London River Cruise - money saving free commentary

Taking a London River Cruise is fairly expensive. Save money by taking a regular blue and white river bus and listening to the commentary in this video guide.

For more guides including bus and walking tours take a look at Youtube playlist Free London Guides at bit.ly/Londonguidesplaylist

For sale. Video clips of London, similar to those used in this video, are available for sale at https://www.pond5.com/artist/flyandvisit#1/2063/london

Transcript:

River cruises along the River Thames are popular and expensive.

Taking a regular blue and white river bus and downloading this video guide is a less costly option.

Board the boat at Westminster pier which is located beside Westminster Bridge just across the road from Big Ben's clock tower and a short distance from Westminster underground station.

Across the river, County Hall was home to the Greater London Council until disbanded by Margaret Thatcher's government in 1986. The building now houses the London Dungeon and Sea Life Aquarium.

Next to it, the other side of the bridge, St Thomas's Hospital, where Florence Nightingale once worked, has been healing the sick since the 12th century.

The big wheel, known as The London Eye, was opened on New Year's Eve 1999 and rotates about once every thirty minutes. From the top it is possible to see 30 miles in all directions on a clear day. The 32 pods represent the 32 boroughs of London.

Opposite it, on the same side of the river as Westminster Pier, The Ministry of Defense building stands on the former site of Whitehall Palace, inhabited by the kings and queens of England until most of it it burned down in 1698. Happily the wine cellar commissioned by Henry the Eighth is still intact.

At the waters edge, the stone pylon topped by a golden eagle is a memorial to Royal Air Force wartime casualties.

The next building, Whitehall Court, is a favourite with photographers.

Ahead, Hungerford Bridge carries trains serving the South East of England into Charing Cross Station.

Footbridges attached to either side are known as the Jubilee Bridges. They were opened in 2002, fifty years after Elizabeth the Second became queen.

Embankment Pier, where the boat usually stops, is situated close to the underground station of the same name.

The tree lined Embankment makes for a pleasant riverside walk. Most of the gardens on the other side of the road reached down to the water's edge until 1865 when it was built. The project involved incorporating a road with a railway beneath. In recent years a cycle super highway has been added.

Across the river from the pier, where the Lion Brewery once stood, the Royal Festival Hall was built for the Festival of Britain in 1951.

Next to it, along the South Bank, The Queen Elizabeth Hall is a typical example of brutalist architecture. It incorporates the smaller Purcell Room which serves niche interests such as Chamber Music, Jazz, Poetry Recital and Mime.

Meanwhile, just along from the Embankment Pier, Cleopatra's Needle, the oldest point of interest on this cruise, was presented to the British by the ruler of Egypt in 1819 and shipped to the UK on a pontoon in 1877. Delivery was delayed because the British Government, although gracious enough to accept the gift, was unwilling to pay for its' transportation to London.

Inland, art deco Shell Mex House, built for a petroleum company, lies close to the Savoy Hotel, a bastion of luxury opened in 1889 and paid for by income gleaned from performances of Gilbert and Sullivan operas staged in London. One of it's first managers, Cesar Ritz later opened his own hotel.

Next, Waterloo Bridge, opened in 1817, two years after the Battle of Waterloo. It was rebuilt by a predominantly female workforce during the 2nd World War and because of this it is sometimes known as the Ladies Bridge.

The Tower Lifeboat Station, as with all lifeboat stations around Britain, is funded by public donation and manned by volunteers.

Across the road beyond it, Somerset House occupies the site of a former Tudor Palace commissioned by the Duke of Somerset, brother of Henry the eighth's third wife, Jane Seymour. Unfortunately he was executed at the Tower of London before it was completed.

Over the river, it's possible to undertake a guided tour of the National Theatre, arguably good value given that there are three permanent stages.

ITV News is broadcast from the tower block beside it.

Moored alongside the Embankment, the HMS Wellington, which once saw action during the second world war, is now the headquarters of the Honourable Company of Master Mariners.

Standing almost anonymously on the bank beside it, a small arch commemorates the Silver Jubilee of King George V's reign.
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