Starts at Bermondsey Tube Station
Route Developer: Lorna Ely
Route Checker: Jenny Sage
[1] The walk starts at Bermondsey Tube Station. Turn left out of the station and walk along Jamaica Road to the pedestrian crossing. Cross the road at the pedestrian lights and turn right to continue along Jamaica Road.
Turn first left along Wilson Grove and follow this until you reach the River Thames. The pavement is narrow in places due to attractive but large trees. Their roots cause the pavment to be uneven. Single file is advised.
Turn right along Bermondsey Wall East and walk beside the river with fine views of Tower Bridge upstream. Keep following the Jubilee Greenway - Thames Path.
(A) Just before the Angel pub, on the left, is a statue of a man sitting on a bench waving at a small girl and a large cat on the river wall.This is Dr. Salter’s Daydream, a sculpture to commemorate local doctor, politician, reformer and peace campaigner, Dr. Alfred Salter. Among his achievements was the setting up of a community health centre 20 years before the National Health Service was founded. The plaque next to the statue gives more details of his extraordinary life.
Across the road is a large patch of uneven grass.Here are the ruins of a massive fortified manor house, built in 1361, which was owned by King Edward III. Excavations in 1985 revealed two courtyards surrounded by a moat but these have now been reburied to conserve them.
The pub, The Angel, is the oldest public house in Rotherhithe.The current building dates back to the early 19th century but there has been an inn on this spot since the fifteenth century. The captain of the Mayflower is said to have hired his crew here, and Captain Cook prepared for his voyage to Australia at the old inn. Samuel Pepys and Judge Jeffries were also visitors, along with pirates and smugglers (part of the pub is built over the water and there are trap doors in the floor which may have been used by local smugglers).
[2] Continue past the Angel pub, along Bermondsey Wall East, following the Thames Path as it goes along Rotherhithe Street, passing under building balconies. On the right you will pass the church of St Mary’s Rotherhithe.
(B) The church has a memorial to the captain of the Mayflower which took the Pilgrim Fathers to North America in 1620 and one to Prince Lee Boo of Palau, a Pacific Island prince. The communion table in the Lady Chapel and two bishop's chairs are made from salvaged timber from the warship HMS Temeraire (subject of painting by Turner).
Shortly after passing the Mayflower Pub on your left, turn right along Tunnel Road, past the Brunel Museum. There is a cafe here for light refreshments.
(C) The Museum is located on the site of the only engineering project that both Marc and Isambard Kingdom Brunel (father and son) worked on together, the Thames Tunnel, which is now used by the London Overground.
[3] Past the museum, follow Tunnel Road round to the right and then continue straight on along St Marychurch Street, passing the church on your right and St Mary’s Free School opposite it, on your left.
(D)Note the two statues of schoolchildren wearing uniform from the 18th century, on first-floor on the left. This school was originally founded in 1613 in a building next to the church in the 1600s by Peter Hills and Robert Bell, two Elizabethan seafarers, to teach the sons of local seafarers. They provided the school with the sum of £3 per annum.
Follow the road left round St Mary’s Churchyard Gardens and cross the road by the Ship pub and then continue across Elephant Lane into Cottle Way. Continue along here to reach Kingstairs Gardens (E), a wooded and open space. Turn along the first left hand path to come out of the gardens on Rotherhithe Tunnel Roundabout.
Cross over the road, using the zebra crossing, and enter Southwark Park (F) through the main ‘Paradise’ gates. Follow the left hand path along the side of the park, following directions to the café and Gallery. (The Cafe Gallery Projects London exhibit contemporary are and has a reputation for launching new talent.) You will briefly leave the park before reaching the cafe (toilets here) and walk along a paved road.
[4] From the Café, walk back along the park road and then turn right and follow the signs to the Bandstand. At the bandstand, take the left path to the Moreton Terrace exit.
Walk to end of the road, cross over Southwark Park Road and continue ahead, following the pedestrian walk through the flats. Cross Drummond Road and walk along Tranton Road.
Turn right into Keetons Road to return to Jamaica Road with Bermondsey tube station on your left.