MAY 26,2013 - MAY 26,2013 (1 DAYS)
Adventurous London: London by Air, River and on foot - Emirates Air Way, Thames Cruise and Westminster + Lambeth areas on foot (Sunday tour offer).
Start: Royal Victoria DLR.
End: Vauxhall National Rail Station (Lambeth/Vauxhall).
Duration: 1/2 - 3/4 day.
Weather: Clear Day. In case of rain in the late afternoon - we recommend finding shelter at the Tate Britain Museum in Lambeth.
Note: a special offer for a sunny Sunday. The Westminster Abbey and the Parliament Houses - are closed.
We start at one of the most beautiful exterior stations in London - Royal Victoria DLR station in East London. It opened on March 1994 and is named after the nearby Royal Victoria Dock. It is on the DLR's Beckton branch, in Travelcard Zone 3.
Head to the Emirates Airline terminal in Royal Victoria to catch the cable car which will bring you the opposite bank of the Thames in North Greenwich. We fly from the northern bank to the southern bank of the Thames:
Prices: 360 Sightseeing Tour Adult - £8.60, Child - £4.40.
Single: Adult - £4.30, Child - £2.20. Return: Adult - £8.60, Child - £4.40.
Times: Winter (1 Oct 2012-27 Mar 2013): Mon - Fri: 07:00-20:00, Saturday: 08:00-20:00, Sunday: 09:00-20:00. Summer (28 Mar-30 Sep 2013): Mon - Fri: 07:00-21:00, Saturday: 08:00-21:00, Sunday: 09:00-21:00.
It is really worth to ride on it and see London from 90 meters above. Very different view indeed. Approximately 10 minutes fly along a distance of 1 km. The pods each hold 8-10 people but very often you are lucky enough to get one to yourself which feels rather luxurious. The pod is safe and stable. The ride itself is incredibly smooth. Avoid riding the cable car in very windy days. The real gem of the ride is the Thames. The river beneath looks grandiose and powerful. You are able to see all the docks and industrial warehouses along the riversides. You get a great view of the River bridges, the City, the Olympic Park, London City Airport and the O2 arena.
(Anthony Gormley sculpture):
Emirates Air Way - North Greenwich:
Follow the signposts from the Emirates North Greenwich Peninsula terminal to the O2 or the North Greenwich Pier. Head northwest on Cutter Ln toward Phoenix Ave and turn right to the North Greenwich Pier:
North Greenwich Pier - Anthony Grimley sculpture - Quantum Leap:
North Greenwich Pier:
Photos from the cruise, along the Thames, with the boat from North Greenwich Peninsula Pier to London Eye (Westminster) Pier:
From the London Eye Pier we walk along the southern bank (westward) to Westminster Bridge - passing on our left the London Eye:
Later, on our left - the London Aquarium (formerly, London County Hall):
Head southwest toward Westminster Bridge, turn right onto Westminster Bridge Rd. Here are some photos taken from the bridge:
Return to the western end of Westminster Bridge. Head west for 300 metres.
Westminster Pier - The Battle on Britain (RAF):
Slight right onto Parliament Square. Slight left onto Broad Sanctuary. Slight left onto The Sanctuary and Westminster Abbey (20 Deans Yard) will be on the left:
Head east on The Sanctuary. Turn right (restricted usage road), turn left (restricted usage road) and you are in the Westminster Abbey Precincts - Dean's Yard:
On Sunday the Westminster Abbey is closed. So, we continue our tour into the Chapter House in the Westminster Abbey. The octagonal Chapter House is in the East Cloister. It dates from the 1250s. It is one of the largest in England. The monks met here every day for prayers and to read a chapter from the rule of St Benedict and discuss the day's work. The King's Great Council first assembled here in 1257. It was actually the beginning of the English Parliament. The House of Commons used the room for several years in the late 14th century. After having been a repository for government records from the 1540s it was restored in Victorian times by Sir Gilbert Scott:
Opposite Westminster Abbey, on the the other side of Abingdon Street are the Parliament Houses:
Further south on Abingdon Street we arrive to a small park on the Abingdon Street (Just before the end of the Parliament Houses). Cross the street and take photos from the green small park to the direction of the Westminster Abbey:
... and to the direction of the Parliament:
Further south to the Parliament Houses you enter the Victoria Tower Gardens. From here you get marvelous sights of the Parliament Houses:
Further south, Abingdon Street changes its name to the Millbank. From this bustling street you get nice views on the city of London and the Thames (on your left):
The Lambeth Bridge from the Millbank:
Walk further south (800 metres from the Parliament and 550 m. from Lambeth Bridge) and you arrive to the Tate Britain Museum:
Do not miss the African sculptures, a striking private family collection - which holds a whole big hall in the museum:
Tate Britain - The Chlomondelly Ladies:
Tate Britain - Queen Elizabeth - Nickolas Hillard - 1515:
Tate Britain - A Woman with a Squirrel - Hans Holbein - 1557:
Tate Britain - Henry Moore:
Tate Britain - Jacob Epstein: Jacob and the Angel:
Tate Britain - Mark Gertler - Merry-go-Ronds (1916):
Tate Britain - Thomas Gainsborough - Giovanna Bacelli - 1782:
Tate Britain - Joshua Reynolds - Master Crewe as Henry VIII - 1775:
Tate Britain - JMW Turner - The Shipwreck - 1805:
Tate Britain - John Constable - Salisbury Cathedral from the Meadows - 1831:
Tate Britain - William Blake - Newton - 1795 or 1805:
Tate Britain - William Blake - Elohim creating Adam 1795 or 1805:
After visiting the Tate Britain - return to the opposite side of the Millibank, along the Thames - to watch the spectacular housing projects on the opposite side of the Thames (between Lambeth Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge) (Nine Elms):