retiredmartin

February 2024. Thamesmead.

Visiting new pubs is great and all, but nothing beats urban exploration (preferably with a new pub at the end).

Mrs RM had organised a couple of days of culture in London, centred around Thamesmead, the large area of social housing on the bank of the Thames used in A Clockwork Orange.

Thrillingly, the trip takes us to one end of the new Elizabeth Line (the other end, top right below,

takes you some dangerous towns in Berkshire you should probably stay well clear of).

You really whizz from the City through Woolwich to Abbey Wood, your starting point for an exploration of 1960s estates on the site of the old Royal Arsenal site. And an unusual tourist attraction.

We genuinely had no idea to expect leaving the tube station, always the best way.

Well, clearly the Liz Line is bringing lots of new housing to Thamesmead,

but pubs and shops and culture will take a bit of time to catch up.

But you can’t beat a good lake as a basis for regeneration,

and the art around the wall leads you to a cafe called The Thamesmead Social,

where we’re the only customers in the only open cafe in town (the one in Sainsbury’s is mournfully shut).

But the coffee and veggie breakfasts are bargain and rather wonderful,

and set us up for a bracing 20 minute walk to the edge of the Thames that became half an hour as I took a wrong turn, not that I would ever admit that to Mrs RM.

Talking of Mrs RM, here’s your clue to our destination.