Description: My favourite part of London is the Embankment, or to be precise, the Victoria Embankment. This runs from Blackfriars Bridge to Westminster Bridge, but my favourite section is from Waterloo Bridge to Westminster. It is a wide tree lined street which runs right alongside the Thames, and is the ideal place for a stroll, to see some sights and to have a drink and something to eat.

You can travel here on the Underground, and there are a number of stations you can use – Westminster, Embankment, Temple, Charing Cross, Covent Garden and Waterloo are all within walking distance. I usually use Embankment, but that is because in addition to enjoying a walk along the Embankment itself, I like to stroll up Villiers Street towards the Strand – there are a number of nice pubs and cafes on this street (there are a choice of two exits from Embankment station, one takes you out beside the river and the other will take you onto Villiers Street).

In general terms, the Victoria Embankment is a fantastic place for a walk. When it’s a sunny day, there isn’t anywhere I prefer to be. There is shade under the trees, and despite the busy road alongside the wide pavement, it’s very relaxing and there is plenty to see.

I’ll start this story from Waterloo Bridge, and then go towards Westminster. Moored beside Waterloo Bridge is one of my favourite London pubs, the Queen Mary. Yes, moored – it is an old paddle steamer which is now a pub. The interior is adorned with old black and white Glasgow pensioners on board the Queen Mary for its trips up the Clyde. The food is good, the drinks are good, and you can sit on deck and watch the river go by. Even sitting inside there are large windows so you can see what is going on.

Between the Queen Mary and Embankment station, you pass Cleopatra’s Needle. This is an Ancient Egyptian obelisk given to the UK in 1819 and moved here from Alexandria in 1877, erected in 1878. There is a plaque on the plinth on which the obelisk stands in memory of those who lost their lives bringing it here – it was quite an undertaking, towed behind a boat and meeting a storm in the Bay of Biscay. My favourite part of the Cleopatra’s Needle story however, is about the two bronze sphinxes which sit on either side of the Needle. They were placed there to guard the Needle - but someone messed up and instead of looking outwards for danger, they sit gazing at the Needle!

Along the length of the Victoria Embankment you will find raised benches under the trees. These are ideal spot to sit and have a rest, get out of the sun and watch the life of the river. There is always something passing by, something to look at, so as part of your walk along the Embankment I would suggest you take a minute to sit down and see what is happening.

Beside Embankment station, there is the Embankment Pier. From here you can take boat trips up and down the Thames, something which is a wonderful relaxing experience in good weather. After you pass the pier you go under the Hungerford Bridge, which is the rail bridge leading into Charing Cross station. It also has foot bridges on either side, so you can cross to the South Bank from here.

Once you’ve gone under the bridge, you will be met with a fantastic view of the London Eye. It’s so big, it’s quite breathtaking – even after I’ve lived here over two and a half years, I’m not used to it and I have to stop and look. You can see the Eye from along the Embankment, and from a lot of central London, but between the Hungerford and Westminster Bridges are the best views, and of course there is one spot on the Victoria Embankment where you are directly opposite the Eye.

As soon as you emerge from under the Hungerford Bridge, there is a street to your right called Northumberland Avenue which leads up to Trafalgar Square – another spot which is worth a visit. On your left, moored on the river you will see two boats. These are more pub-boats like the Queen Mary. The first one is called the Hispaniola and I can’t tell you much as I have never visited, but it seems to be more of a restaurant than a pub. The second is the Tattershall Castle, and this another of my favourites. It has a larger deck area and more parasols than the Queen Mary, so it’s a great place to go in good weather. The food is really very good, and the interior is very nice as well. Highly recommended.

Carrying on past the boats, the Houses of Parliament will start to become visible ahead through the trees. Before you reach them however, you will come across a very moving war memorial. London is full of memorials, understandably, and so many of them move me – another favourite is the one in memory of animals in war on Park Lane, they also deserve our remembrance. But this one on the Victoria Embankment is for the Battle of Britain, in memory of the few who gave their lives for so many – Winston Churchill’s moving words are inscribed on the memorial, and it never fails to stop me in my tracks. There are lists of those who died in the Battle of Britain, and also friezes of wartime images. Stop and look, and reflect on what they did for Britain.

Moving on from the memorial, you will very shortly reach the Westminster Pier, where you can also take boat trips along the river – a lot of the trips start from here so I would advise coming here rather than Embankment Pier as the boat fills up at the start.

At this point, you’re at the Westminster Bridge and right beside the Houses of Parliament. This is one of my favourite London landmarks as it is so recognisable, and every time I see it remember where I am, and that I am so lucky to live here, in amongst all this history and incredible architecture! I also love Parliament Square, which is behind Parliament, as there are some wonderful statues of notable figures.

So there you have my favourite London experience. It’s not particularly fancy, and it is just a short walk – but what a walk. Go to Embankment on a lovely sunny day, and you won’t regret it.
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