dg comments

please empty your brain below

have done 56 only missing Crossrail (between Custom House and Woolwich) (not had chance yet) and Ferry: Canary Wharf – Rotherhithe the latter only because it wasnt running the only day I happened to be in the vicinity to try and take it

Peewit | 11.01.23 - 7:05 a.m. | #

I fell at the last hurdle .Thanks for making me aware of its existence..

Keith | 11.01.23 - 7:21 a.m. | #

I'm missing 12 in total

5,13, 28, 29, 44 - 54 and 58

Rachel | 11.01.23 - 7:28 a.m. | #

Great list!

I've used zero of the ferries, although almost all of the rest of the crossings. Having lived in Richmond, Fulham and Battersea over the years has definitely helped.

ST | 11.01.23 - 7:36 a.m. | #

So all the train line tunnels are twin track in a single bore?

Richard | 11.01.23 - 7:40 a.m. | #

I’ve done 49, haven’t been on a ferry that I can recall and I don’t think I’ve been on some of the western footbridges; the big ones I’m missing are Crossrail and Rotherhithe tunnel.

David | 11.01.23 - 7:42 a.m. | #

I do love a ticky list so thanks for this excellent one!

I've yet to do either of the Ham* Ferries and Richmond Lock has passed me by completely. I have been across the delightful Eel Pie Island footbridge which doesn't get a mention, presumably because it doesn't cross the full span of the Thames.

Thanks again.

JP | 11.01.23 - 7:52 a.m. | #

55 out of 58 for me - the exceptions being Crossrail and the two ferries way up-stream (53 & 58)
I have crossed the Teddington Lock bridge 4 times on the same day - does that earn extra points?
AND getting out of the capital's environs I reckon I've crossed most of the others all the way to Lechlade.

Rob Gullen | 11.01.23 - 7:52 a.m. | #

Missing 7, though it may be fewer as there are some about which I can’t be sure

Robert Butlin | 11.01.23 - 7:54 a.m. | #

Missing 15 - I haven't gone south by rail very much...

Steve | 11.01.23 - 7:57 a.m. | #

53 or 54: no ferries except the old boats at Woolwich, not the very newest tunnel, no sure about Rotherhithe.

Sprout Eater | 11.01.23 - 8:01 a.m. | #

Twenty bridges from Tower to Kew -
Wanted to know what the River knew,
Twenty Bridges or twenty-two,
For they were young, and the Thames was old
And this is the tale that River told:-

Kipling

DRH | 11.01.23 - 8:04 a.m. | #

All but four. When I lived in Egham, I used to walk between bridges on my days off, and have done them all up to Caversham.

The Banbury Man | Homepage | 11.01.23 - 8:07 a.m. | #

I've done all apart from Hampton Ferry. Many on one trip starting out at the QEII bridge and working my way back to Kingston: [said trip]

David W | 11.01.23 - 8:10 a.m. | #

If the Blackwall tunnels are being counted separately, I reckon the same should be true for any of the tube lines which have separate bores.

Without that, I got about 50 overall. I’m just missing a few bridges in the Chelsea area and the Hampton ferry.

Robert | 11.01.23 - 8:12 a.m. | #

Four blogposts about the four Thames ferries:
• Woolwich
• Rotherhithe
• Hammerton's
• Hampton

diamond geezer | Homepage | 11.01.23 - 8:14 a.m. | #

I've done 48, missing the Rotherhite - Canary Wharf ferry and quite a few out west

Jessica | 11.01.23 - 8:19 a.m. | #

57, I have not used the Dangleway.
Enjoy your visit to Twickenham bridge today.

John | 11.01.23 - 8:19 a.m. | #

49. Largely let down by lack of travel through road tunnels to the east and over the road bridges around Chelsea.

Peter of London | 11.01.23 - 8:26 a.m. | #

Crossed a meagre 45, none of the ferries and certainly not the dangleway but all the railway ones.

davews | 11.01.23 - 8:31 a.m. | #

50 for me. All except 3, 19, 49-52, 54, 58.

Alan S | 11.01.23 - 8:37 a.m. | #

59. Not ridden the dangleway, but have been on two additional ferries; North Greenwich Pier to Trinity Buoy Wharf which is a staff facilty for the Thames Clippers but is also open to the public for £2. In Summer there is a ferry from Surbiton to Home Park run by a local boatyard. A few years ago a Public House ran a summer weekend service from Thames Ditton to near Hampton Court Palace but I have no idea if it survived Covid.

AlanJS | 11.01.23 - 8:44 a.m. | #

I’m not sure about Wandsworth and Twickenham bridges, but I‘ve possibly been on a bus over them without knowing. I’ve also only been on one of the Ham… ferries, but I don’t remember which one. But I’ve definitely done all the rest.

Paul Ingerson | 11.01.23 - 8:44 a.m. | #

Almost all. But a mate of mine used to live on one of the islands in the Thames just past Hampton Court, and we got there by rowing boat!

Matt | 11.01.23 - 8:47 a.m. | #

Regarding the Trinity Buoy Wharf crossing, alas "the Predator, our designated boat service that runs from the North Greenwich Pier to Trinity Buoy Wharf Pier is currently out of service until further notice."

diamond geezer | Homepage | 11.01.23 - 8:52 a.m. | #

First fail at no. 13, then complete to 49 and another four beyond that. Though perhaps I can compensate with Dartford Tunnels (both), QEII bridge and the Tilbury Ferry.

Man of Kent | 11.01.23 - 9:01 a.m. | #

I've done the Rotherhithe Tunnel on the 82, P14 and 395.

I agree with Robert's about separate bores for the rail tunnels.

Done nearly all except the western ferries and footbridges, I have no intension of doing the dangleway.

Still Anon | 11.01.23 - 9:03 a.m. | #

Great list - slightly surprised to have got to 22 having never lived in London.

Luke Hounsome | 11.01.23 - 9:06 a.m. | #

c40 years back as an 11/12 year old, I did a day-long c20 mile sponsored walk along the Thames and across London bridges. It almost certainly ended at Tower Bridge, so must have started somewhere like Twickenham. Assuming that's true, I reckon that leaves me short of just 4 - 49, 53, 55 and 58.

Will | 11.01.23 - 9:08 a.m. | #

53, I think. None of the ferries and missing a couple of the western-most bridges.

Dominic H | 11.01.23 - 9:16 a.m. | #

A great list! I seem a few short, maybe 3?

This raises the question about what do you mean by London? One summer I decided to use all of the ferries across the Thames in London but had to work out what that meant. There are a number of possible answers but that summer I took it to mean between the London Stones, which added Shepperton to Weybridge and Gravesend to Tilbury.

That year there was also a temporary ferry at Tower Bridge, as described here.

JP | Homepage | 11.01.23 - 9:18 a.m. | #

HS1 might be outside London but what about Tower subway and C&SLR.

dg writes: see second sentence.

Kev | 11.01.23 - 9:28 a.m. | #

Very interesting. I have managed 49.

Barry Coppock | 11.01.23 - 9:30 a.m. | #

Only 4 to go!

James Scantlebury | 11.01.23 - 9:31 a.m. | #

39. Rather a lot of guesses on the western road Bridges, various Red Rover tickets in the early sixties may have covered many of them, but sadly no records were kept. I have crossed by paddle steamer from Margate to Tower Pier.

Malcolm of Kent | 11.01.23 - 9:40 a.m. | #

I'm confident that I've have crossed 55, just missing the two Ham ferries and the Rotherhithe ferry.

If the crossing under the Thames Barrier had been made a public foot tunnel it would have made my journey to work a lot quicker for five years.

Boneyboy | 11.01.23 - 9:41 a.m. | #

Only 44 (missing the first 5 in a row), I'm slacking badly.

Chz | 11.01.23 - 9:45 a.m. | #

Oh, I haven’t bothered to count these. I have an aversion to crossing water on boats and bridges and avoid them if I can. Where it’s a tube or rail crossing I tend to close my eyes and cross my fingers. I know it’s irrational but being from Sarf London I remember what my Dad said -“ God put the Thames there for a good reason.”

Jo W | 11.01.23 - 9:47 a.m. | #

47 not too bad, not too good for a Londoner!!??
Mainly missing railway bridges and ferries at the western end.

MikeK | 11.01.23 - 9:52 a.m. | #

All but three - Richmond Lock (I think) and the ferries at Hampton and Rotherhithe.

The railway bridge at Putney is officially named the Hurlingham Bridge. Cannon Street Railway Bridge was originally named after Queen Alexandra and the Battersea Railway Bridge is called Cremorne Bridge (I was a frequent user of that in the days when there were just two trains a day)

If you're going to count the Blackwall Tunnel as two I'm going to claim both cables on the dangleway and both vessels operating the Woolwich ferry! (I have also been on the two previous generations of boats)

timbo | 11.01.23 - 10:01 a.m. | #

Only 36, but I have crossed Twickenham Bridge.

Martin | 11.01.23 - 10:12 a.m. | #

51. Ferries (apart from Rotherhithe. Part of me thinks I've used the Woolwich ferry years back but not certain), the locks, crossrail & Woolwich foot tunnel haven't been crossed.
Must go and cross the Locks. They sound intriguing.

Colin Rance | 11.01.23 - 10:36 a.m. | #

To all the readers who think that 50 is poor - 29 for me, but then again, I'm just a tourist...

deruf | 11.01.23 - 10:49 a.m. | #

A mere 24 (at my best guess), despite living two years in London, mostly the central area bridges by rail, bicycle or bus.

BWB | 11.01.23 - 10:52 a.m. | #

Only 33, some large holes in west London ( although it’s possible some road bridges I have crossed and forgotten).

Paul | 11.01.23 - 11:12 a.m. | #

If you're crossing the Twickenham Bridge today, consider visiting the (exterior of) the Kilmorey Mausoleum and/or (again the exterior only today of) Turners House Museum, both of which are very close. Though sure you have other plans.

David | 11.01.23 - 11:17 a.m. | #

12 though admittedly I'm a new Londoner! Nothing west of Putney Bridge, nothing east of the old Blackwall Tunnel and a few (a lot of holes) in between, mostly the pedestrian bridges, all barring one National Rail ones and the ones the buses don't serve.

Matthieu | 11.01.23 - 11:20 a.m. | #

I am impressed by some of the high numbers above. I think it is 36 for me. I've never lived in London, but have worked there for nearly 25 years.

I am missing all of the ferries and a few foot bridges or tunnels, but including many of the road links, and the rail and underground lines. But I can't ever recall taking a train into or out of Cannon Street or Charing Cross.

Andrew | 11.01.23 - 11:22 a.m. | #

15, 25, 31 and 56 for me, although I probably only walked a small part of 25.

Patrickov | 11.01.23 - 11:55 a.m. | #

A mere 24 for me, I'm afraid - but such an interesting list.

cau1khead | 11.01.23 - 11:56 a.m. | #

Interesting - far more crossings than I would have thought. 51 for me.

Lorraine | 11.01.23 - 12:03 p.m. | #

49 I think. Missing everything east of the dangleway, a few ferries and locks and I don't recall ever going through the Rotherhithe tunnel.

Peter | 11.01.23 - 12:45 p.m. | #

6 missing. Golden Jubilee bridges and a few others in the west.

scrumpy | 11.01.23 - 12:55 p.m. | #

I'm missing 17, mostly in the East
1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 13, 14, 19, 28, 38, 39, 41, 42, 53, 58

Sophie | 11.01.23 - 1:15 p.m. | #

50, although it may be 51 if I've caught a train to/from Cannon St, which seems plausible if forgettable

Nick | 11.01.23 - 1:43 p.m. | #

37 that I definitely know of - probably a few more bridges whose names I didn't know at the time!

Cornish Cockney | 11.01.23 - 1:43 p.m. | #

49 / 58

The ones I haven't done are:
-Rotherhithe ferry
-Western portion of the Golden Jubilee Bridge
-Albert Bridge
-Barnes Bridge (the only railway across the Thames not used)
-Richmond Lock footbridge
-Twickenham Bridge
-Hammerton's Ferry
-Teddington Lock footbridge
-Hampton Ferry

So I should aim to do more walks and days out around Richmond this year

PVR | 11.01.23 - 1:44 p.m. | #

56 for me.

I’m missing #13, having never disembarked and Rotherhithe, and #53 which I only became aware of when you blogged about it many years ago, but still haven’t made the effort to visit.

Adam | 11.01.23 - 3:03 p.m. | #

Crossing no 59 (or 60,61) will open about mid-day this Friday (January 13th) It is the Dukes Meadow Bridge which has been built just upstream of Barnes Railway Bridge.It is freestanding and not in any way attached to the railway bridge. So will you be back for a first day crossing?

AlanJS | 11.01.23 - 3:30 p.m. | #

It doesn't cross the Thames, so no.

diamond geezer | Homepage | 11.01.23 - 3:33 p.m. | #

Fascinating list, thank you.
I'm missing 5. Ironically one of the ones I'm missing (Hilton/Doubletree ferry) is right on my patch, but I've never had call to use it. I'll have to invent an excuse

IslandDweller | 11.01.23 - 3:58 p.m. | #

24/57, but I am merely a tourist.

Craig | 11.01.23 - 4:00 p.m. | #

55/58

Haven't done 13, 53 and 58.

Nico | 11.01.23 - 6:02 p.m. | #

I've done 39 or 40. The 18 I'm definitely missing are the 4 ferries, the 2 lock footbridges and 12 road bridges (Southwark, Blackfriars, Lambeth, Vauxhall, Chelsea, Albert, Wandsworth, Putney, Hammersmith, Chiswick, Richmond, Kingston). The one I'm iffy on is the Golden Jubilee Bridges. I know I've crossed the downstream one but I'm not so sure about the upstream one.

X-Plaistow | 11.01.23 - 6:24 p.m. | #

A middling 42, maybe a couple more road bridges ages ago when navigating by the sun, a compass or satellite dishes; I'm not a Londoner although I commuted to Central London for decades.

However, bonus points for having walked through the Thames Tunnel.

Gerry | 11.01.23 - 6:51 p.m. | #

I've only done the road bridges in the west from Kew to Battersea. I have paddled under and over many of the crossings in a kayak though.

Cottonsocks | 11.01.23 - 6:52 p.m. | #

41. A shameful total seeing as I've lived in London most of my life. Never been on any of the ferries. I must get out more.

Richard | 11.01.23 - 7:33 p.m. | #

This Londoner thinks I've done 30. Most pleased with walking through the Thames Tunnel in 2010, and I've also taken that £1 ferry ride.

Jayne | 11.01.23 - 8:38 p.m. | #

40, all the bridges bar 1, and none of the road tunnels. Earlier on this year I cycled from Hampton Court to Woolwich Arsenal, photographing every bridge on the way, which made for an enjoyable outing.

SteveB | 11.01.23 - 10:18 p.m. | #

All but 7. That 7 includes all the ferries and dangleways, 1 lock and the easternmost rail tunnels. I think I’ve done all of the crossings over the Wandle though and the tunnel under it.

Richard Thomas | 11.01.23 - 10:21 p.m. | #

I’m not one of life’s counters, but going through the list it’s about 50 or maybe a bit fewer. Woolwich Ferry on previous and former tea-tray boats.
Never on Dangleway thankfully.

My dad and his brothers got shot at by a German biplane flying upriver when they were playing on the Woolwich Ferry in WW1. They rushed onto the 101 which didn’t stop till they got back to Forest Gate.

Herbof | 11.01.23 - 11:01 p.m. | #

Nice one thanks... must take some work doing the fiddly 'under-the-bonnet' part of blogging, although you make it seem effortless. About my crossings--began well then it all went to pot. West of Battersea is uncharted, making =37= Cheers

Noel | 11.01.23 - 11:15 p.m. | #

54. Missing the Dangleway and the 3 foot ferries (Canary Wharf-Rotherhithe, Hammerton's and Hampton).

I HAVE done the Gravesend foot ferry and the Shepperton-Weybridge foot ferry, but those were outside London, so don't count!

Mikey C | 12.01.23 - 12:20 a.m. | #

I believe I've done all but two, namely the two Ham* ferries. It's possible I've not crossed one of the bridges in South West London too but I think I've done all of them. (Cycling, especially during lockdown, helps.)

Richard A V Smith | 12.01.23 - 2:11 a.m. | #

Missing all 4 ferries and a number of foot or road crossings out west but still an impressive 51/58.

Mark | 12.01.23 - 9:08 a.m. | #

55 for me. A ferry and crossrail which should be relatively easy to do, plus dangleway which i have no intention of wasting money on just to tick it off, so will rely on having right visitors who want to use it to ever get done.

I admit to being slightly surprised that you had a gap, even if it will be crossed imminently!

Rich (no not that one, the other one) | 12.01.23 - 10:32 a.m. | #

I'm quite impressed to have got to 37 as a tourist. That may be a slight undercount as there's some I'm not sure about. It's basically most of the ones in the west where I fall down.

I appreciate why you've not included Thames Clippers but I do remember feeling excited and quite stylish (you can tell I'm a tourist) when I once used the riverboat service to get from a guest house near Surrey Quays to a conference at Canary Wharf.

Anders | 12.01.23 - 1:40 p.m. | #

Dang, I was doing so well until you got to Richmond Lock, then realised I haven't done Hammertons or Hampton Ferries either - so 55 for me.

I have driven and walked through the Rotherhithe Tunnel (both of which you can still do) and also travelled through on a bus (which you can't now).

Julian | 12.01.23 - 1:49 p.m. | #

51 done

Steve | 12.01.23 - 4:34 p.m. | #

53. No Waterloo & City Line, or ferries/footbridges out West.

H SE18 | 12.01.23 - 4:41 p.m. | #

Up until 42 I was pretty good going - just the two ferries (which I don't use after being accidentally charged £15 for a single ticket from Westminster Pier to whichever one it is by London Bridge which I assume is just called London Bridge Pier), the Dangleway and somewhat inexplicably i've never caught a train to Cannon Street.

After that though, it's just the Hammersmith Bridge and all the railway ones I think except 55, for a total of 42.

Evar | 13.01.23 - 12:19 a.m. | #

Of the ferries, only done the Woolwich.
All other crossings ticked. Until you count them, didn't realise there were that many!

Dave | 13.01.23 - 2:45 p.m. | #

I'm sure I've done most, if not all, of them but I can't recall them all so I'm going to start again. Preferably on foot (although I'm not sure I can face walking the Rotherhithe Tunnel). With a photo of the crossing and from the crossing. Obvously, plenty of the tunnels are problematic, as a photo of the inside of a train isn't too interesting. So I'm going to try to find some surface infrastructure, as close as possible to the crossing point. That's mainly going to be ventilation / emergency access shafts. I've found some resources to help me but I think, in many cases, it's going to involve walking the route from the closest station to the crossing point and keeping my eyes peeled. Wish me luck!

ChrisO | 21.01.23 - 1:59 p.m. | #

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