The Monkey Tree

A Trip Down The River...

Turner, Monet and Canaletto painted it, Dickens set novels along side it, Wordsworth wrote sonnets to it; even James Bond has fought a deadly duel on it. What is it? It’s the River Thames, one of the world’s most famous rivers and one of the most important river ways in England. To truly get a sense of London in all its historical glory, a cruise on the Thames is hard to beat – there is something for every member of the family, even the youngest, (who might not appreciate the historical significance of the sights to see), can simply enjoy the ride on the river. Normally, Metro Monkeys brings you free or budget days out in London; however, the cruises mentioned are all under £9 for adults and £5 for kids – not bad for a whole day of entertainment! (Annual Travelcard holders can get substantial discounts.) The other option (if you are really fit) is to use the Thames as your guide and walk to the sights using the bridges to cross from one side to the other. We started our day, at Tower Hill (District Line tube) but those of you who fancy a (long!) walk could get off the Central Line or British Rail at Liverpool Street station and walk along Houndsditch and the Minories towards Tower Hill. Have a quick walk around St Katherine Docks, originally a working dock but now home to luxury cruisers and then walk to the river. At St Katherine’s Pier you can board a circular cruise that sails to the Houses of Parliament at Westminster and then back on the other side of the river with 5 stops along the way. You can get on and off as many times as you want or just let the boat take the strain! Look for Tower Bridge, the iconic bridge over the Thames that is a Victorian engineering marvel. If you are lucky you may see the bridge raised or check the website to see its schedule and plan your visit to coincide with a lift – www.towerbridge.org.uk. The next sight is one of the most famous castle keeps in the world and a premier tourist destination. The Tower of London was started by William the Conqueror to awe, subdue and terrify Londoners and deter foreign invaders. The Tower has a fascinating and bloody history, is home to the Crown Jewels, Beefeaters and, of course, the mysterious ravens. Facing the river is Traitor’s Gate and even in the 21st century you cannot help but look at the Tower in awe! What’s striking about this view is the ancient and majestic 11th Century Tower of London; framed by the 21st Century City of London, with the infamous Swiss Re (Gherkin) building to the left. It solidifies that London is a capital city of historical and modern day importance; how lucky we are to have it on our doorstep. Moving on to cruise past HMS Belfast, the 11,500 ton Royal Navy cruiser, saved from the scrapheap and opened as a museum in 1971. The next ‘boat stop’ is Westminster Pier; you can alight here for the Houses of Parliament and the famous clock tower known as Big Ben (which is actually the name of the 16 ton bell which chimes the hour). Although the current building was only completed in the 1860’s after a fire in 1834, the site has been a royal residence since Medieval times; Westminster Hall, which survived the fire, is the oldest part of the Palace of Westminster, dating from William II, son of William the Conqueror. Also at this stop, you can see Westminster Abbey, where the coronation of Kings and Queens has taken place since 1066 and where many of the Monarchs are buried. Principal among them is St. Edward the Confessor, King of England from 1042 – 1066, whose shrine is at the heart of the Abbey. Back on the boat; it will cross the river to Festival Pier, where you can get up close and personal with the London Eye, the National Theatre or indulge in shopping or a spot of lunch at the more unusual shops and cafes at Gabriel’s Wharf. For tiny tots (that are a bit bored) there is a small park just next to the London Eye where you can let them run around, have a picnic and enjoy an ice cream. Rejoin the boat to alight at the Bankside Pier – the next stop on the tour. Here you can see a replica of Shakespeare’s Globe, or for something completely different, go to the Tate Modern. The Tate is free and definitely starts a debate about what is art! In the past, my children have enjoyed some of the ‘hands on’ exhibits especially the giant slides and my Dad just likes the building! For the best photo opportunity, walk across the river on the ‘wobbly bridge’ (or Millennium Bridge to give it its official name) and see the stunning view of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Truly magnificent! The penultimate stop is London Bridge City Pier. There are a couple of quirky eateries to see especially, in Butlers Wharf. Stay on the boat to check out the views of the Tower of London for the last time. The last stop to complete the circular tour is back at St. Katherine’s Pier. The Dickens Inn public house and restaurant is in St. Katherine’s dock. This Tudor building is beautifully decorated with hanging baskets throughout summer and is very popular with tourists and Londoners alike. There are other tours starting at St. Katherine’s heading the other way towards Greenwich; all the tours include an interesting commentary on the various landmarks. The summer timetable, which includes all 5 stops mentioned, starts on 10th April. Check out Transport for London website - www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround for further details and timetables. Metro Monkeys hope you enjoy days out in London and if you have any ideas for Metro Monkeys please contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Bon Voyage!