawater
- has many Sites of Special Scientific Interest, including the North Kent marshes
- held its first Frost Fair in 1607, when the river froze above London Bridge
You can read more about the Thames from its origins in the Cotswolds through the Thames Estuary to the North Sea here. The Thames Path will take you on a magnificent waterside walk through the capital and beyond.
Shad Thames: City Hall
As you reach the riverside, you come to City Hall. It’s beautifully wonky, which probably isn’t the most poetic description you’ll hear of a public building, but it’s exactly what I thought when I saw it. It’s as though someone had propped up some bongos at an angle.
The unique shape, from Foster + Partners architects, is due to the need for energy management in a building made from glass. It has no back or front, and is described as a geometrically modified sphere. That minimises the surface area of the roof exposed to sunlight, which avoids the building overheating. The shape also has a quarter less surface area than a cube of the same volume. That keeps the building warmer in winter and cooler in summer. It leans back from the river, so as not to overshadow the walkway. I love the brilliant thinking behind this place, and it’s a beautiful building too.
Shad Thames: tower Bridge
When you first arrive at the river, your attention is drawn to two beautiful and iconic London sights. Across the broad reach of the Thames, you’ll see the Tower of London, blonde, turreted and with a prime position that befits its status. Look right, and you’ll see Tower Bridge. It’s London encapsulated in one beautiful vista. It was so gorgeous that I just stood for a few minutes, ignoring my freezing hands and feet, and appreciated the joys of being there, the wind blowing in my hair, sun on my shoulders, and London stretching before me.
Tower Bridge keeps on giving the closer you get to it. You know that it’s a combined bascule and suspension bridge, with the two robust towers supporting two walkways. It’s free to walk the bridge deck, although access to the towers and many of the original workings is chargeable. You can find a lift or stairs taking you up from from riverside to the bridge deck. It’s still a busy Thames crossing here, carrying over 40,000 people a day.
Shad Thames: Raising Tower Bridge
The bascules are raised about 1000 times a year, with a schedule published on the bridge website here. The current schedule shows the paddle steamer Dixie Queen keeping the bridge staff busy. Sadly I didn’t get to see it in action on the day of my visit, although you can work out from the frequency that you stand a good chance of catching a ship passing through. I didn’t know, before consulting the website, that the bascules are raised as far as is necessary for a ship passing, but all the way up if there’s a royal connection beneath.
I loved the tale of Gladys, a Thames sailing barge on her timely way to a date in St Katharine’s Dock. By keeping to her schedule and needing the bascules to be raised, she managed to divide the motorcade of President Bill Clinton, who was running late after lunch with then PM Tony Blair. While the President’s security staff were having what can only be described as a bad day at the office, a spokesman for Tower Bridge commented, in a very British manner:
We tried to contact the American Embassy, but they wouldn’t answer the phone.
Shad Thames: History
You’ll find Shad Thames named on a map from 1747. The street itself gives its name to the surrounding area, which is also known as Butler’s Wharf after one of the large warehouses. In Victorian times, this was one of the largest warehouse complexes in London.
“…the whole line of street—called in one part Pickle Herring Street, and in another Shad Thames—exhibits an uninterrupted series of wharves, warehouses, mills, and factories, on both sides of the narrow and crowded roadway” Old and New London 1878
Back in the 1970s, the cheap price of property saw the area host many artists from David Jarman to David Hockney. Subsequent regeneration has led to a massive increase in prices and today, the area is full of apartments, small offices and independent stores. Some of the streets are still cobbled, and carry overhead “bridges” many stories above your head and high above street level.
The history of the area is reflected in the many building names describing cargo that used to arrive at Butler’s Wharf: “the Larder of London”. Buildings are named after spices and ingredients: vanilla, nutmeg, sesame. The last major cargo ship to dock in the area sailed in 1972, but many nods to its heritage remain.
Shad Thames: Maggie Blake
As I wandered along the cobbled streets, I spotted this sign.
Curious, I took a picture, and resolved to investigate Maggie Blake and her cause later. It’s a heartwarming tale. The passageway is named after a community activist, and to mark a campaign for public access to the riverside. The big development of Butler’s Wharf proposed to limit riverside access for local residents. Maggie Blake’s campaign saved access to the water and views to Tower Bridge for everybody to enjoy. You can read more about her work here.
Shad Thames: Eating and Drinking
As you walk through Hays Galleria and More London, you’re surrounded with all kinds of opportunities for eating and drinking. There are many, many branches of national chains, providing plenty of safe options if, like me, you have food allergies and dietary restrictions. There are also some interesting local additions.
There’s a bustling deli called Absolutely Starving on Tooley Street. Its windows were packed with delicious-looking baked goods, and it was crammed with people. On Shad Thames itself, you’ll find Caffe Paradiso. It has reasonably priced food and drinks, and a comfortable atmosphere in which to chill and regroup. There are additional dining options in Hays Galleria. Here you’ll find a range of what I call real people shops: chemists, newsagents, high street staples. Hay’s Wharf used to receive the tea clippers, and the building is magnificent.
Hays Galleria also boasts a centrepiece so interesting, I was fascinated to see it illuminated at dusk. It’s a mythical beast: part ship, part animal, and beautifully highlighted in blue. It’s actually a kinetic sculpture by David Kemp, although I didn’t see it move. In many ways it seemed to sum up my day by the river, full of interesting pleasures, happily observed, and topped with unexpected delights.
Brilliant Britain
If you’ve enjoyed our trip around Shad Thames, why not join us in Shakespeare’s Stratford, Birmingham, the Welsh borders, the Highlands of Scotland or the Lancashire countryside? There’s so much to explore in this small island.
I had to GOOGLE what the hell you meant by SHAD Thames (and I am a local in the city!) and learnt something new. Didnt even know it was a term for the historic area near Tower Bridge. We just call the area riverside or Tower Bridge area 😀 😀 😀
It was new to me, and I’m an ex-local. 🙂 I had a chat with the people I’d gone to visit, and found the history fascinating. Interesting place, and great for wandering around looking at some of the lesser known curiosities.
So many great places to see, all so beautiful! We’re hoping to make it there maybe in summertime and definitely want to visit places here, like tower bridge. 🙂
It truly was beautiful – it would be time well spent. And if you are there in summer, that river walk would be wonderful. I managed a few minutes, but it was way too chilly to linger long. 🙂 Have a fabulous visit!
I love this area of London so much! I didn’t know they released a schedule of when the bridge will be raised. Thanks for sharing!
I love that they tell you what’s going under the bridge too. 🙂
Lovely to see a post focusing on Shad Thames as this area has become even more wonderful to visit than before in recent years, with the redevelopment around the Shard, the new London Bridge station entrances, and the regeneration around. As you say, there is history, architecture, the river itself, and you’re also right by Borough Market and Maltby Street Market too!
Ah, those markets! 🙂 I was tempted to visit, but I knew I didn’t have time on the day. I’ve been to Borough before, and I hear Maltby Street is wonderful. I’m definitely going to have to go back for those two places alone.
My daughter lived in London for a year so I thought I had a lot of the city. but your bite-sized chunks go deeper! Thanks for this view of Shad Thames!
It’s the only way I can get my head around the city. 🙂 I worked there for a while, then visited regularly for work, and I’m still finding all kind of places that are new to me. It’s definitely a city that keeps on giving. I hope both you and your daughter enjoyed the experience.
Hey, Bernie! The raising tower bridge looks majestic. I myself would be in awe during the raising of the bascule. It’s one of those simple wonders that smell of history and human genius. A friend of mine is inviting me to visit her in London – and I will – but let me finish my South American odyssey first. 🙂
Ooh – the South American trip sounds wonderful! Definitely stop by to see the bascule raised later though. I love what you say about history and genius; that’s spot on.
The Thames is certainly the lifeblood of London, but I had no idea that it was the main source of drinking water for the city. Shad Thames seems like a beautiful community for a day trip in London.
I loved how friendly Shad Thames was too. Definitely worth the day trip. 🙂
London is a great city and it keeps throwing up surprises like this one, every now and then. Like every big bustling city, its evolving, and that is part of the charm of discovering and rediscovering it constantly.
The evolution is fascinating, isn’t it? Even places in London that I used to visit for work twenty years ago are so very different now. Rediscovery is a whole new great experience.
We so missed this when we’ve been to London! I’m saving the article because I think we’ll try to schedule a trip in 2018, hopefully this time we’ll have some British sun!
I can put in a request for you. 😉 And a bit less of the lovely liquid sunshine to which we’re prone.
I used to know London really well when I lived in England, but I haven’t been back for a long time. I am planning a trip next year. I want to see the Shard and I did not know that you could book to see London from a platform. I have made a note of this as I would love to see this view.
I also think that I will be heading for Absolutely Starving as that sounds like it is just up my street! I have bookmarked this post!
Absolutely Starving looked great. I didn’t head in because I’m coeliac, but when I looked at their website later they seemed to do lots of free from options. So I missed out and that was my bad.
The Shard sounds fabulous, doesn’t it? 360 degree views for up to 40 miles. That’s got to be spectacular.
Nice post, sure makes me miss London!
She’ll always call you back. 🙂
London is so amazing. We had the opportunity to visit for the first time last summer, and I must admit that the city greatly exceeded my expectations. There was so much to do and the people were so nice. Thanks for sharing some of the “off the beaten path” places, we will have to check them out on our next visit :).
It’s definitely an incredible city. And I love the fact that there’s always something new to discover each time I’m there.
What a lovely take on our dear old London – love it and I love your writing Bernie. Thank you. Been a long while since I’ve been to London, although with travel eyes now, I think I could see it in a totally different light. Kx
Aw, thanks, Karen – that’s lovely. 🙂 I’m constantly surprised how many different experiences London offers, and how she still has the power to take my breath away.
I love exploring all the different areas of London. It’s so much more than just the big tourist sites. It’s been a while since I’ve wandered along this part of the river and it sounds like it’s changed quite a bit – a good reason to go back!
I love how London’s in a constant state of flux.
One of my favourite parts of my city. Actually spent much of today stomping around there. I didn’t know the new station is going to be longer than the shard is tall. Fascinating.
I only found out about the comparison with the Shard because it says so somewhere on the hoarding surrounding the station works. 😉 If I lived closer, I think I’d be spending a lot of time there too. It’s one of my favourite new discoveries.
I love this area of London. There’s an icon around every corner and so many incredible photography opportunities! This post made me miss living in London so much. We used to take the tube into the city and walk almost this exact same route with my women’s walking group. So many good memories!
That sounds magical. You must have seen so many changes across the seasons walking that route, and enjoyed London in all her moods.
I’ve been to London many times mostly for business and I never had time to visit the famous sites and photograph them. Thanks for sharing your post. It reminds me to put London on my list of destinations again.
I know what you mean about being there for business. When I commuted daily, I barely saw anything beyond the office view and the tube. But I’ve been making up for lost time since. 🙂
That is one of my favorite areas in the city. I love the views from the Shard and the Tower of London is just so historic.
There’s a lot of beauty in a very compact area here, both new and historic. Glad you love it too.