For centuries, London’s waterways have been the lifeblood of the city, the center of almost all activity—and these days it’s no different. The Thames River is teeming with life, and we don’t just mean the aquatic kind! Stay in a New York Habitat vacation accommodation in London near the water and dive into the action yourself.
On London’s South Bank, there’s no end of choices for visitors: river tours, the National Theatre, The Hayward Gallery, the British Film Institute, the Globe Theatre, Tate Modern, the London Eye, Movieum film museum and Borough Market are situated along the river, all within walking distance of one another, either in Lambeth or in Southwark. Even without stopping at all the attractions, this route alone makes for an amazing afternoon’s stroll or a romantic evening walk.
Further up the river lie London’s Docklands, with narrow, picturesque, winding streets and ancient pubs. Spend some time in Limehouse (on the Docklands Light Rail) discovering Dickens’ old watering hole, The Grapes, across from the remains of Joseph Conrad’s favorite pub, The House They Left Behind (ironically, the public house is gone and only the sign has been left behind). For a modern take on traditional English food, dine at Gordon Ramsay’s pub, The Narrows, with its gorgeous river views, or head to the nearby Wapping Project, a stunning restaurant/bar/art space set in an old hydraulic power station.
Of course, the Thames isn’t the only celebrated waterway in London. Charming Regent’s Canal is also central to the city, though its colorful houseboats and abundant bank-side greenery make visitors feel transported to another time and place. One way to actually be transported is to take an afternoon cruise on the canal aboard an authentic houseboat, which takes passengers from Camden Lock past Regent’s Park, the London Zoo and the aptly named Little Venice.
- A 2-bedroom rental accommodation in Tower Hamlets-Canary Wharf (LN-375) on the third floor of a modern apartment block on Narrow Street, well-located near Limehouse Basin. This charming flat comes with a balcony with open-air seating.
- A 1-bedroom vacation rental in City-Islington (LN-731) on the fifth floor of an elevator building with 24-hour porter. This gorgeous apartment has views over King’s College library gardens and is less than a ten-minute walk to the river.
To get the most from your visit to London, be sure to make a trip to the bank—the banks of the water, that is—and for a great place to stay without breaking the bank, book a New York Habitat vacation rental.
Let us know your favorite waterside spot in London with a comment below.
I have always wanted to spend time in London walking over the bridges, maybe as a tribute to TS Eliot. I never knew there were houseboats on the river, though. Maybe I’ll rent one of those instead of booking an apartment to stay in for my vacation.
Wow, this is awesome. I dying to pay a visit to The Globe Theatre is The Theatre of all Theatres. I hear the ghost of Sir Lawrence still lingers around.
I took a boatride on The river Thames when I was in London and it was actually quite an interesting tour of the city area.
My friends from the Bahamas and I took a very nice river tour along The Thames River in August, it was a great adventure and we look foward to some more such tours when we return to Lonbdon again.
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Glad you mentioned Regents Canal – not many visitors know about it, but its one of the best parts of the city! Theres some great little cafes along there too – perfect for relaxing on a summer day!