Blackfriars Platform

The view from Blackfriars bridge has been spoilt by the renovated train station, however the view from the platform is possibly the best train platform view in the world.  Magnificent as it is I still preferred it from the bridge and it was free then.

The two towers

... but not quite as JRR Tolkien would have envisaged them.  On the left, the new Shard above London Bridge station, it's claim to fame is being the tallest building in Europe. On the right, the Tate Modern's tower and legacy of it's former life as electricity generation station when the Southbank was a very different place than today.
The horizontal fallen bread slices across the horizon are the new Blackfriars rail platforms, the only rail platforms to span the Thames.  Their claim to fame is visual shame! They completely destroy the upriver views that used to afford great vistas of London riverside icons like St Paul's and Tower Bridge. Tut ...

Paralympics Marathon

Thousands lined the streets to see the paralympics marathon. It was not an easy course, Shelly Woods of GB who took silver described it " It was such a tough race. It was one of the hardest marathons I’ve ever done.” Shirley Reilly of the US took gold and Sandra Graf (pictured here) of Sweden took bronze.

Did you watch the closing ceremony last night?
What a fantastic finale to a fantastic games.

We aren't ready to let the games go yet and a couple more events are scheduled

Today is "our greatest team parade" a celebration for the athletes of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Then in November the British Olympic Ball.

The Outside

You liked the inside of BlackFriars pub so much I thought today I'd show you the outside. Hopefully they'll finish the work in the courtyard in time for summer.

Blackfriars Bridge

A progress report on work on the new station at Blackfriars Bridge. Due to finish late next year the finished station will be the first to have entry and exit from both sides of the river. I know it will be great and the new station entrance on the north side is beginning to take shape however I can no longer see Tower Bridge from here. Maybe we will be able to see from the inside of the new concourse.

Skywatch Friday - Giant Sun

A couple of days ago a heavy pollution mist hung over London but it was made beautiful by the largest sun you can imagine. I don't think I have ever seen it so large in this part of the world. It slowly melted down over the buildings in the distance. At one point looking like a large lollipop as it slithered down a crane in the distance.

See other skies around the world today

Sunday Bridges - Blackfriars Rail

Part of the original Blackfriars rail bridge that opened in 1864. The structure became too weak to support modern trains so another bridge was built alongside.

This is undergoing major works for the new Thames link due to open next year.

Courtesy of host Louis La Vache visit other Sunday Bridges.

Sunday Bridges - 3 for 1

You get not one but three bridges this week. In the foreground you can see the work taking place at Black Friars, scheduled for completion late 2011. Looking up the Thames you can see Waterloo Bridge (the ugly one) the the Jubilee pedestrian bridge (the pretty one).

Courtesy of host Louis La Vache visit a few more Sunday Bridges.

London Marathon 2010

This years London Marathon began more than a week ago with marathon efforts to get all the elite runners into London due to the no fly zone in the UK as a result of the volcano. The organisers chartered a plane to get those stranded in East Africa to London.

The elite women was won by Liliya Shobukhava in 2hrs 22 mins.
Bezunesh Bekele Sertsu shown here came in 4th at 2.23.17

Competition time on aglimpseoflondon tomorrow!

A view from Blackfriars

Sunset, sunrise, wet days, fine days, cloudy days and ordinary days, the view over the Thames always has a little magic in it. Wouldn't you agree?

Mid Month Subway - Blackfriars

Black Friars station opened in 1870. One of the busiest, it has overground trains, the Thames link, and the tube all running through it. Closed for 3 years for major work on the Thames Link -the planned reopening is late 2011.
The pedestrian subway is also being dollied up. When it is finished it will be the first station to span the Thames and you will be able to pop up from the underground either side of the river. You'll miss the wonderful river views going this way, but the bonus is that you won't get wet (or should that be saturated!) on a day like yesterday.

However, the rain didn't deter the Morris Dancers from entertaining us (does anything?) and throwing the St John's Ambulance woman into the air as part of their ritual in front of the station.

Mid-month subway is also shared by:
Peter of Paris