What’s in a Name

The London Walker is very confused; More London, London Bridge City, London Bridge Quarter, Tower Bridge? What name does Southwark council want us to use when referring to the area between London and Tower bridges? It’s a highly secured area with uniformed staff, milling around, wearing outfits with any one of these three names printed on their backs. The only common theme is Tooley Street which is the main artery running from one end to the other.

Tooley Street in itself is worth a day out with the Shard dominating the skyline and HMS Belfast commanding the Thames. Pop into the Old Operating Theatre Museum for some gruesome viewing, London Tombs for a scare and many funky places to eat and drink. That Tooley Street still exists is a minor miracle; in June 1861 at Cotton’s Wharf, where many warehouses filled with jute, hemp, cotton, spices, tea and coffee caught fire causing nearly £200 million pound (2002 level) of damage. The fire roared for two weeks and led to the formation of the London Fire Brigade.

At the end of Tooley Street you will find yourself at Tower Bridge a bascule suspension (work that one out) crossing. It is paid for and managed by the City of London under the Bridge House Estates. This charitable trust was founded in 1282 to manage the very first London Bridge. Unbelievably the trust has an income of £43 million and is worth over £1.5 billion. From smart investment the trust makes far more money than it requires for bridge maintenance. So, in 1995 the highest court in the land gave it permission to make charitable grants to worthy causes in the London area. Determining yet again the significance of the ‘most powerful square mile on earth’ and its value to London.

Right now there is another compelling reason to visit the area. To meet relatives who we share 98% of our dna with…………….chimps. You will find 28 full sized, bronze chimps demonstrating 18 different behaviours such as love, grief, and tool use. Enjoy Chimps Are Family.

So, More London, London Bridge City, London Bridge Quarter, Tower Bridge and even Bermondsey now it’s fashionable. Call it what you will it is certainly a major destination the curious in London. It might bother some that it’s all owned by the Kuwait Investment Board, at a value of £628 billion even richer than Bridge House Estates.

Experience interacting with these landmarks on the Towering London Self Guided Walk.