City green spaces

You don’t think of the City as having green spaces, but it does - and plenty more than you think. We headed into town over Easter to visit some old haunts to see how they’ve changed, and if I’m honest for some different views. Before this visit, our last trip into town was a wet Monday evening for dinner at Blixen, in gold trainers no less, back in March 2020. We were long overdue a visit.

Arriving into Cannon Street we first headed up towards St Pauls, through Paternoster Square over the road and past the small green space above before heading over to Postman’s Park, which I first visited back in 2014, having failed to find it in all the time I worked in the City.

The camellias were in flower and I could’t help but stop and admire them and read some of the heroic memorials.

I was quite taken with how the moss is creeping along the girders, softening them. From here we headed towards the Guild Hall, which as a sign of the times is now a Covid test centre, so no photos from there. We headed around towards Wood Street and found another pocket garden, this one with a fabulous magnolia tree in full flower.

And some hedges which reflect the state of the nation’s hair.

We crossed London Wall rising up onto the walkways of the Barbican, which even on its outskirts has some fabulous architecture and is more than just concrete.

Even on the walkway there were pockets of green, and more. As you can see below the space is much more interesting with what looks like a historic ruin, places to sit and sculptures too.

And many of the walkways were edged with living walls similar to this. There’s way more green spaces in the City than you’d expect - if you get to visit, look out for it, I’m pretty sure you’ll be surprised.

From Woolwich to the Peninsular

Yesterday I shared pictures of the ‘Hundreds and Thousands’ rainbow art installation by Liz West which was at the end of our six mile walk on Sunday. Today I’m sharing a selection of the pictures I snapped as we made our way along the Thames Path, revisiting part of our route from last August. Looking back at that post I’m sure I’ve taken some of the same pictures, but it seems I know what I like, and the same views still call out to be captured.

There’s new views too, as this time we started in Woolwich heading from the town centre to Woolwich Arsenal. The buildings there are full of character and I’m sure many have stories to tell. As we made our way towards the Thames a couple of traditional buildings stood out, the one below because it was completely on its own.

After meandering around some of the public areas - much of the Woolwich Arsenal has been redeveloped for private dwellings - we once again found ourselves at these sculptures. I’ve seen them several times before, but this may be the first time a photo has made it onto here, I’m not quite sure why. They are just fabulous, and it’s as fun to watch other people explore and discover them and their form, and if you’re lucky pose for photos with them. A truly great spot for people watching!

They look like Antony Gormley, but are in fact by Peter Burke - the piece is called Assembly - thank you to the commenter below for helping me correct this information.

As it had been a while since I’d been this far down the Thames Path instead of heading left and back towards Greenwich and home, instead we turned right and headed towards Erith and Thamesmead, taking in the views and then realising there was just one way back, so it wasn’t too long before we retraced our steps.

The views for the whole walk were a mix of industrial Greenwich mixed in with some more modern additions, though as you’ll see they might not have lasted quite as well. This mosaic is one of those. Right in the middle of the Thames Path, unfortunately it’s past its former glory, though still charming.

Further along the tiles have moved onto the walls, or rather they had. As you’ll see the middle section no longer are, but intriguingly they’ve been left in place where I assume they fell. My feeling is if this was vandalism they would be smashed and removed, and it’s unlikely that some would still remain. Or maybe that’s my optimistic view.

Along the path, as you’d expect, there’s street furniture with a nautical theme - these steps were my favourite example, and I’m sure has seen many a Titanic moment, at the ‘bough of the ship’ end.

We walked through the area of the Faraday Works which I first saw and wrote about last August. Not much had changed, except I think the plants had grown.

We paused briefly at the Thames Barrier. Its structure is iconic and both amazing and awesome. It clearly plays an important role in protecting London and when you think of it like that it’s hard to imagine how it can be so effective. I’ve not been on one of the tours, much preferring to k eep my feet firmly on the ground.

This part of the path is more familiar, and that’s not just down to the number of repeat shot photos, I’m sure. If we start walking at Greenwich, it’s about as far as we can get comfortably and from here there’s a way to cut through, and up the hill back home. It’s where we first came when we first bought our bikes, a good few years ago, when I wobbled along reminding myself that of course I could remember how to cycle. Exploring the Thames Path is great, and we really should do it more as you can get so much further along, but for me the downside is the hill back home. Any way we go, there’s a hill - none of which I can cycle up right now I’m sure, and very few that I could before in any case.

The sheer scale of the structures in this part of the river is amazing, and these included here are very much still working. Even as we walked past something was being unloaded with the conveyor belt in use. This view through the ironwork towards the more usual views of Greenwich and Canary Wharf beyond is probably one of my favourites.

It’s the contrast I think, the ironwork and industrial setting in the foreground with the built up, high rises and cable car in the distance. How the traditional sits with the new, and how both have their place in the river’s history. We walked up to the O2, or The Dome in old money, where we headed inland tempted by a coffee and a look at the rainbow art installation I shared yesterday.

A walk along the river was just what was needed, and while Greenwich Park and its surrounds are great places to walk, I’m enjoying some new views for a change. Hopefully it won’t be that much longer before we can head much further afield, and will make it to Norfolk and to our rearranged cottage holiday in the Lake District. Fingers crossed.

Industrial views alongside the Thames

Looking back at my photos from our walk along the Thames - that day where we clocked up over 20,000 steps, way more than my what has become usual for lockdown 200 (on a good day!) - I was struck by the beauty of its industrial-ness. And yes, I know that’s not a word, but it seems to fit.

We had great weather for a walk, which started in earnest once we’d reached the Thames Barrier, one of London’s iconic structures. I’ve never been inside, but I have admired from either side of the river many a time.

Perhaps it was the good weather, but even the rusty railings and gateposts were looking good, and I suspect that MOH knew at this point that our walk was going to be one of those with plenty of camera stops.

And why not, especially when most of the Thames Path was relatively quiet, and presented us with views such as this.

Clearly this is still a working part of the river, but imagine its history. I bet it has many, many stories to tell.

Even the graffiti looked more of a work of art rather than vandalism.

When we reached the Yacht Club, I did have a smile - though only cats need to stop here, clearly.

But even though there was the ironwork and industrialism, there was also softer elements. Planting along the Thames Path included vibrant hollyhocks, and even though it was still July, some blackberries.

I doubt there’ll be any left by the time of traditional blackberrying.

There’s a kind of romanticism about the next shot, and not just how the picture’s framed, or even the bikes resting alongside the end of the jetty, it’s owners no doubt enjoying a quiet and beautiful spot.

So much has changed along the river since we cycled along here regularly, but I’m pretty sure that this was the jetty on which MOH proposed, many years ago. A cold February day where he insisted we head out for a walk, and ushered me here. All the time though the weather was worsening and snow was threatening, and I was desperate to get home, little knowing his plans, or how I was wrecking them. Though it all turned out ok in the end.

As we neared Greenwich we realised all this walking was thirsty work, so stopping at the Cutty Sark Tavern (the pub, not the boat) we enjoyed the view for a pint or two.

London really is a great place, and this year many more of us Londoners will hopefully remember to enjoy some of those great spots.