If you want to show visitors a different side of London that encompasses the old and the new London take them on this walk.
Starting from London Bridge Station where the Shard dominates the local area, you can explore Bermondsey once one of London’s most blighted areas of social deprivation but now undergoing regeneration to become the latest trendy district in the capital housing the Fashion and Textile Museum and the White Cube gallery which promoted the work of the Young British Artists such as Tracey Emin and Damian Hirst. Bermondsey has a village feel to it.
Just past St. Thomas Street is the Victorian Ragged School next to the Guinness Trust flats built to house the poor.
From the Middle Ages Bermondsey became the main place for the manufacture of leather in England. The Leather, Hide and Wool Exchange was where the buying and selling of leather goods took place in the late 19th century.
The first railway line in London opened in 1836 between Bermondsey and Deptford and it was later extended to connect London Bridge and Greenwich. Tommy Steele was born in George Row where 3 late 17th century houses are still standing.
New Concordia Wharf and St. Saviours Dock recall the era when London docks were booming. Once known as Jacob’s Island a notorious slum this is where Bill Sykes met his end in Dicken’s Oliver Twist. Now you can lunch in the restaurants in Butlers Wharf with one of the best views of Tower Bridge and the new skyscrapers skyline of London.
We took the lift and walk across Tower Bridge to visit St. Katharine’s Dock to see the full-scale replica of the Spanish Galleon Andalusia.
Next Walk – October 20th
A circular walk of Walthamstow Wetlands. Kevin will issue more details soon. To receive information on future walks please register with Kevin to get on the Walkers Mailing List.
Contact details on the Diary.