The Caped Crusader’s pad when visiting London. Sideways.

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Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. ©2016 Michael Kiedyszko. All rights reserved.

An alternative view of the Gherkin - 30 St Mary Axe.

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Possibly a photography cliché by now, but I have never had the opportunity to photograph Southwark Tube Station. In fact, the London Tube system is something that I have sadly neglected. Hopefully I can now start to make amends. Southwark was built in 1999 seems to have a timeless modern architecture feel about it.

London - Lime St. friends.

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London @ More London. Not been for a while.

Following on from my last post, introducing a splash of colour.

The Old Admiralty Building facing Horse Guards Parade in central London. The Old Admiralty Building is part of a large complex of buildings including Admiralty Arch that were the centre of command for the British Royal Navy

Architecture in London: British Museum

Thanks for all views, comments and favs. They are always much appreciated.

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. ©2016 Michael Kiedyszko. All rights reserved

The beautiful Leadenhall Market building in London. It is one of the oldest markets in London, dating from the 14th century, and is located in the historic centre of the City of London financial district

TOWER BRIDGE The most iconic of all London's bridges. I took this photo on a beautiful day with my Samsung phone camera. I am no longer able to walk very far but did love the walk from Westminster Bridge along the south side of the river to Tower Bridge as there is so many interesting sights to see. A walk over the bridge and you can visit The Tower of London a castle built by the Normans back in 1078.

Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule, suspension, and, until 1960, cantilever bridge in London, built between 1886 and 1894, designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry with the help of Henry Marc Brunel. It crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and is one of five London bridges owned and maintained by the City Bridge Foundation, a charitable trust founded in 1282.

The bridge was constructed to connect the 39 per cent of London's population that lived east of London Bridge, equivalent to the populations of "Manchester on the one side, and Liverpool on the other", while allowing shipping to access the Pool of London between the Tower of London and London Bridge. The bridge was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra, Princess of Wales, on 30 June 1894.

The bridge is 940 feet (290 m) in length including the abutments[4] and consists of two 213-foot (65 m) bridge towers connected at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, and a central pair of bascules that can open to allow shipping. Originally hydraulically powered, the operating mechanism was converted to an electro-hydraulic system in 1972. The bridge is part of the London Inner Ring Road and thus the boundary of the London congestion charge zone, and remains an important traffic route with 40,000 crossings every day. The bridge deck is freely accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians, whereas the bridge's twin towers, high-level walkways, and Victorian engine rooms form part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

Tower Bridge has become a recognisable London landmark. It is sometimes confused with London Bridge, about 0.5 miles (800 m) upstream, which has led to a persistent urban legend about an American purchasing the wrong bridge.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2026. MAY THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH

The Millennium Footbridge over the river Thames in London.

The bridge links Bankside to the area know as The City of London and has a beautiful view of St Paul's Cathedral as you cross northward. This photo was taken with my Canon camera. If you have seen the Harry Potter Films you would have seen the bridge with wizards flying under and over it. I have included a link below to St Paul's wiki page for those interested in history.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul%27s_Cathedral

I wonder if the newer London buildings will last nearly 1000 years like the Tower of London has!? Wouldn't it be amazing to see in a 1000 years time?

The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded toward the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was initially a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new Norman ruling class. The castle was also used as a prison from 1100 (Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham) until 1952 (the Kray twins), although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under kings Richard I, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.

The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times, and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of England. From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II in the 17th century, the monarch would traditionally prepare for several nights at the Tower, and lead a procession from there to Westminster Abbey for their coronation. In the absence of the monarch, the Constable of the Tower was in charge of the castle. This was a powerful and trusted position in the medieval period. In the late 15th century, the Princes in the Tower were housed at the castle when they mysteriously disappeared, presumed murdered. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle, its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.

The zenith of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures who had fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I before she became queen, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Elizabeth Throckmorton, were held within its walls. This use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower". Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death, popularised by 16th-century religious propagandists and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed within the Tower before the world wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period. In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle to other locations, leaving many buildings empty. Anthony Salvin and John Taylor took the opportunity to restore the Tower to what was felt to be its medieval appearance, clearing out many of the vacant post-medieval structures.

In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a prison and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the Second World War, damage caused during the Blitz was repaired, and the castle reopened to the public. Today, the Tower of London is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. Under the ceremonial charge of the Constable of the Tower, operated by the Resident Governor of the Tower of London and Keeper of the Jewel House, and guarded by the Yeomen Warders, the property is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.

Millennium Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral. It's a lovely walk from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge if you have good mobility of course. There are so many iconic London sights to see as you walk along the south bank of the river Thames

Tower Bridge in London on a beautiful July day. Photos taken with my Samsung phone camera from Butlers Wharf looking back into central London. London remains heavily effected by lack of tourists due to Covid-19

The Millennium Bridge is a footbridge over the river Thames from Bankside to St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge sits in front of the Tate Modern Gallery on the southside of the river. I took these photos with my Samsung phone camera on a beautiful day in London

Southwark Cathedral in south London dates back to 1106AD but has been a holy site for many years longer. I took these photos with my Samsung phone camera. The cathedral is surrounded by other buildings and is difficult to get any long shots

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southwark_Cathedral

Photos of London up and down river from Waterloo Bridge

Views of London from top of St Paul's Cathedral. Looking down on the Monument to the Great Fire of London. A long climb up into the dome and then all the way up to the very top. I knew that you could go up to the "Whispering Gallery" in the dome but had no idea you could continue up through an internal tight fitting stairway to above the dome. Amazing architecture. The original church on this site was built by the Anglo Saxons AD 604. Old St Paul's Cathedral was built between 1087 & 1314 the Normans and was mostly destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666 (Hmm 666 I wonder if it was the work of the Devil!?) I don't believe that for a second. Anyway latest St Paul's is a young compared to others due to being destroyed by fire. This new St Paul's Cathedral was completed in 1710 and designed by Sir Christopher Wren

Architecture in London: Walkie-Talkie.

The skies were moody. The hail came down. Then the sun came out. Welcome to British weather.

Thanks for all views, comments and favs. They are always much appreciated.

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. ©2017 Michael Kiedyszko. All rights reserved

The wonderful and colourful Chinatown in London

Tower Bridge, London

Canada Square - Modern Architecture at Canary Wharf. A slightly brighter and more expansive version of an earlier and more bleak take on a similar view.

Thanks for all views, comments and favs. They are always much appreciated.

This image may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, republished, downloaded, displayed, posted or transmitted in any forms or by any means, including electronic, mechanical, photocopying & recording without my written permission.

©M. Kiedyszko 2016

Tower Bridge in London on a beautiful July day. Photos taken with my Samsung phone camera from Butlers Wharf looking back into central London. London remains heavily effected by lack of tourists due to Covid-19

St Paul's Cathedral London is an iconic and world famous cathedral in the heart of central London. St Paul's is well worth a visit. It's a long climb but you can climb the steps until you are above the dome and half way between the dome and the very top. It's a great view out over central London. I am pleased that I climbed to the top years ago as I would not be able to manage it now. Photo taken with my Canon camera on a beautiful sunny day without a cloud in the sky.

I have added the Wiki link below for this interested in the history of the cathedral

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Paul%27s_Cathedral

Beautiful Tower Bridge in London. Photo taken from Butlers Wharf with Samsung phone camera.

Redesigned by the Victorians in 1881.

Leadenhall Market dates back to the 14th century and is situated in what was the centre of Roman London. Originally a meat, poultry and game market, it is now home to a number of boutique retailers, restaurants, cafes, wine bars and an award-winning pub.

Starting as the site of a manor, Leadenhall has survived changes in use, rebuilding, and even the Great Fire to become a popular destination for city residents, visitors and workers.

Samsung phone photos of my visit to the Tower of London the 2nd of July 2021. I had to book a ticket on line so booked the first slot at 9am. It was very slow there due to Covid-19 but great to visit without the crowds that would be there from all over the world in normal times. The Tower of London dates back to 1066 with the White Tower being built in 1078. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London

Architecture in London: 30 St Mary Axe (informally called The Gherkin and previously as the Swiss Roll Building) is a commercial skyscraper in the City of London. The building was completed in December 2003 and opened in April 2004. It is 41 stories, and 180 metros (591 ft) tall. It stands on the former site of the Baltic Exchange, which was damaged in 1992 by a bomb explosion placed by the Provisional IRA in St Mary Axe, the street from which the tower takes its name.

The skies were moody. The hail came down. Then the sun came out. Welcome to British weather.

Thanks for all views, comments and favs. They are always much appreciated.

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. ©2017 Michael Kiedyszko. All rights reserved

My Website : Twitter : Facebook : Instagram : Photocrowd

In the foreground is the Henry Moore sculpture 'Locking Piece', in the background is the Stanton Williams Riverwalk development in Pimlico.

I'm organising a London Flickr Group photowalk around the Nine Elms / Battersea area in February, more details here if anyone is interested :

www.flickr.com/groups/londonflickrgroup/discuss/721577219...

Click here for more London Architecture : www.flickr.com/photos/darrellg/albums/72157635041185106

From the ExploringLondon.com website, "A Henry Moore original, Locking Piece was created in 1963-64 and first located on its current site on Riverwalk Gardens at Millbank, site of the former Millbank Penitentiary, four years later. The bronze sculpture consists of, as the name suggests, two interlocking pieces.

There’s a couple of conflicting stories about where the idea for the work came from – in one, Moore said he was visiting a gravel pit near his home at Perry Green in Hertfordshire where he was playing with two pebbles which suddenly locked together (and hence came the idea of a sculpture of two interlocking pieces); and in another, Moore said the idea came from a bone fragment featuring a socket and joint found in his garden.

Originally loaned to Westminster City Council, in 1978 the sculpture was given to the Tate Gallery which subsequently decided to leave the piece in situ. It’s one of numerous Moore works in London. For more on Henry Moore’s London works, see www.henry-moore.org/works-in-public/world/uk/london."

© D.Godliman

The Palace Of Westminster or Westminster Palace is the home to the United Kingdoms Parliament.

Architecture in London: Big Ben

Thanks for all views, comments and favs. They are always much appreciated.

Please don't use this image on websites, blogs or other media without my explicit permission. ©2016 Michael Kiedyszko. All rights reserved

The iconic and world famous Tower Bridge in London. I took this photo on a beautiful day with my Canon camera. I am no longer able to walk very far but did love the walk from Westminster Bridge along the south side of the river to Tower Bridge as there is so many interesting sights to see. A walk over the bridge and you can visit The Tower of London a castle built by the Normans back in 1078.

Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule, suspension, and, until 1960, cantilever bridge in London, built between 1886 and 1894, designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry with the help of Henry Marc Brunel. It crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and is one of five London bridges owned and maintained by the City Bridge Foundation, a charitable trust founded in 1282.

The bridge was constructed to connect the 39 per cent of London's population that lived east of London Bridge, equivalent to the populations of "Manchester on the one side, and Liverpool on the other", while allowing shipping to access the Pool of London between the Tower of London and London Bridge. The bridge was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra, Princess of Wales, on 30 June 1894.

The bridge is 940 feet (290 m) in length including the abutments[4] and consists of two 213-foot (65 m) bridge towers connected at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, and a central pair of bascules that can open to allow shipping. Originally hydraulically powered, the operating mechanism was converted to an electro-hydraulic system in 1972. The bridge is part of the London Inner Ring Road and thus the boundary of the London congestion charge zone, and remains an important traffic route with 40,000 crossings every day. The bridge deck is freely accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians, whereas the bridge's twin towers, high-level walkways, and Victorian engine rooms form part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

Tower Bridge has become a recognisable London landmark. It is sometimes confused with London Bridge, about 0.5 miles (800 m) upstream, which has led to a persistent urban legend about an American purchasing the wrong bridge.

St Paul's dates back to 604AD but this St Paul's Cathedral is much younger with building starting over 1000 years later in 1675AD. I took these photos with my Samsung phone camera. London like most cities in the world is still suffering from lack of tourism and business due to Covid-19

Views of the river Thames from The Queens Walk on the South Bank of the river. Views include WW2 Light Cruiser HMS Belfast, Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

The London Millennium Footbridge with very few people crossing it during these sad Covid 19 times

Visit to the Tower of London the 2nd of July 2021. I had to book a ticket on line so booked the first slot at 9am. It was very slow there due to Covid-19 but great to visit without the crowds that would be there from all over the world in normal times. The Tower of London dates back to 1066 with the White Tower being built in 1078. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London

Imperial War Museum in London is an amazing museum to visit but made me wonder if mankind had ever learned anything from past conflicts and the millions of people killed.

THE WHITE TOWER

The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is separated from the eastern edge of the square mile of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill. It was founded toward the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078 and was initially a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new Norman ruling class. The castle was also used as a prison from 1100 (Ranulf Flambard, Bishop of Durham) until 1952 (the Kray twins), although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under kings Richard I, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.

The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times, and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public record office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of England. From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II in the 17th century, the monarch would traditionally prepare for several nights at the Tower, and lead a procession from there to Westminster Abbey for their coronation. In the absence of the monarch, the Constable of the Tower was in charge of the castle. This was a powerful and trusted position in the medieval period. In the late 15th century, the Princes in the Tower were housed at the castle when they mysteriously disappeared, presumed murdered. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle, its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.

The zenith of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures who had fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I before she became queen, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Elizabeth Throckmorton, were held within its walls. This use has led to the phrase "sent to the Tower". Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death, popularised by 16th-century religious propagandists and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed within the Tower before the world wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period. In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle to other locations, leaving many buildings empty. Anthony Salvin and John Taylor took the opportunity to restore the Tower to what was felt to be its medieval appearance, clearing out many of the vacant post-medieval structures.

In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a prison and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the Second World War, damage caused during the Blitz was repaired, and the castle reopened to the public. Today, the Tower of London is one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. Under the ceremonial charge of the Constable of the Tower, operated by the Resident Governor of the Tower of London and Keeper of the Jewel House, and guarded by the Yeomen Warders, the property is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.

Tower Bridge in London. A beautiful bridge that some people mistakenly call London Bridge. London Bridge is just a run of the mill bridge up river from here. Tourists can go up inside Tower Bridge and its an interesting little adventure especially for kids and big kids like me

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_Bridge

The Millennium Bridge is a footbridge over the river Thames from Bankside to St Paul's Cathedral. The bridge sits in front of the Tate Modern Gallery on the southside. Tourism remains very poor in London due to Covid-19. I took these photos with my Samsung phone camera on a beautiful day in London

Happy Bank Holiday Boxing Day for those of British traditions around the world.

This is one of my favourite buildings in the world. I took this photo with my Canon Camera. The EXIF survived me downsizing this photo but I lost the camera info itself. I don't know why that happens!?

Horse Guards Parade is a large parade ground off Whitehall in central London. It is the site of the annual ceremonies of Trooping the Colour, which commemorates the monarch's official birthday, and the Beating Retreat.

Horse Guards Parade was formerly the site of the Palace of Whitehall's tiltyard, where tournaments (including jousting) were held in the time of Henry VIII. It was also the scene of annual celebrations of the birthday of Queen Elizabeth I. The area has been used for a variety of reviews, parades and other ceremonies since the 17th century.

The adjacent Horse Guards building was once the Headquarters of the British Army. Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington was based in Horse Guards when he was Commander-in-Chief of the Forces. The current General officer commanding London District still occupies the same office and uses the same desk. Wellington also had living quarters within the building, which today are used as offices.

Tower Bridge in London on a beautiful July day. Photos taken with my Canon camera from Butlers Wharf looking back into central London.

I have no idea how many photos I have taken of the Millennium footbridge and St Paul's Cathedral but they have to be among my most photographed places in London. The Millennium Bridge was used in the movie "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince" so lots of youngsters recognize the bridge. It is a lovely walk from Westminster Bridge along the south side of the river Thames to Tower Bridge, but very sadly I am no longer able to walk it. Photo taken using my Samsung phone camera.

London's Little Venice is a tranquil canal area, home to waterside cafes and pubs. Enjoy a stroll along pretty streets and take a relaxing boat trip to ZSL London Zoo or Camden Town.

Little Venice bears no resemblance to Venice in Italy but is a lovely area of London to go walking on a beautiful day. These photos were taken in June 2018 with my Canon DSLR camera and I have downsized them because they were huge.

The iconic and world famous Tower Bridge in London. I took this photo on a beautiful day with my Canon camera. I am no longer able to walk very far but did love the walk from Westminster Bridge along the south side of the river to Tower Bridge as there is so many interesting sights to see. A walk over the bridge and you can visit The Tower of London a castle built by the Normans back in 1078.

Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule, suspension, and, until 1960, cantilever bridge in London, built between 1886 and 1894, designed by Horace Jones and engineered by John Wolfe Barry with the help of Henry Marc Brunel. It crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and is one of five London bridges owned and maintained by the City Bridge Foundation, a charitable trust founded in 1282.

The bridge was constructed to connect the 39 per cent of London's population that lived east of London Bridge, equivalent to the populations of "Manchester on the one side, and Liverpool on the other", while allowing shipping to access the Pool of London between the Tower of London and London Bridge. The bridge was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales, and Alexandra, Princess of Wales, on 30 June 1894.

The bridge is 940 feet (290 m) in length including the abutments[4] and consists of two 213-foot (65 m) bridge towers connected at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, and a central pair of bascules that can open to allow shipping. Originally hydraulically powered, the operating mechanism was converted to an electro-hydraulic system in 1972. The bridge is part of the London Inner Ring Road and thus the boundary of the London congestion charge zone, and remains an important traffic route with 40,000 crossings every day. The bridge deck is freely accessible to both vehicles and pedestrians, whereas the bridge's twin towers, high-level walkways, and Victorian engine rooms form part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition.

Tower Bridge has become a recognisable London landmark. It is sometimes confused with London Bridge, about 0.5 miles (800 m) upstream, which has led to a persistent urban legend about an American purchasing the wrong bridge.

Samsung phone photos of my visit to the Tower of London the 2nd of July 2021. I had to book a ticket on line so booked the first slot at 9am. It was very slow there due to Covid-19 but great to visit without the crowds that would be there from all over the world in normal times. The Tower of London dates back to 1066 with the White Tower being built in 1078. The castle is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_London

Trafalgar Square is a public square in the City of Westminster, Central London, built around the area formerly known as Charing Cross. Its name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar, the British naval victory in the Napoleonic Wars over France and Spain that took place on 21 October 1805 off the coast of Cape Trafalgar.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafalgar_Square

Tower Bridge in London on a beautiful July day. Photos taken with my Samsung phone camera from Butlers Wharf looking back into central London. London remains heavily effected by lack of tourists due to Covid-19

London's Chinatown is a small but very colourful and vibrant area north of Leicester Square. I love walking around the area and have my favourite Chinese restaurant. When I was spending a lot of weekends in central London I would also get my hair cut by a Chinese barber. The area is well worth visiting. I took this photo with my Canon camera.