A wander UP the Thames into the City.

[Steptoe]

I don’t do walking distances, we’ve moved on a long way since Neolithic man posted up their wandering reports.

I started in Battersea, sod riding or walking, parked my car at the heliport, and had a cup of tea while waiting for my lift to pick me UP.

Time was of the essence, and I’d landed on my feet (kaboom tish) with a ride in a Helicopter.
The plan was to fly upstream to the O2dome.
I heard it coming in to land, i jumped in the co-pilots seat and off we went.



We turned left heading west, upstream, apparently we had to gain height before turning around and heading east downstream.
Flew quarter of a mile gaining height, and turned around above Wandsworth Bridge, about 500 ft high.


Then off we went, heading east into the city.
Below is Lots road power station, under redevelopment, being turned into a retail experience destination.
It’s the large red bricked building, in front is Chelsea Harbour, “when i worra lad ‘twas all scrapyards”


Almost next door, and can just be seen in previous picture is Worlds End Estate and Edith Grove, the area where I was born and brought up and where my parents lived, my mum until her death in 2022.
That’s my foot by the floor window, and I can see her flat



The next post in the report has some spectacular history.. both past and very recent.

 

[Steptoe]

A few seconds later we were above Cheyne Walk, and Chelsea reach, where the Chelsea houseboats are located.
Now this picture contains so many houses with blue plaques and many other famous residents.
I’ll start from the left of picture and head towards the right.
Sylvia Pankhurst, Suffragette.
The painter Walter Greaves.
Painter J.M.W. Turner.
Sir Isambard Brunel
The Painter James Whistler.
Sir Alexander Fleming, discoverer of penicillin.
Then amongst the blue plaques we have Brian Adam’s and Mick Jaggers houses, Ronnie Woods and Roman Abramovichs old houses.
Plus Nick Cave and Lemmys houseboats.
The Moravian Cemetery.
The house where Gerry Adam’s and the IRA held secret peace meetings with the British Government.
Also in the picture is the only medieval hall left from the City of London, Crosby Hall, which was moved and relocated brick by brick to Cheyne Walk in 1910.
I’ll come back to this picture at the end of the report and mark them all.

 

[Steptoe]

Further downstream we reach the the grounds of the Royal Hospital, home to the Chelsea pensioners, and where the annual Chelsea Flower Show is held in the grounds, which is used for football/playing fields for the rest of the year.

 

[Steptoe]

Next I knew we were in the heart of the City.
St Paul’s, flew a bit closer

 

[Steptoe]

Next up was the Fenchurch Building, aka, The Walkie Talkie ..

 

[Steptoe]

We reached Tower bridge but were refused permission to continue on to the O2 Dome due to busy airspace at the time for London City airport so had to turn around and fly back.
I was too busy taking it all in to keep taking pictures.
Next up on the left was The Shard, had a wave to the diners in the restaurant on the 32nd floor


This is the view from when I ate at the Shard restaurant a while ago. The Walkie Talkie building is opposite on the otherside of the river.

 

[simondippenhall]

Definitely a 'higher' level of London wander!

 

[Steptoe]

Coming to the London Eye and Westminster Bridge, with the Houses of Parliment on the otherside of the River .

 

[Steptoe]

Next we were over Vauxhall bridge, with the MI5 building on the left of the picture.
Also near to where in 2013 a helicopter hit a crane on top of a building during construction and crashed into the streets below killing the pilot and a pedestrian and injuring 12 others.

 

[Steptoe]

Over Battersea Power Station which was still being developed at the time, a huge area. I’d like to fly over now that it’s 99.9% completed to see the changes



Then over Battersea Park lining up on the finals before landing back at Battersea Heliport



And a comfy landing

 

[L2RKE]

Looks like a great way to spend a day. Avoiding the all that traffic too.

 

[Tinytim]

Cheers for that. Great photo of the Shard.

 

[Monsieur]

Next I knew we were in the heart of the City.
St Paul’s, flew a bit closer

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Can see my daughter’s first flat here

 

[Headtester]

Wow, what an experience, so many amazing views of iconic buildings and London landmarks