The South Bank

Every city has its good side and its bad side. London is no exception. North of the river is where all the decent, cultured people live. It's the seat of government, where you'll find the West End and has all the best pubs. As for the south, nobody should be that close to France by choice.

The one shining light, however, is the South Bank. So horrified at its location is this area that it snuggles up as close to the river as it can so as to espy the beauty beyond and wistfully sigh; 'One day. One day'.

Let's take our lives in our hands and go to see what's it's all about.

Let's no be too hasty to cross the river. Here is a sun-dial near Tower Hill tube. Sadly missing one important component today.
What is it about Russel Crowe? This bloke has something to do with the fact that the Romans did a fair bit of work on London in times gone past - and probably set it on its course to be the city it now is.
The Glass Testicle. This new building is the home of the Mayor of London - Ken Livingstone right now. The mayor's office was created by the Labour government to restore a city-wide local government after the lovely Thatcher did away with the Greater London Council - ironically also headed by Ken Livingstone who she hated with a passion. I reckon that Ken giggled his tits off at that one.

The Tower and the Glass Dildo. Sadly, there is no decent vantage point where you can get this building and the one above in the same shot. Bugger.
HMS Belfast. Once a proper warship and now a floating museum. You can tell septic tourists that it does pleasure tours if you like.
There's Tower Bridge, the one that America thought is was going to put in a desert.
London Bridge. The replacement for the one that America actually put in a desert.

Another pathetic attempt by some idiot to get Londoners 'pulling together' when they would much rather be arguing over a beer.
A very nice renovated wharf.
See.
And just to ram the point home, there is a ship-like sculpture inside. That's taken a lot of drugs.
The Monument. To what, I hear you ask. To the Great Fire of 1666, that's what. It probably wasn't that great if you got caught up in it all though.
The carving at the base of the monument. We know it's all about the fire 'cos there's some blokes hanging around in floppy hats. Looking at a chick with her norks out.