~ Twenty bridges from Tower to Kew, wanted to know what the river knew. 

Twenty bridges or twenty-two. 

For they were young and the Thames was old. 

And this is the tale the river told: ~ Rudyard Kipling

We’re now at part Three of my series on Everything to do on the Thames. This section is one of busiest of the entire river, and may be very busy. It’s busy for a reason though, so let’s find those reasons.

Here are the previous sections: Part one: Thames Barrier to Tower Bridge part two: Tower Bridge to Millennium Bridge

Relax: on the Thames Beach: Yes, the Thames has a beach. No, it’s not actually relaxing.

Discover: Unique exhibits at Two Temple Place: This Neo-Gothic Victorian mansion regularly hosts one of a kind art exhibitions. Check on their website to see what they have on now.

Skate: at Somerset House: During the winter season, this riverside palace turns its courtyard into a ice rink for the public to enjoy.

Take in a performance: at the Southbank Centre: This massive riverside hub of the arts houses events of all kinds. See a show in the National Theatre or the Royal Festival Hall, discover an art exhibition in the Hayward Gallery, watch a movie in the BFI Cinema, and satisfy yourself gastronomically with the astronomical amount of restaurants and cafes here.

Find: Cleopatra’s Needle: This massive (21 metres tall) granite obelisk was given to Britain in 1819. If you look closely you can still see the scars left by a nearby shrapnel shell during WW1.

See: the Skateboard Graveyard: If you look down while crossing the Golden Jubilee Bridge, on it’s Eastern footpath, you can see a platform in the water littered with broken skateboards. These have been put, or rather, thrown, as a memorial to a skater who was mugged and thrown off the bridge in the 90’s (before there were separate pedestrian footbridges).

Walk through: the Whitehall and Jubilee Gardens: Located on opposite banks of the river, these two gardens make for a nice picnic spot to break up your Thames walk for lunch at. Whitehall Garden in particular is quite interesting as it is full of small memorials with a large variation of purposes 

Ride: The London Eye: Is it touristy? Yes. Is it really tall? Also yes. Though in my opinion actually riding the London Eye, although definitely cool, is not especially worth it (check out the Sky Garden instead), you still absolutely must at least come see the London Eye from down below. It truly is a magnificent sight and worth its reputation.

Scream: In the London Dungeons: Though many would say the Dungeons are built to be a tourist trap, the Dungeons are actually a really fun experience, not only for children but for adults too, as it fully immerses you into London’s sinister past, (jump scares may or may not be historically accurate). If you’re more than one person, use a Kellogg’s “adults go free” voucher, found in many Kellogs cereal boxes, to save upwards of 50% on entrance.

Holler; “Donkey!”: At Shrek’s Adventure: A journey through the much loved franchise and other DreamWorks classics. Again, use the Kellogg’s “adults go free” voucher to save your money.

Dive: Into a watery wonderland at The London Aquarium: This large family friendly aquarium has been pleasing Londoners for nearly thirty years. From jellyfish to octopus to sharks, over 500 species are spread through a range of themed zones for you to explore. This is another venue which uses the Kellogg’s “adults go free” voucher.