Summer adventures on River Thames

The freezing cold has gone and the country is now out of winter blues. Britain is now basking in a hot summer and Britons look more cheerful as the sun shines on us; and fruit trees and plants are in full bloom.

Parks have been unusually busy with families going out on picnics and to the beaches around the country.

Tourists are arriving here in big numbers to see the various attractions in London.

These include the London Wheel, Buckingham Palace and other parts of the city.

It is an open secret that sunshine and drinking go hand in hand in Britain and with the arrival of summer Londoners are heading for their favourite drinking places by the world famous River Thames which offers wonderful opportunities for locals and visitors.

LONGEST RIVER

Even though many erroneously believe that River Thames is only connected with London, the truth is that it is the longest river in England.

The Thames rises in the Cotswolds Hill at Thameshead in West England and flows through 16 cities in a west-east direction to the Atlantic Ocean off the east coast of England.

Stretching from Lechlade in Gloucestershire, this 346-kilometre long river flows through Greater London, taking in the counties of Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Surrey, Essex and Kent.

The Thames flows through London for  88 kilometres. There are 35 bridges over the River Thames as it flows through Greater London. The famed names are the Westminster Bridge by the Big Ben and the Parliament buildings, London Bridge, Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, Tower Bridge and Waterloo Bridge.

It is the second longest river in the United Kingdom after the River Severn that links England with Wales. Most people like to flock by the river, especially at sunrise and sunset, to take in the views. There are many vantage points for these views but Londoners love to enjoy their drinks while watching the river.

One place for adventurers is at the Apothecary, a rooftop garden down in Rotherhithe on the Thames in South London.

This place is a London institution which was transformed by Lottie Muir from a scrubby wasteland into a garden above the famous Tunnel.

Not far from there is the Mayflower, the oldest pub on the Thames in Rotherhithe Village — a place full of lovely history and wonderful frothy beer.

Visiting this pub is like stepping back in time to 16th Century London with the original mooring point of the Mayflower Ship which took the Pilgrim Fathers to the New World.

From this hidden gem, one catches spectacular views of the river from an outside docked jetty area. The views get even better from the upstairs restaurant.

BEAUTIFUL SPOT

Another interesting vantage point to see the Thames is at The Dove in Hammersmith, west London. This place has its own claim to fame — it is in the Guinness Book Records as the smallest bar room in the world.

Even more exciting is a bit of history which was made here, concerning the ancestors of the Royal family when Charles II is said to have wined and dined his mistress here.

This much-loved 17th Century Pub has its old worldly charm and is a treasure not to be missed.

It is set on a beautiful spot at the bend of River Thames from where fans gather to view the annual Oxford Boat Race.

These are among 1,800 pubs and restaurants along the River Thames in London suburbs of Richmond, Chelsea, Greenwich and stretching as far away as Oxford, Henley-upon-Thames, Maidenhead and Windsor.

But nothing can beat those who love to take to the water. Summer is the time for Britons to indulge in water activities. What can be a better way than taking a cruise on River Thames, the lifeline of London and neighbouring towns along the river? Generally, Londoners commute on the river from one point to the other by riverboat services to avoid London traffic chaos and Tube trains in which passengers are crammed like sardines.

GRAND OPPORTUNITY

But that kind of travel is often filled with the stress of planned business meetings, daily problems of workers’ lives and things that keep Londoners so bogged down that the dream of a river cruise is a nightmare. So what better way to escape daily stress than to take a cruise on the river for a day, to unwind and discover the hidden treasures of this world famous river? This is a grand opportunity to relax and enjoy the river, while someone does the hard work on the boat giving you the chance to see the and take in the views of the London Eye, Westminster Houses of Parliament, the infamous Tower of London and a myriad of iconic buildings that make London a vibrant city.

The London cruise takes you to several interesting landmarks of the British capital — the Thames Flood Barrier, the 02 Centre and the Royal Observatory among others.

The Mayor of London, career journalist Boris Johnson, believes that a lot need to be done to realise the full potential of the river.

There are plans to ensure better water transport facilities on the river and he has set an ambitious target of 12 million people travelling by river boats for business and pleasure in the next few years.