Waverley Paddlestreamer - Whitstable to Tower Bridge 7 October

Above: After passing Canary Wharf, the Thames curves sharply to the right and reveals the Waverley's destination... Tower Bridge. Here the ship pauses briefly to negotiate help from a tug and to await the opening of the bridge. The pause provides a few moments to reflect on some of the sights of central London. 

Above: To the right of Tower Bridge, we get glimpses of two of Christopher Wren's most celebrated structures - St Pauls Cathedral and The Monument. Both were built shortly after the Great Fire of London of 1666. St Pauls replaced a cathedral destroyed by the flames. The Monument was erected to commemorate the fire. It provides fine views across London and, appropriately, its shining tip represents a copper urn with flames emerging. 

The GPO tower can also be seen above the central span of Tower Bridge. Just to the left of the GPO tower are the two small domes of Cannon Street railway terminus. The presence of the station is a reminder that we are now deep in the heart of the City of London. The station opens for full services only during the rush hour as commuters make their way in and out  of one of the world's most famous financial centres.

Below: The skyscrapers of the City of London loom on the north bank. The one with the vertical stripes is the Nat-West Bank building in Old Broad Street and it stretches 600 ft into the leaden skies. Away to the right is the UK's second tallest building. It's the Heron Tower in Bishopsgate and it measures 663 ft ..... or 755 ft if you stretch your tape measure to include the antenna on the roof. Despite being quite a bit shorter at 590 ft, the fascinating Gherkin building at 30 St Mary Axe has perhaps surpassed the others in becoming the new icon of the City of London. It proves that size doesn't matter if you have the right shape.

Above: Our tug is now attached and Tower Bridge is beginning to open just for the Waverley. It is now time to move into the Pool of London.