Crossing the River Thames

How many ways would you say there are to cross the Thames? Answer 4*. You could go by car across a bridge, a boat bus, or take to the air in a gondola via the Emirates Air Line, or you could simply walk across. Now I'm not suggesting you are JC resurrected--but you know, if you are, good for you man--no I'm merely suggesting you take the Victorian tunnel under the Thames. First to the skies! 

The Emirates Air-Line terminals are located at the Royal Docks (near DLR Royal Victoria) and the Greenwich Peninsula (near tube North Greenwich) aka not in an actually convenient location to be practical enough to ever use outside of tourist needs. It was fun though and not all that expensive, especially with the Oyster Card discount.

View of the O2 from the gondola

The decent made my heart skip a beat

In 1843 the first tunnel under the river was built, The Thames Tunnel. It connected Rotherhithe to Wapping, today it makes up part of the Overground network. 

The Greenwich Foot Tunnel, north entrance pictured below, was built in 1902 and was for the purpose of allowing workers living on the south side of the river to reach the London docks and shipyards near the Isle of Dogs.

The north entrance is located in Tower Hamlets near Island Gardens DLR and is designated as public highway therefore is open 24 hours a day.

You can see the domed south entrance across the river

The south entrance is located in Greenwich next to the refurbished Cutty Sark. From here you could easily go visit my new favourite market and pop into a museum or two, or even straddle the Prime Meridian.

(There is also the Woolwich foot tunnel built in 1912 between Woolwich and North Woolwich)


*based on my counting skills, not the definitive answer.





Fun travels!