London Bridge Revealed - Riverside (Guided Walk)

London Bridge is about to shake off years of construction: More London, the Shard, and the redevelopment of London Bridge station. For a period, we can expect the dust to settle, though one glance at the New Southwark Plan suggests a wave of new development will ensue as this dynamic area continues to evolve.

During June the Museum of Walking will lead an eclectic series of walks focusing on some of the key characteristics that make up London Bridge’s past, present and future: its riverside, railway and greenery, and its unique heritage medical and leisure heritage.

The walks will invite workers, residents and visitors to build up a collective memory of the area, which we will post to our placemarks web platform so that new initiatives and developments can harness the essence of what people love about the area.

So join us in walking together, to observe the surroundings, to share stories, recall memories and think creatively about the future of the area. You will be accompanied by social historians, with specialist knowledge of the area, who will offer an explanation of the ‘why’ and the ’how’.

6.00pm-7.30pm Tuesday 12 June in the company of Travis Elborough, historian and anthologist whose London Bridge in America: The Tall Story of a Transatlantic Crossing brought him to research the riverside.

The riverfront itself has seen substantial change since the 1970s and the demise of the docks and the renewal of London Bridge. It was the time of the Motor-city and plans were afoot for linking the bridge into an urban motorway network. This area of London’s riverside became known as ‘London’s Larder’ for the variety of produce that was transported to the area, and as it lay beyond the City’s boundaries, offered up opportunities for numerous leisure activities, including theatre, ale making, drinking and prostitution.