please empty your brain below
Well, that's something new I've learnt. I've never heard of Tripcock Ness before, and assumed it was a typo. But no, it exists. Fantastic!

Abe | 16.11.16 - 7:10 a.m. | #

Maybe the 'Grand' River Thames should be mostly 'drained'? And in it's place gardens, trees, ponds, lakes, a cycle-route, canal-way and a mono-rail/tram system put in place. It could become the greatest urban linear 'park'/'gardens'/green space in the world. Replacing a dirty, brown mass of water with something, fresh, clean and inspirational. Perhaps that too much of a bold suggestion.

Grumpy Anon | 16.11.16 - 7:16 a.m. | #

There's quite a long diversion off the Thames Path on the South Bank in the section between Greenwich Tunnel and Blackwall Tunnel until February 2018: http://www.royalgreenwich.gov.uk/info/200123/cycling/1310/thames_path_through_royal_greenwich.

Regards

zin92 | 16.11.16 - 7:18 a.m. | #

I've chosen to ignore the long diversion north of Greenwich because it's officially temporary (if you can call 'until February 2018' temporary).

But it is a horrible and unpleasant diversion, making that section of the south bank temporarily very red, and handing the 'best side' crown to the north bank.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 16.11.16 - 7:37 a.m. | #

Being a bicyclist I have often cycled from Teddington to Richmond or Putney. It is a lovely walk or ride along the towpath. I have done the same journey on the north side and apart from Twickenham past Marble Hill park it is mainly roads and not nice.
I always hope they will find a way to by-pass that diversion at Clink Street/ London Bridge, although I suppose the prison attraction likes the footfall.

John | 16.11.16 - 7:41 a.m. | #

As to why, perhaps because the north bank has always been more urban and developed, and therefore in private hands, and the south bank more rural or suburban, and so open to access. The north bank would be much less green without the embankments.

Andrew | 16.11.16 - 7:43 a.m. | #

Although I live in West london I have on several occasions made a journey to Erith for a day out sitting on Erith pier watching the ships go by! With lunch at the nearby Morrisons.

I wonder if the south bank like the south of London was a less prosperous area and so did not get riverside development as much as the North.

Brentford when all the work is finished should have much better riverside access in the future.
I think there is a growing awareness and effort to make the North side more accessible with any new riverside developments.

John | 16.11.16 - 7:51 a.m. | #

@Grumpy Anon
It wouldn't be draining the river so much as damming it. And all that water coming off the Cotswolds, Chilterns, Marlborough Downs and Surrey Hills has to go somewhere.

The north bank would be even worse were it not for Bazalegette's embankments - before they were built many properties such as the Savoy ran right down to the river. And much of what access there is, is alongside a very busy road.

Putney Bridge, the first point at which progress becomes impossible on both sides, is the downstream limit of the Thames Conservancy towpath, which is continuous all the way from the limit of navigation at Cricklade. Within Greater London it is on the south bank except between Kingston and Hampton Court. It does hop from side to side at some awkward places further upstream, because of pressure from riparian landowners at the time the towpath was created, and the ferries that were originally provided to allow towhorses to cross over have largely gone now. (As readers of "Three Men in a Boat" (published 1889) will know, towing was not always done by horses). However, towing on the tideway below Teddington must have been quite a challenge.

Hampton Court is a slightly arbitrary place to stop/start, as it is not the boundary of Greater London on either bank - the Surbiton/Thames Ditton boundary on the south bank is downstream, whilst Hampton/Sunbury is upstream. Access through Hampton and Sunbury is patchy at best, except around Taggs Island and the Garrick Memorial

timbo | 16.11.16 - 8:12 a.m. | #

In a strange parallel - I dropped and broke my John Rocque 1745 map mug yesterday. It split in two in a line along the River Thames. The bottom bit retaining the entire handle and 2cm of drinking vessel is obviously the south bank of the river.

B | 16.11.16 - 8:42 a.m. | #

Another point in favour of the south bank in central London is that unlike the north bank, you are not walking next to a busy main road (Embankment) which makes it a nicer experience.

It does get very congested on the South bank by Blackfriars bridge though.

But I recommend walking both sides anyway!

Jon Combe | 16.11.16 - 8:50 a.m. | #

When I came to walk the Thames Path I looked at the map and came to the same conclusion. But I have walked a bit of the north bank in the city. And it was mostly tedious.

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 16.11.16 - 8:51 a.m. | #

I wonder which side offers the best pub crawl, sticking as close as possible to the river.
I suspect it's a lot more subjective than the best walking route.

David | Homepage | 16.11.16 - 9:32 a.m. | #

It's not quite a clear run around Rotherhithe... a couple of the (very attractive) warehouse to apartment conversions in Rotherhithe Street preclude access to the riverside and the Surrey Docks farm has limited opening hours which means an inconvenient diversion after 16:00. Further along, the old Downtown night club blocks the Thames Path and this has enabled the adjoining and expensive Odessa Wharf development to appropriate the frontage for the exclusive use of its residents.

dg writes: Agreed (and downgraded to amber).

Richard Thompson | 16.11.16 - 10:14 a.m. | #

Which walk, however, is longer?

Uncle Audrey | 16.11.16 - 11:38 a.m. | #

A red walk is generally longer than a green walk, bends permitting. So North is longer than South.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 16.11.16 - 12:12 p.m. | #

The South Bank in Surrey has some access. From Hampton Court station go south, cross the level crossing and past the Old Kingstonian sports ground to a woodland and grassy area -Albany Reach open space

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5170574

The best views of Hampton Court Palace from here.

Mostly road walking thereafter but all the pubs are this side, first The Albany and then those in Thames Ditton, many with riverside terraces.

dg writes: Text updated, thanks.

Mike D (in Surrey) | 16.11.16 - 12:57 p.m. | #

Thanks for a helpful post. Just one further caveat, however, from my own experience. I once walked the southern path from Putney Bridge to Barnes Bridge, which looks very scenic on the map. Unfortunately it turned out to be very muddy and partially waterlogged, and I was not wearing suitable footwear for this. The landlord at the Bull's Head in Barnes said that at times it could be completely waterlogged and advised against walking on to Kew at that time.

Anon | 16.11.16 - 1:04 p.m. | #

When I was last down there in 2012 the footpath that runs under the Woolwich Ferry ramp was full of mud and reeds and impassable.

Drew | 16.11.16 - 4:11 p.m. | #

I've walked it, and walk bits of it often, and totally concur. Though I often choose the north through the centre if it's a busy time, because the South Bank is full of amblers and I get annoyed! There are still too many detours for my liking, mind you. Can't wait till the Convoys Wharf area in Deptford gets developed and the Thames Path restored there, because I find that detour really tedious. And building on Richard Thompson's post above, I recently read that a planning request has gone in for new flats near Odessa Wharf, which will open up the whole path again - and the council are viewing that as a positive to the request (I'm sure the residents of the existing flats find that less positive!). So that's something else to look forward to.

Oddly when I did the bit around Putney I was underwhelmed, because although I was next to the river, the trees etc. were so thick you couldn't actually see it. My favourite bit, oddly enough, is the stretch from Erith to just past Woolwich - though usually I start at Erith and follow the path home to Greenwich, which makes for a nice walk - always something to see (and indeed smell if you're unlucky with wind direction around Crossness!).

mighty mouse | 16.11.16 - 7:50 p.m. | #

mighty mouse is absolutely correct. There is a planning application for a residential development that would result in the demolition of the derelict Downtown night club and the Red Crane on Odessa Street (see here.). Notwithstanding the warm words of the developers at a recent "consultative" meeting with local residents, I would be very surprised if a public right of way was opened in front of Odessa Wharf.

Richard Thompson | 16.11.16 - 8:16 p.m. | #

Further to my earlier post, here is the latest update.

From the London to the rest of the EU, Boris is leaving a trail of wreckage behind him.

Richard Thompson | 16.11.16 - 8:25 p.m. | #

"I wonder which side offers the best pub crawl, sticking as close as possible to the river."

My suggestion would be along the North Bank from Westferry to Tower Bridge: The Grapes, The Narrow, Prospect of Whitby, Captain Kidd, Town of Ramsgate, The Dickins Inn. All riverside pubs and with balconies overlooking the river (except TDI is in and overlooking St Katherine's dock rather than the river and maybe no balcony for the ToR - I can't quite remember). TG, PoW, CK and ToR are particularly good pubs in my opinion.

Regards

zin92 | 17.11.16 - 7:14 a.m. | #

At spring tides both sides become impassable at points around Barnes, Kew and Chiswick. The stretch near Fullers Brewery is vulnerable for example.

Christopher Bellew | Homepage | 17.11.16 - 8:22 a.m. | #

As a runner, the section between tower bridge and Westminster bridge is definitely more pleasurable on the north bank, far fewer people slowing you down

Lumma | 17.11.16 - 10:49 a.m. | #











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