Excerpt
The story of the Thames is the story of London. Think of the Tower of London, the City, the Palace of Westminister--all built on the river. From Hampton Court, Henry VIII's palace southwest of London, to the high-tech Thames Barrier at Woolwich in the east, the Thames twists and turns for 48km past parks and houses, offices and pubs, and beneath a dozen or more bridges. Many have been renovated over the last decade, their designs highlighted with new coats of paint. When legs are weary of walking, hop on to what the Londoners still call a 'pleasure boat', sit back, and enjoy the unfolding of the London scene.