Mayflower400.London
Self Guided Walk of Rotherhithe
This self guided walk of Rotherhithe of 1.5 miles long (2.4km) is level, with no steps, and takes about 2 hours to complete at a leisurely pace. Site visits will add time. The walk begins at Canada Water Station, Deal Porters Way, Surrey Quays, SE16 7BB. There is a lift access. The station can be reached by public transport (Jubilee Line tube, the overground train or buses 1, 47, 188, 199, 225, 381, C10 & P12) and has nearby free 4 hours parking and bike hire docking station.
Rotherhithe, originally called Redriff, a name derived from from the Anglo Saxon word for a haven where cattle were landed. Rotherhithe has been associated with shipbuilding and supporting trades from the 17 Century, and probably from the middle ages and seafaring is recorded in church memorials and gravestones. The area was frequently mentioned by the 17 Century diarist, Samuel Pepys. Importantly the Mayflower ship left from this area of London and Master Christopher Jones and his crew were from Rotherthithe.
This self guided walk begins at Canada Water Station, and follows a route of 34 stops, ending at Rotherhithe Station.
Click in the large green 'play' button to start the interactive map.
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Your walking tour will end at Rotherhithe Station, where you have two options, either (via a flight of steps) you can take the Overground train under the river Thames through Brunel’s original tunnel to Wapping (flight of original Victorian steps to change platforms). The return journey on the train takes you through Rotherhithe Station and back to Canada Water Station. Alternatively, to avoid steps take either bus from outside Rotherhithe Station back to Canada Water.
At Canada Water station you then have four options, either a visit to local shops at Canada Water; take the Jubilee Line one stop to Canary Wharf (accessible); or five stops to Stratford (accessible) for major retail outlets; or take the Jubilee Line to London Bridge (accessible) to visit The Clink, Golden Hinde, Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market.
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Maps are available at locations marked with an (*) asterisk or from Debbie Western Flower at 44 Albion Street SE16 7JQ.
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For an official London Blue Badge guided tour of this walk, which could include visits to Brunel Museum, Sands Studios, St Mary’s Church, the Norwegian Church and the Finnish Church, coffee and tea stops and two course traditional lunch with glass of wine or beer at a riverside pub, please contact: mayflower@heritageandarts.com
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This online map was created by Heritage and Arts Limited.