Tribute is paid to Sherlock Holmes even outside the museum on Baker Street. In the pub by the same name, one can reminisce about the novels of Conan Doyle while nursing a pint of Guinness. From here it’s only a few meters to the new pedestrian bridge leading to The London Eye. It was built alongside Charing Cross Railway Bridge.

The oldest monument of London was built in about 1450 BC, Cleopatra’s Needle and obelisk from Heliopolis, Egypt. It was a gift from the Egyptian governor general and was erected on the bank of the Thames in 1878. The bronze sphinxes were also sculpted at this time and harmonized well with the nearby statue of the heraldic animal of London.

The bridges spanning the Thames were made immortal in numerous literary and film works. For instance, Waterloo Bridge is featured in the 1940 film classic starring Robert Taylor and Vivian Lee, while London Bridge was prominent in the historic detective story by John Dickson Carr.

Bankside is the part of the city along the Thames where the famous theatres of the middle ages are located, the Cockpit, the Swan, the—, the Rose and of course Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. The first Globe theatre, made of wood was consumed by flames in 1613. Its successor was shut down in 1644. It’s based on this successor that the current circular theatre was constructed of period materials and opened its doors in 1995. The museum gives a glimpse of what theatre life was like in the 18th century through models, sketches and engravings. It also familiarizes us with the lives of Shakespeare and his contemporaries, Ben Johnson and Marlo.

The king of drama writers was born in 1564 and buried 52 years later, 200 kilometers from London, in Stratford-upon-Avon. It was in London that he achieved fame, in his hometown, his plays weren’t played until after his death. From the balconies of the theatre, you can gaze out of the Thames and the ships passing by.

Pickford Wharf is a classic example of how abandoned docks, warehouses and small factories in disuse can be transformed to accommodate the needs of local residents and visitors. Many of these old buildings now serve cultural and touristic purposes. Following considerable restoration work, the old sailing ship, The Golden Hinde from 1577, is now on display at the dock by the teahouse terrace. It was on board this ship that Sir Francis Drake was granted knighthood by Queen Elizabeth I. The ship is not only open to tourists, but is also used as a venue for various private functions.

Southwark Cathedral at the foot of London Bridge can barely be picked out from among the scramble of the market and the buildings dating back to the middle ages. The history of the church is little more than a chronical destruction by fire and the ensuing restoration work and all of this starting as far back as the time of the Normans. The docks were for a very long time a perilous and shady area of London. The horrific detective stories of Edgar Wallace often took place here and it is by no accident that the city walk by the name of Jack the Ripper’s sinister London tour, also starts out from the docks.

The role of Britain in the two world wars can be seen in the permanent exhibition, Britain at War, at the foot of the bridge. The area is also brimming with many old classic pubs to choose from. The rebirth of the docks shows the metamorphosis that old buildings can go through, as well as the opportunities afforded by modern architecture. A good example of this transformation is the spectacular Hays Gallery Building.

On the bank’s opposite, the many towers of The Tower are already visible. On the other side of the bridge, many sight await us such as The Great Fire Memorial and The Museum of London, where we can take a trip back in time through the past of the city in computer-controlled cars.