Somerset House
© Abigail Anderson

Somerset House

On your left you’ll see the imposing river frontage of Somerset House, built in 1776. It still houses the Inland Revenue but also the Courtauld Institute’s collection of paintings, including some British masterpieces by Gainsborough and abstract artist David Taborn. A wonderful way to enjoy Somerset House is to go ice-skating in the courtyard there during winter months.

At this point, ahead you’ll see the City with the unmistakeable silhouettes of St Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin and Tower 42.

Oxo Tower

On your right are the famous O-X-O letters picked out in brickwork (the architect wasn’t allowed to display the company name in garish electric lights). Did you know this building was used as a processing plant for Scotch eggs during the 1920s? Do they serve them in the swanky restaurant at the top of the Tower today, ICONS wonders?

Continuing on downstream you pass a plethora of icons: St Paul’s Cathedral behind the buildings on your left, Tate Modern and the Globe Theatre on your right. Read all about the fascinating history of Shakespeare's Globe here.

Millennium Bridge
© Abigail Anderson

Millennium Bridge

These three iconic buildings are also linked by the Millennium Bridge. You can walk across the Thames using the bridge – it doesn’t wobble anymore, ICONS has tried it - from St Pauls Cathedral to the doorstep of Tate Modern and the exhibition for Shakespeare’s Globe.

The Goldfish Bowl

The real name for this building is, of course, the GLA (Greater London Assembly) and, like the Gherkin we saw earlier, it was designed by Norman Foster. The transparent glass and circular shape are intended to echo the purpose of the building: transparency of government and equality of representation.

Once you’re underneath Tower Bridge (they won’t have to put the hydraulics into use to let a small boat such as yours through), start looking out for the snazzy redevelopment of dockside warehouses… Hay’s Galleria, Butler’s Wharf, they are all now great places to shop, eat and, if you can afford it, live.

St Katherine’s Dock

On your left was one of the first such re-developments in the 1980s, St Katherine's Dock, but you’ll really need to get out and explore this on foot to appreciate what it has to offer. The same goes for West India Quay further along, which has the Museum in Docklands to tempt you there.

Oliver’s Wharf

As you approach Wapping, on your left, a is a beautiful warehouse, now luxury flats. This has its place on the ICONS site because it was used for storing tea brought from India and China. Find out more about the tea trade here.

Canary Wharf
© Abigail Anderson

Canary Wharf

Our last stop. The tallest building in the UK can be seen here with its famous pyramid-top peeking over the embankment. This wharf is where banana cargoes from the Canary Islands were brought.