A random walk in London

First glimpse of the new public space (taken from Blackfriars Bridge)

I only had one real plan for the walk in London, and that was to see Bazalgette Embankment, the new public space after the completion of the Tideway Project at Blackfriars.

The day was overcast and a little windy. I met my friend at Charing Cross and we walked over Hungerford Bridge to the south side of the Thames. We stopped for lunch at the OXO Tower and then walked over Blackfriars Bridge to see the new gardens. It's larger than I expected, a lot of concrete and wacky black installations (representing ship funnels?) and a lot of seating. There is some green planting and a top section with tables and chairs. I think this is visited by a lot of workers in their lunch hour (it was lunchtime when we were there). Certainly, it's an improvement and a good stopping point with views across the Thames.

From there we walked under Blackfriars Bridge to seek out a couple of churches to look at. The first one was St Andrews-by-the-Wardrobe. The wardrobe part is to do with the King's robes from the past. He is a nice little article from that church all about it. The church has a splendid gallery with a huge book collection. It is also the headquarters of The Coptic Orthodox Church.

St Andrews-by-the-wardrobe

The second church we visited, St Bride's, was amazing. A victim of the Great Fire of London in 1666 and also bombed during the Second World War, it is also known as The Journalists' Church. The steeple, which is magnificent, my friend described as like a wedding cake, and lo-and-behold it was in fact the inspiration for tiered wedding cakes. We found this out down in the crypt (I love a crypt) which also holds the museum. There is so much information down there surrounded by original walls going back to Saxons and beyond. Part of a Roman pavement is highlighted by mirrors and the crypt houses two modern chapels, one for a Celtic meditation and prayer.

St Bride's with the 'wedding cake, spire

The Crypt

St Brigid Cross

Roman pavement reflected in a mirror

One of the chapels in the crypt

Upstairs, the seats all have names on them. We even found one with Michael Parkinson's name on it. One corner of the church is dedicated to journalists who have died, including so many who died in Gaza. It was a sobering moment.

The bottom cards are journalists who have died in Gaza

I do urge you to visit St Bride's if you get the chance. It is stunning, though easily missed as it's located down an alleyway off Fleet Street.

After leaving the church we wound our back to the river. The cafe in Victoria Embankment was closed, so we had to make do with a Nero by Embankment station. This was an expected walk. Sometimes not having a plan can bring real surprises. London possesses wonderful churches, and the good thing about London is that the churches are open.

Finally, a few other photos taken on the walk.