Transport for London.

The Jubilee Greenway. Section 7 of 10.

Greenwich Pier to Tower Bridge.

Section distance: 5.9 miles (9.5 kilometres)

Introduction. This is the longest section of the Jubilee Greenway. Between the Old Royal Naval College and Tower Bridge the Thames is at work, but there are frequent opportunities to appreciate the best views of the North Bank's landmarks and a pub around every corner.

This section begins at the Old Royal Naval College and runs along the South Bank of the Thames, following the Thames Path, curving round, eventually passing through Bermondsey and reaching Tower Bridge. It affords many stunning views of the river, though as a result of a great deal of development that is currently underway, there are a number of diversions inland. As the route approaches Rotherhithe, so the residential buildings become smarter and more expensive, until finally it passes along a row of smart restaurants just before Tower Bridge. There are one or two complicated directions - but if in doubt of the route, follow the signs for the Thames Path. Look out for the Jubilee Greenway discs in the pavement as you go round.

Section start: Greenwich Pier.

Nearest stations to start:

Cutty Sark or Greenwich Pier . .

Section finish: Tower Bridge.

Nearest stations to finish:

London Bridge .

Directions.

Begin at the piazza with the round-domed entrance to the Greenwich Foot Tunnel. Near here are the famous Cutty Sark tea clipper, Cutty Sark Gardens, and the Gipsy Moth pub, named after Sir Francis Chichester's round-the-world yacht.

Follow the Thames Path signage, up river towards the skyscrapers of the City. First pass next to (but not through) a blue metal arch, which leads down a ramp to the left, and go along Greenwich Reach.

About 250 metres after setting off, turn left up Horseferry Place. 40 metres along, turn right into Thames Street. Down here there is a wooden adventure playground on the right. The Thames pub (now boarded up) is on the left hand corner of Thames Street and Norway Street.

Turn left into Norway Street then turn right into Creek Road (A200), passing more housing development. Continue along to cross over Deptford Creek Bridge, with views of the creek below.

After 200 metres on Creek Road, opposite a pelican crossing and just before The Hoy cafe ahead, turn right into Greenwich Quay.

Cyclists should rejoin the carriageway at Thames Street and at the main road (the junction of Norway Road and Creek Road), cross over and follow the left hand carriageway over the Deptford Creek Bridge, then cross over at the pedestrian and cycle crossing just after the bridge to rejoin the route.

The first stretch of Greenwich Quay is a small pedestrian area with trees. Head up towards the river (veering left and then right) joining what becomes Glaisher Street, with the creek on the right. After around 200 metres, the Thames is reached again and there is a statue of Peter the Great.

Did you know?Peter the Great ruled the Tsardom of Russia and later the Russian Empire until 1725. He expanded the Russian Empire significantly, turning it into a major European power.

Turn left, upstream, along the Thames. Continue along the river front, past expensive flats on the left, and at the end is the Ahoy Centre for water-based activities.

The route follows streets away from the Thames for a while, to pass round Convoy's Wharf. Turn left and then right, onto Borthwick Street, passing three metal bollards. Deptford Green is to the left, pass in front of the gates for the Ahoy Centre and continue parallel with the Thames.

Pass by Charlotte Turner Primary School on the left and Payne's Wharf on the right. Twinkle Park is on the left. At the corner, turn left, into Watergate Street. Pass Trevethick Street on the left, and then 170 metres from the corner with Twinkle Park, turn right into Prince Street (with the Dog and Bell on the left and the defunct Navy Arms on the corner of New King Street to the left).

Stay on Prince Street for about 350 metres. Continue on, to the end, just before a mini roundabout, turn right into Sayes Court Street and enter Sayes Court Park at the end.

Go through the park, following the pathway round to the left. Exit via some black wrought iron gates, and turn right onto Grove Street, following signage for the Thames Path.

Some 280 metres after leaving Sayes Court Park, turn right off Grove Street into Lower Pepys Park, passing a large old mulberry tree. We think the pavement slab in the centre of the park is the only one on the whole Jubilee Greenway where the crown points the wrong way!

Cyclists should rejoin the carriageway at the exit of Mulberry Court Park onto Grove Street until you reach Pepys Park (south) on the right.

Go through the chicane and follow the shared walking and cycling route. Pass through the gap in the new housing development at the far side of the park to cross Millard Road, and go up the steps opposite (which have a cycle channel). At the top of the steps, follow the path around through Upper Pepys Park to the exit at the north side. Go ahead to rejoin the Thames riverside path, and turn left onto it.

At the river is a fine gate with anchor motif, and nearby cannon. Canary Wharf and its mass of financial towers is on the other side of the river and Greenwich can be seen to the right. Take this riverside route, a wide esplanade, in a westerly/upriver direction.

Pass a sculpture placed out in the river over the water, Circumsphere by Chris Marshall and Stephen Lewis, 1998.

Did you know?The sculpture is constructed from more than a mile of galvanised steel rod. The discs show the route of Sir Francis Drake's circum-navigation voyage around the earth, that concluded at this waterfront in 1581.

Keep ahead with the Thames on the right and approaching South Dock. Just after a plaza with trees (Enterprize Way, the far side of which marks the boundary between Lewisham and Southwark), pass a yard for small boats on the left. Cross over the lock gates in South Dock, turn right and then left alongside the river again, passing Greenland Pier for river buses and always following Thames Path signage.

Cyclists will need to dismount to cross over the lock gates in South Dock as they are quite narrow.

Ahead is Tide Gauge House which indicated the height of the water in the river for the lock operators. Turn left here to Greenland Dock and pass the Lock Keeper's Office.

Cross the swing bridge to the right (or a normal bridge just next to it), turn right back towards the Thames, and at the next corner find The Curlicue by sculptor William Pye, made of shiny polished steel.

Turn left along the River Thames once more. About 100 metres after the sculpture, turn left down an alleyway called Randall Rents (you will see a large black and white sign on the left at the top of the alley). Go down the alley and at the end of the building on the right, turn right over cobbles onto Odessa Street.

If you need refreshments at this point, carry on along the alleyway a short distance, to find the Ship and Whale pub in Gulliver Street. Otherwise, walk up Odessa Street, parallel with the Thames.

After about 150 metres on Odessa Street, at the corner with Odessa Street Youth Centre, turn right following a sign saying 'Public Access to Riverside Walk', continue along a short tree-lined avenue to Commercial Pier Wharf.

Turn left alongside the River Thames and continue along the riverside until you reach the gate to Surrey Docks Farm. The riverside route past the farm is now open, so continue on with the farm on your left. If the gates are closed, divert left down Vaughan Street, then right into Rotherhithe Street, which bends round to the right and rejoins the riverside at the far side of the farm by a set of bollards.

Cyclists should continue north along Rotherhithe Street here, past the Hilton Hotel, and rejoin the riverside at Pageant Steps.

When you rejoin the Thames, turn left and continue along the riverside passing some old anchors to the left and right, a flagpole and a cannon on the left. After nearly 300 metres, there is another short street diversion to get around Nelson Dock. The path leaves the river through a green area (Durand's Wharf) to the left, leading to a right turn into Rotherhithe Street again.

Pass Docklands Trading Post and then the Clipper Pub, both on the left, and the Hilton London Docklands Hotel on the right (which has its own pier - Hilton Docklands Pier - where a clipper to Canary Wharf business district can be boarded. The pier is found by going through the hotel lobby; boats run approximately every 10 minutes - however there may be steps to use the Clippers).

Pass the Blacksmiths Arms on the right and then Canada Wharf also on the right. Immediately after Canada Wharf, turn right towards the Thames - there is a Thames Path sign on the left hand side of the road to mark the point. Rejoin the river about 40 metres down the alleyway and turn left once more beside the river.

Next comes a road (Pageant Crescent) marked Private Road - but you are fine to walk and cycle down here. There are smart houses (Pennington Court), an anchor and later an obelisk.

Pass some steps (Pageant Stairs) down to the Thames. This is a smarter part of the route, with more expensive residences such as Sovereign Crescent. Cross a black bridge made by the housebuilder Barratts, and veer right. There is a view of the Lavender Pumphouse - now an educational museum - to the left when crossing the bridge.

Did you know?The pumphouse was constructed by the Port of London Authority in 1930 to maintain the water level in the old Surrey Commercial Dock.

On the opposite side of the river, Canary Wharf is disappearing from view. This is Limehouse Reach, and directly opposite is the entrance to the Limehouse Basin Marina, and thus to the Grand Union Canal, leading to the Regent's Canal.

The famous Gherkin skyscraper can be seen ahead now in the City. Pass Helena Square and then Frederick Square on the left. At the end of Sovereign Crescent, turn left down a ramp towards the pub, The Compass, then right back onto Rotherhithe Street for about 70 metres.

In front of Lavender House on the left, find a Thames Path sign pointing back towards the river; turn right down the passage with King and Queen Wharf on the left. The passage is marked with silver bollards, to find the Thames in about 50 metres. Turn left at the Thames once more, going upstream.

Continue along the riverside for 300 metres, then turn left to skirt around the edge of a small dock.

Cyclists or people wanting a step-free route should leave the river here and rejoin Rotherhithe Street, turning right there towards the red lift bridge over Surrey Water.

For those on foot, having followed the little dock all the way around, can stay on the Thames path for another 100 metres or so, until you reach a pub (The Old Salt Quay) at the entrance to Surrey Water, with picnic benches up steps.

Walkers here go up a wide flight of nine steps to the red lift bridge over Surrey Water. Turn right and go over the bridge. Near here, but not visible on the route, is the Rotherhithe Tunnel, opened in 1908. Look for the round building of the ventilation shaft of the tunnel on the right.

Did you know?The Rotherhithe Tunnel opened in 1908, is 1.48 miles long and a maximum 23 metres below the surface of the Thames. The entrance arches are actually the cutting edges of the tunnelling shield used in its construction. Pedestrians and cyclists can use the tunnel (unlike Blackwall), though this is a rare sight!

About 60 metres after the splendid red lifting bridge, find an open paved area on the right with young trees and a Thames Path signpost. Turn sharp right here and go up a wide flight of nine steps and along, passing a jetty. There are more smart apartments here, as well as a zig zag ramp and then a statue: The Sunshine Weekly and The Pilgrim's Pocket by Peter McLean 1991.

About 130 metres after the ramp, find Cumberland Wharf. Go through a garden area on the left, rejoin Rotherhithe Street again, looking out for the Thames Path signpost near some trees and ivy - as it is not easy to spot.

Continue once more along Rotherhithe Street for about 200 metres, passing the Brunel Museum on the left down Tunnel Road and pass the Mayflower Pub on the right - just past a covered walkway between buildings overhead decked with climbing plants. The road here is cobbled. Keep going straight ahead on the narrow cobbled street, following signs for The Thames Path, St Saviour's Dock and Tower Bridge. The Church of St Mary the Virgin appears on the left.

About 50 metres after the pub, carry straight ahead once more into a narrow alleyway near houses, marked by a single black bollard. There are more walkways between the buildings overhead. Come out 100 metres later on to Elephant Lane, and 40 metres later, look on the right for a Thames Path signpost near some trees pointing back towards the river. Turn left at the Thames to walk upstream for about 60 metres.

Presently there is a stretch of garden - and a plinth celebrating the Silver and Golden Jubilees. There are gardens to the left leading to Southwark Park. At the end of a row of houses, you will go up three shallow broad steps and turn left to join a green space, then turn right along here so the Thames still runs parallel to the path.

Walk past the end of Fulford Street, always following signs for the Thames Path. Go past a pub called The Angel on the right hand side, at the end of Cathay Street.

Opposite the pub is a green space called Manor House ruins, where a manor house dating from 1350, built for Edward III once stood.

Keep going in a straight line from here along Bermondsey Wall East for about 120 metres. Opposite the junction with West Lane, find an open plaza with trees on the right and a Thames Path signpost. Go up the ramp here to the riverside and Cherry Garden Pier or carry straight on another 30 metres to find another signpost at the corner with Cherry Garden Street, towards the river.

Turn left to follow the Thames for another 150 metres. At Fountain Garden Square there are some curvy metal benches. The path has to turn back to streets once more here. Behind the square, turn right along Bermondsey Wall East again, then after about 50 metres, left into Loftie Street. At the end of Loftie Street, turn right into Chambers Street, with Chambers Wharf on the right.

Go along Chambers Street until turning right into Bermondsey Wall West. Carry on down here for nearly 250 metres, until it turns sharply to the left and becomes Mill Street. Walkers should not turn left here, but instead, just after the sharp bend, turn right, following signs for the Thames Path attached to the wall, near an area with parked cars. This leads to St Saviour's Dock. Be aware that this passageway to St Saviour's Dock opens from 7am to 11pm from March to September and from 7am to 10pm from October to February. When closed, continue along Mill Street, take the first available right turn and then turn right again.

Cyclists will have to dismount briefly here.

The passageway passes New Concordia Wharf on the left and leads to St Saviour's Dock Bridge, crossing St Saviour's Dock on an award-winning bridge which still opens from time to time to admit vessels. This leads to the Riverside Walkway. Here there are a number of celebrated restaurants facing the Thames, and the Design Museum, opposite which is a large bronze sculpture, Head of Invention by Eduardo Paolozzi. More restaurants follow in Shad Thames, all in the great buildings of Butler's Wharf.

Passing these on your left, turn left into Maggie Blake's Cause (a small covered passageway) and then immediately right into Shad Thames, passing the Anchor Brewhouse.

This leads to Tower Bridge, which has been in sight sight for some time.

This is where section seven ends. The next section (section eight - Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge) continues under Tower Bridge and along The Queen's Walk beside the river.

From here cross the Thames for the Tube from Tower Hill station, the Docklands Light Railway from Tower Gateway station or the clipper from St Katherine Pier.

Otherwise continue on the route to get to London Bridge Rail and Tube station.

This is the end of section seven.