Thames Path NATIONAL TRAIL
[Acorn symbol of National Trails]

The Thames Path is a wonderful 184-mile walk and one of only 15 National Trails in England and Wales. It follows the River Thames from its source in the Cotswolds to the Thames Barrier, travelling through some of Britain’s finest countryside. Through most of London the Thames Path follows both banks of the river allowing many circular walks to be designed between bridges.

Isle of Dogs
Across the river is the peninsula named Isle of Dogs. Some believe it is named so because Edward III housed his greyhounds there, but it may have been merely a disparaging nickname for its original form as empty marshland. From 1802 to 1980 it was one of the busiest trading docks in the world. Today, the huge office and shopping towers of Canary Wharf dominate the area. One Canada Square is the tallest building in Britain, at 244 metres (800 ft) high

YOU ARE HERE
Ballast Quay

You are now standing on Ballast Quay, named for the ballast of Blackheath gravel which ships took on board here.
The Cutty Sark tavern behind you and the adjacent houses form a fine Georgian terrace. These houses were built to provide an income for Morden College, a charity which provided care for poor merchants who lost everything due to accidents or perils of the sea.

[Map of the area]

Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site
The town centre of Maritime Greenwich, designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its architectural, scientific, maritime and royal associations, and because it possesses an ensemble of architecturally significant buildings.

It is also home of the Prime Meridian Longitude 0° and of Greenwich Mean Time: its scientific importance in the development of navigation is inestimable. The attractions, that make Greenwich a place of international significance include; Greenwich Park, the Old Royal Naval College, the National Maritime Museum, the Royal Observatory, the Queens House, St Alfege Church, Cutty Sark, the Fan Museum. Greenwich Theatre and the Wernher Collection at Ranger’s House.
Approx: 15 mins

Trinity Hospital and Greenwich Power Station
Walk further along the path towards Greenwich and you will pass Trinity Hospital, an almshouse founded in 1613 by Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton. It now provides accommodation for twenty one local people. Behind it you see huge chimneys, this is Greenwich Power Station, built in 1906-originally to provide power for the London County Council tramways, it is still in operation today.

The O2
The O2 is the big structure to your right. It has a 23,000 capacity arena plus cinemas, live music club and exhibition ’bubble’ hosting an unrivalled mix of exciting events. It’s a whole district of restaurants, bars and clubs.
Approx: 40 mins

One of the UK’s national walking trails. The 300km route follows the course of the River Thames. The route opened in 1996.
The sign describes points around Greenwich along the route.

The riverbank along which the route runs, photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

The Cutty Sark tavern , located next to the sign, and featured on the sign, photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

The map of the area that appears on the sign is shown here at a magnification Click for a larger image.