In 2020, while searching for a publisher for London’s Riverside in Photographs, my goal was to create a coffee table book featuring photographs paired with accompanying text. However, being a non-celebrity proved to be a challenge in this pursuit. Just as I was about to give up, Amberley offered me the opportunity to publish as part of their paperback photo book series. I was very grateful for this chance, even though it required sacrificing some photos and the accompanying text.

Since I had already written the text, I decided to make it available on my website. The text has not been professionally proofread, so I will not vouch for its accuracy. The views expressed are entirely my own and not always serious.

Below is a small selection of what I wrote. Anyone interested can browse through my book and read all the captions online here.

Hampton Court Bridge

The most upstream of all Greater London Bridges, it is the fourth bridge built on this location. Opened on July 3, 1933 by the Prince of Wales (future King Edward). He was busy on that day, opening also the Chiswick and Twickenham bridges. See a charming YouTube clip about him here.

Hampton Court Bridge (London's Riverside in Photographs, Amberley Publishing)

Richmond Bridge

Richmond Bridge was built between 1774 and 1777, had some small modifications in the late 1930s, and is now the oldest surviving Thames bridge in Greater London.

The way the Thames meanders can be easily proven in Richmond. If you walk from, say Barnes to Richmond on the south of the river and you arrive in Richmond, you clearly are still south of the river since you never crossed it. Or are you? Geographically speaking, you are now actually north of the river.

Richmond (often, mistakenly, called Richmond upon Thames, which is the borough) is a great spot to either finish or start a walk. Downstream, upstream, or towards Richmond Park, the possibilities are many and Richmond itself has a certain English charm, especially along the riverbank.

Richmond Bridge (London's Riverside in Photographs, Amberley Publishing)

Barnes Railway Bridge

The ‘new’ Barnes Railway Bridge was built during the late 1890s next to the old one that was opened not long before in 1849 (but was soon found structurally unsafe). Conveniently for pedestrians, it was decided to include a walkway on the new bridge.

Over time, Barnes Bridge has become an important landmark for the University Boat race (Cambridge against Oxford). It is said that the team that leads when passing the bridge is most likely going to win the race.


Since I delivered this book, there is also a new path under the bridge on the north side of the river (the south always had one).

Barnes Railway Bridge (London's Riverside in Photographs, Amberley Publishing)

Putney Bridge

The current Putney Bridge was built in 1886 and widened to its current shape in 1933. I love taking photos of this bridge, especially when it is lit up. There is a church on each end of the bridge, St Mary’s Church on the Putney side and the All Saints Church on the Fulham end. Only the All Saints Church can claim to be a movie star, having been featured in the horror movie ‘The Omen’. Having said that, it is at St Mary’s Church that the Putney Debates started, an event that historically might just have the edge over a movie.

Putney Bridge is also where the ‘Boat Race’ starts, the rowing race between crews from the Oxford and Cambridge Universities. Since 1856 the race took place every year, except during the World Wars and during the Covid19 Pandemic.

Always a fun event to visit: Get a drink, pick a team, wait until the boats race by and go home. Find out in the news who won… and forget it instantly.

In Switzerland I created many labeled panoramas, in the UK only a few. My bestseller here is the one of Putney, which did not make it into the printed version of the book.

Putney Bridge (London's Riverside in Photographs, Amberley Publishing)

Albert Bridge

Albert Bridge is the favourite bridge of many Londoners. At night the bridge is illuminated with 4,000 LEDs and must be one of the most photographed structures in London. Named after Prince Albert, who was instrumental in getting the bridge built, but had passed away by the time the bridge was opened without a formal ceremony in 1873.

The bridge was nicknamed ‘The trembling lady’, because of its tendency to vibrate, especially when used by the troops of the nearby Chelsea barracks. There are signs on both sides of the bridge asking troops to break step when crossing the bridge (the troops are gone, the signs are still there). 

Despite being structurally not the soundest of bridges (lorries are prevented from crossing by a traffic island), it is now (bar Tower Bridge) the only central London traffic bridge to never have been replaced. 

Albert Bridge from Battersea Park (London's Riverside in Photographs, Amberley Publishing)

Southwark Bridge

The Southwark Bridge’s claim to fame is that it has the least traffic of any of the Thames road bridges in London. 

It is a personal favourite of mine at nighttime as it looks fabulous when lit up. With either the city, St Paul’s Cathedral, or the Shard in the background, I have tried to capture the view on many occasions. 

The tidal Thames offers many different ways to take photos. At high tide, I usually go for reflections on the river, but low tide allows me to go to the beach and take photos from a different perspective. 

It is also a great way to get away from the crowds, I only have to share this turf with metal detectorists and the new kids on the block… the mudlarkers. Friends of mine went mudlarking recently and showed me their trophies. Hard to say if the shard of earthenware they found was indeed Roman as they believe or from Ikea (my humble opinion), but it does not matter. They had a great time.

Southwark Bridge and St Paul’s Cathedral (London's Riverside in Photographs, Amberley Publishing)

Blitz memorial 

Designed by Wendy Taylor, this memorial commemorates the residents of the East End of London who lost their lives during the air raids of the Second World War. The dove sculpture has a contemporary look, and the artist intended the work to be inspirational and represent hope as opposed to sorrow. 

One of my side projects during the pandemic was to take photos for the Imperial War Museum Website for the memorials where they were missing photographic evidence.

Find more of my photos on the IWM Website and search for my name.

Blitz Memorial (London's Riverside in Photographs, Amberley Publishing)

O2 Arena

Initially called the Millennium Dome it had a bit of a shaky start, especially after the Millennium Experience in the year 2000 came to an end. The cost of maintaining the then empty building was estimated at £1 million pounds a month (this at a time when the pound still had some value) and the Dome became a political punching ball.

Luckily a solution was found, a few deals were made and, in the end, O2 plc bought the naming rights. 

Since then, the venue has hosted countless concerts (of which I was lucky to see a few), the Olympics, and many other events. 

A great venue to visit using public transport (the thrill that public transport in the UK is always a gamble adds to the experience).

The O2 (formerly the Millennium Dome) on the Greenwich Peninsula (London's Riverside in Photographs, Amberley Publishing)

Voilà – Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy the photos of ‘London’s Riverside in Photographs’.

London's Riverside in Photographs by Franco Pfaller is available for purchase now.