Greenwich to Tower Bridge
Between Greenwich Palace and the Tower Bridge the Thames is at work, but with frequent opportunities to appreciate the best views of the North Bank’s landmarks and a pub round every corner, you’ll be refreshed and relaxed enough to enjoy a 4 star dinner by the Tower.
Greenwich to Tower Bridge
This is the ninth Section of the Jubilee Greenway. It begins at the great Palace of Greenwich and runs along the South Bank of the Thames, following the Thames Path, curving round and eventually passes through Bermondsey and reaches Tower Bridge. It affords many stunning views of the river but some of it is unexciting, and at the moment, possibly while development is underway, it veers perhaps too often from its riverside route.
As the route approaches Rotherhithe so the residential buildings become smarter and more expensive and finally it passes those smart restaurants like Le Pont de la Tour, as Tower Bridge is reached. It is complicated to follow the route at one or two points, but there are usually good signs marking the Thames Path, and these should be followed wherever possible.
Begin at Greenwich, passing the Royal Naval College on the left. Pass the Lewin Gates and the Pepys Building and ahead is the piazza with the round-domed entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel straight ahead. On the left is what remains of Cutty Sark. Further along to the left are the Cutty Sark Gardens, and to the left again, the Gipsy Moth pub.
Keep following the Thames Path at all times. First pass next to (but not through) a blue metal arch (to the left) and go along Greenwich Reach. Delany House flats are to the left. There are two cannons, tower blocks to the left, and a good view of the Gherkin in the distance across the river and ahead. There is a restaurant and bar (SE10) to the left.
It is necessary to turn left at a boarded-up block of flats (Wood Wharf) ahead, into Horseferry Place, SE10. Turn right into Thames Street. There is a wooden adventure playground on the right. Boreman House and Ballard House flats are on the left. The Galliardhomes.com development is on the right. The Thames pub (boarded up) is on the left hand corner of Thames Street and Norway Street. Turn left into Norway Street.
Turn right into Creek Road (A200), passing more Galliard homes development. Cross over Deptford Creek Suspension Bridge.
Just before The Hoy (ahead) turn right into Greenwich Quay, and head towards the river (veering right and then left). As the river is reached turn left and presently there is a statue of Peter the Great. Continue along the river front, past expensive flats on the left, and at the end is the Ahoy Centre. Turn left and then right. Deptford Green is to the left. Pass by Charlotte Turner Primary School on the left, and Paynes & Borthwick Development at Payne’s Wharf on the right. (They retain some of the structure of the old Payne’s Wharf building.) Twinkle Park is on the left. Turn left, passing Trevethick Street on the left, and then turn right into Prince Street (with the Dog & Bell on the left and the defunct Navy Arms on the corner of New King Street to the left). (On the river at this point is Convoys Wharf.)
Turn right into Sayes Court, then into Sayes Court Park (with a playground adjacent) and right into Grove Street. Hurleston House is on the left (with Barnes Terrace to the right). Go through the Trinity Estate. On reaching Pepys Park turn right into it. There is a sign at the entrance to the park. Ahead -
Deptford Strand ¼ mile
Greenland Docks ¾ mile
Surrey Docks Farm 1 ¼ miles
Back -
Cutty Sark 1 mile
Blackwall Point 3 ¼ miles
Cross Pepys Park North diagonally to the left. Coming out of the park, turn right into Bowditch, SE8, and, heading towards the river, into Barfleur Lane (housing on both sides) and into Foreshore (with fine buildings) and at the river, turn left. At the river is a fine gate with anchor motif, and nearby a cannon. Canary Wharf is on the other side of the river and Greenwich can be seen to the right.
Take this riverside route, a wide esplanade, in a westerly direction. Pepys Resource Centre is on the left. Further along there are some disused stone gates to the left. Ahead are new flats - at Deptford Wharf (Deptford Strand?).
There is a sign for Greenland Pier, Greenland Lock, South Lock and Greenland Dock Walk.
Pass a dry yard for small boats on the left. Cross over South Dock (which leads to South Dock Marina on the left), turn right and then left alongside the river again. At this point are the Dog & Duck Stairs, with a notice that these and other such steps were used by mudlarks in search of scrap timber, coal or anything they could sell for a coin or two. By the river to the right is Greenland Pier.
Ahead is Tide Gauge House. Turn left here to Greenland Dock, pass the Lock Keeper’s Office, cross the swing bridge to the right (or a normal bridge just next to it), turn right and prepare to turn left along the river.
On the corner (to the right and on the other side of the lock), note the hydraulic capstan (for hauling large vessels into the lock by a mechanism using the power of high pressure water to turn it). Here is a curlicue by William Pye.
Turn left along Randall Rents, passing Princes Court, Queen of Denmark Court flats (not marked) and King Frederick IX Tower (again not marked as such). Then turn right into Odessa Street, SE16, passing the Ship & Whale pub on the left, New Caledonian Wharf flats on the right, Custom House Reach block of flats and the derelict Downtown restaurant (both on the right). Turn right to Commercial Pier Wharf and the Riverside Walk, turning left alongside the river.
Turn inland to the left before the area with the animal sculptures (Barnard’s Wharf).
Go through a housing estate (passing Defoe Close to the right) into Vaughan Street, then turn right into Rotherhithe Street, which curves to the right. There is a sign -
Rotherhithe 1 ¼
Surrey Water 1 ½
There is a sign to Nelson Dock and the Heritage Museum. Pass Holy Trinity Halls on the left and then pass Surrey Docks Farm on the right. Go up a slipway towards the river.
Turn left alongside the river and some flats (brick and blue - Harwood Point and Somerville Point). Go through a black rail gate. There is an old anchor to the right, and a flagpole and cannon to the left. The path leaves the river through a garden (Durand’s Wharf) to the left, leading to a right turn into Rotherhithe Street again.
Pass Docklands Trading Post and then the Clipper Pub, both on the left, and the Hilton London Docklands Hotel (which has its own pier – Hilton Docklands Pier) on the right. Pass the Blacksmiths Arms on the right and Canada Wharf. Turn right again towards the river and then left (marked PRIVATE ROAD). Here there are smart houses (Pennington Court), an anchor and later an obelisk – in Pageant Crescent. At the end turn left, right and right again, then left, thus rejoining the riverside.
Pass some steps down to the Thames (Pageant Stairs). This is a smarter part of the route, with more expensive residences - Sovereign Crescent. Cross a Barratt bridge, and veer right.
On the opposite side of the river, Canary Wharf has gone out of view. This is Limehouse Reach, and directly opposite is the entrance to the Limehouse Basin Marina, and thus to the Grand Union Canal, leading to the Regent’s Canal. The Gherkin can be seen ahead now. Pass Helena Square on the left, and then Frederick Square (also on the left). Turn down to the left at the pub.
Turn right into Rotherhithe Street, passing Lavender House on the left, Globe Wharf on the right, King & Queen Wharf on the right, Yun Hai Chinese Restaurant on the left, Mogul Restaurant on the left, Bellamy’s Court Flats (Abbotshade Road) on the right, and flats at Princes Riverside Road (on the right). Pass Pacific Wharf flats, and Old Salt Quay pub, and cross a red swing bridge over Surrey Water. There is a sign to St Saviours Dock to the right.
(This is Rotherhithe and near here, but not visible on the route, is the Rotherhithe Tunnel).
Turn right and go up some steps and along, passing a jetty. There are more smart apartments. There is a zig-zag path (presumably to deter cyclists). There is a statue - The Sunshine Weekly & The Pilgrim’s Pocket. Pass Cumberland Wharf on the right (opposite Swan Road to the left).
Continue once more along Rotherhithe Street with Brandrams Wharf on the right. Tunnel Wharf is on the right. Pass the Mayflower Pub on the right.
Go along St Marychurch Street, passing Thames Tunnel Mill on the right. After St Mary’s Church on the left, enter a pedestrian only route, turn up to the right and on re-reaching the river, Tower Bridge is now visible in the distance. There is a sign to Cherry Garden. Pass under a covered way under some flats. Presently there is a stretch of garden – and a plinth celebrating the Silver and Golden Jubilees. There are gardens to the left leading to Southwark Park. Turn down left again and then right.
Pass Fulford Street on the left, go up to the river again and then, soon afterwards down again. Keep heading in a westerly direction and pass the Angel Pub on the right. Pass Dr Salter’s Daydream Statue.
The Millpond estate is on the left, then Angel Wharf on the left and Corbett’s Wharf on the right. Go into Bermondsey Wall East. Go up again to the riverside, into Fountain Garden Square, then into Bermondsey Wall East again. Turn left into Loftie Street, then right into Chambers Street, with Chambers Wharf on the right. Turn right into George Row and left into Bermondsey Wall West. Creeds Wharf is on the right.
Follow Bermondsey Wall West. At the end of that road, turn left into Mill Street, and then take a narrow passageway to the right leading to St Saviour’s Dock. This is clearly marked, with a notice instructing cyclists to dismount.
Be aware that this passageway to St Saviour’s Dock opens between 7am and 11pm from March to September, and from 7am to 10pm from October to February. When closed, continue along Mill Street, take the first available right turn and then turn right again.
The passageway passes New Concordia Wharf on the left, and leads to St Saviour’s Dock Bridge, crossing St Saviour’s Dock on a bridge which still opens from time to time to admit vessels. This leads to the Riverside Walkway. Here there are a number of celebrated restaurants facing the Thames. The first seen are Browns and the Blue Print Café. After this is the Design Museum, opposite which (at the moment) is a large bronze sculpture by Eduardo Paolozzi.
More restaurants follow in Shad Thames, all in the great buildings of Butler’s Wharf - All Bar One, Cantina del Ponte, Le Pont de la Tour, and Chop House. Passing these on the left, turn left into Maggie Blake’s Cause (a small covered passageway) and turn immediately right into Shad Thames, passing the Anchor Brewhouse. This leads to Tower Bridge, which has been in vision for some time.
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