THING 6 to do In London - SHOOT THE RIVER THAMES IN A DUCK!

THING 6 - SHOOT THE RIVER THAMES IN A DUCK!

There’s a very specific reason for including this in 52 Things To Do In London, because after 17th September, 2017, the Duck Tours in London will be no more! And it might be why this post is on time... ;-)

If you’ve not been to London, it might sound a little strange - but it’s a great idea, replicated in other cities around the world.

The company procured a few amphibious landing craft - half boat, half truck - turned them tourist friendly, painted them yellow then toured London.  Not only on the streets of the capital, they splashed-down into the Thames and carried on down the river.  Fairly unique.  They’ve had a bit of trouble lately, but they are ending because they are loosing their slipway. This is what their boss, Matt Watts, said on the website…

August 21, 2017 6:02 pm Published by Matt Watts
"We are sorry to advise that Thames Water has exercised its statutory rights and given notice to acquire our launch pad at Vauxhall.  This means, regretfully, London Duck Tours’ current business of carrying fare paying passengers on the River Thames must cease from 09.00 on Monday 18th September 2017 to make way for the construction of the Thames Tideway Tunnel.
Managing Director of London Duck Tours, John Bigos said, “The 18th September will be a very sad day for the company, which was going from strength to strength, but it was vital not to delay construction of this much needed infrastructure project.”
“Tourists worldwide and Londoners will surely miss our iconic bright yellow DUKWs travelling around town. They have become a landmark in their own right.  I would like to thank our staff many of whom have been with LDT from the start and the 1.8 million passengers that have travelled on a London Duck Tour”.
We will be operating tours up to and including Sunday 17th September and we very much hope you will be able to take a tour before then.
Watch this space and we will update you on events in January 2018."

The fact they want us to look out for them in the new year may mean they have a cunning plan… to find another slipway, perhaps?  You can check ‘em out and book quack... I mean, quick at...

www.londonducktours.co.uk


BONUS PUB(S). Again by Nick..!

The Hole In The Wall.
5 Mepham Street
London SE1 8SQ
+44 20 7928 6196

There are not that many decent boozers down by the London Eye or the Duck Tours splash-down site.  It's not that kind of area. But for a real authentic London local, check out The Hole In The Wall.  It's situated under a railway arch across the road from Waterloo Station.  It's got a rugby themed front bar and a back bar with TVs and one-armed bandits.  The food is basic but okay.

To be honest, it's not the type of place you'd visit if, for example, you wanted to impress a first date.  Gastro pub it ain't.  But there have been locals drinking here for years and it was one of the first pubs to care about selling real ales when not many others bothered.  So it's a genuine offering.  In fact it's so traditional it doesn't even have a website!  If you want to know more, you'll have to phone.  Remember phone calls?


For a slightly more creative experience, walk a bit further round the corner to the beautiful Old Vic Theatre.  It was run by actor Kevin Spacey until recently and has more history than you can shake a stick at.  There’ll be a

 post about it later, but mainly it has two bars - Mark’s Bar for cocktails and craft beers, and the Penny Bar, artisan cafe by day and cultural boozer by night.


Unusually for London Theatre-land, both bars stay open late.  I bloody love The Old Vic.  You should too.  If you can resist the charms of The Hole.


Cheers!

Nick.
Writer. And occasional drinker.

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