WHEN: 21st November 2021, 11.30h BST.
WHERE: Thames Barrier, 1 Unity Way, Wolwich, London, SE18 5NJ (view map).
REGISTRATION: General ticket (max. 30) – £8 + Eventbrite fee | Children 5yo and under (max. 5) – FREE. Please, register through Eventbrite here!
The Thames Barrier and the Greenwich Foot Tunnel
In this day trip, SRUK London will explore two of the most amazing engineering structures in London: the tidal Thames Barrier and the Greenwich Foot Tunnel.
We will start the day with a visit to the Thames Barrier, one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world! We will be shown around the complex and the entrance of the tunnel to the Barrier structures by a personnel guide. There will be a dedicated presentation (45 min) on how the Thames Barrier was designed, built and works, and a virtual tour film explaining the past, present and future of the Barrier. There is no scheduled closing of the barrier for that day, but high tide will be at 14:42, so fingers crossed!
After that, we will head to Greenwich (via public transport) to have lunch in one of the many places around the Cutty Sark area, and then dive underground to walk along the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. This 370 m long structure was completed in 1902 and served to facilitate workers living south of the river to reach the busy docks in the Isle of Dogs. While not the first of its kind, it is the oldest one that remains for pedestrian use in London.
The Thames river has been a central player in the creation and evolution of London. You can cross it many times a day by train, tube, bus, car or boat, above or below the water, and yet know only a fraction of all that it has to offer. Many of its most amazing features remain unknown, almost a mystery. Are you going to miss the opportunity to discover these two?
How to get to the Thames Barrier Information Center
[[Please, ensure you arrive by 11:15h]]
- By train, the closest train station is Charlton, in the London Bridge – Dartford line. From there, there is a 15 min walk to the information center.
- By tube, take the Jubilee line until North Greenwich and there take the bus (161 or 472) until Greenwich Trust School. From there, there is a 9 min walk to the information center.
Notes
- Due to coronavirus the group will not be taken inside the Thames Barrier exhibition, but all the information will be given by the guide.
- Please, note there is no access onto the Barrier itself.
- Accessibility: Access to the entrance of the Thames Barrier tunnel is not possible for wheelchair users. Unfortunately, the lifts of the Greenwich Foot Tunnel are out of service due to essential repairs, so that part of the trip will not be accessible to those with mobility problems.
- Children: Children of all ages are most welcomed – and 5 yo and under go free! However, remember that the visit to the Thames Barrier includes a 45 min presentation that might be a bit long for the most impatient little ones.
