FROM A TECHNOLOGY LAUNCH TO EXPLORING LONDON

This time, London was not another place I happened to visit during one of my truck routes. I went there privately because I had been invited to the SAMSUNG GALAXY UNPACKED event, SAMSUNG GALAXY UNPACKED, where the brand’s new devices were to be unveiled. The trip itself was something completely different from most of my previous journeys, because this time I was not racing against working hours, unloading schedules or driving limits. The organisers had prepared a very intensive programme for us, but I have to admit that when I saw a two-hour cruise on the Thames included in it, I immediately thought it would be one of the parts I would look forward to the most. London had made a huge impression on me from the very beginning, so the opportunity to see it from the perspective of the river also sounded truly exciting. Especially since from the deck of the boat, you can spot not only the most famous landmarks, but also countless buildings, bridges and places that you might not even notice during an ordinary walk.

It was also my first opportunity to really test the camera in the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which I received during the event. I had not yet had the chance to take a larger number of photos with it, so I was very curious to see how it would handle architecture, a large amount of detail, changing light and shooting from a moving boat. Fortunately, the weather was fairly kind to us, because it did not rain, which is not exactly something you can take for granted in London. Small clouds did appear in the sky, though, and in my opinion they gave these photographs a little more character. For two hours, I could therefore do exactly what I enjoy most — discover a new place and photograph everything that caught my attention at the same time.

WHY IS IT WORTH TAKING A CRUISE ON THE THAMES?

A cruise on the Thames will not replace exploring London on foot, but in my opinion it complements it perfectly. From the deck of the boat, you can look at the city from a perspective that cannot be experienced from the street, while also seeing much more clearly how historic architecture blends here with modern buildings. For me, another huge advantage was the opportunity to photograph the entire city skyline without having to push through crowds of tourists. It was also a moment of rest after several very intense days, although my camera (phone) barely had a break throughout the entire cruise.

Such a cruise is also a very good way to see London’s most important attractions in a relatively short time. In my case, the entire route lasted about two hours. Of course, other routes are also available, and their duration may vary depending on the selected operator. However, even during a two-hour cruise, you can see a really large part of the city. It is therefore a very good option for people who have little time for sightseeing or cannot manage long walks. Instead of moving between attractions on foot or by public transport, you can sit comfortably and view them from the deck of the boat. A cruise allows you to see many interesting places during a single trip and may also make it easier to plan a more detailed visit to them over the following days.

WHAT CAN YOU SEE DURING A CRUISE ON THE THAMES?

I had no influence over either the choice of route or the exact section of the Thames we would cover during our cruise. Everything had been planned in advance by the organisers of the SAMSUNG GALAXY UNPACKED event. I must admit, however, that the selected route turned out to be an excellent choice, as it allowed us to see both London’s most recognisable landmarks and places that are shown far less often in typical guidebooks. We began the cruise near TOWER BRIDGE, one of those structures that is difficult to confuse with any other place. A short while later, we could already admire the TOWER OF LONDON, while THE SHARD rose more and more clearly above the city skyline. From the deck of the boat, we also had a good view of the modern skyscrapers of the CITY OF LONDON, including the distinctive 20 FENCHURCH STREET building, commonly known as the WALKIE TALKIE.

As we continued, we passed more crossings connecting both banks of the river. Among them were the well-known LONDON BRIDGE, as well as the less obvious SOUTHWARK BRIDGE and the richly decorated BLACKFRIARS RAILWAY BRIDGE. Each of these bridges looked completely different and had its own character. Some attracted attention with their monumental structure, others with their colours, details or the interesting combination of historic architecture and modern buildings visible in the background. From river level, it was also much easier to look closely at their pillars, spans and elements that usually go unnoticed when walking across a bridge. That is why I did not focus only on wide, postcard-style shots, but also photographed smaller fragments of the structures.

One of the most recognisable points along the route was, of course, the LONDON EYE. Shortly afterwards, the PALACE OF WESTMINSTER and ELIZABETH TOWER appeared in front of us, creating the view that is probably most strongly associated with the British capital. This complex made the greatest impression on me during my entire stay in London. From the perspective of the Thames, its scale, wealth of detail and exceptionally decorative architecture can be seen much more clearly. Nearby, we could also see COUNTY HALL, which looked very impressive from river level. This section of the route was definitely the most “postcard-like”, but at the same time it was difficult to look away from it.

The cruise, however, was not limited only to the most famous landmarks. Along the way, we also passed modern residential complexes located directly on the Thames. These included THE CORNICHE, THE DUMONT, ST GEORGE WHARF and the distinctive buildings of the RIVERLIGHT complex. From the deck of the boat, it was easy to see how much London is expanding along the river and how modern apartment buildings are changing its skyline. In many places, glass towers stood next to older buildings, industrial chimneys or brick structures that remembered completely different times. It was precisely these contrasts that showed that London is not only a city of historic landmarks, but also a place that is constantly developing.

The further we sailed, the more often less obvious places appeared, although they were just as interesting from a photographic point of view. We passed VAUXHALL BRIDGE, followed by the modern buildings of ST GEORGE WHARF. From the river, we could also see the distinctive SIS BUILDING, the headquarters of the British intelligence agency MI6. Another strong point of the route was BATTERSEA POWER STATION, whose four chimneys are difficult to overlook. The former power station has been transformed into a modern retail and residential complex, but despite the enormous redevelopment, it has retained its distinctive industrial appearance. Nearby is also the highly decorative ALBERT BRIDGE, which caught my attention with the lightness of its structure and its ornamental towers.

Thanks to this, during a single two-hour cruise, we saw many different sides of London. There were its most famous landmarks, modern skyscrapers, former industrial sites, luxury residential developments and numerous bridges — both those recognised around the world and those whose names most tourists probably do not even know. And this is exactly what I consider one of the greatest advantages of such a trip. From the deck of the boat, you can not only “tick off” the main attractions, but also see places that we might not notice at all during traditional sightseeing. As a result, London does not look like a collection of separate landmarks, but like one enormous, diverse city developing on both sides of the Thames.

THE THAMES — THE RIVER ON WHICH LONDON GREW

It is difficult to talk about London without mentioning the THAMES, because for centuries it had an enormous influence on the development of the city. As early as Roman times, the settlement of LONDINIUM was established on its banks and, thanks to access to the river, it was able to develop trade and connections with other parts of the country. Over time, ports, warehouses, docks, bridges and London’s most important buildings began to appear along the THAMES. The river was therefore not only part of the landscape, but above all a transport route and one of the foundations of the city’s development.

Today, its role looks somewhat different, but it still remains one of the most important symbols of the British capital. Along its banks stand both landmarks that reflect London’s distant history and modern skyscrapers and residential developments. This is precisely why a cruise makes it possible to see so clearly how the city has changed over the centuries. While sailing along the THAMES, we observe not only individual attractions, but almost the entire history of London written into its architecture.

FROM A TRUCK DRIVER'S PERSPECTIVE

This time, London was not a place I reached during one of my routes. I came here privately in connection with the SAMSUNG GALAXY UNPACKED, so I did not have to think about parking for the truck, working hours or getting to the centre from an industrial part of the city. It was a completely different experience from most of my previous journeys, because I could simply focus on sightseeing, photography and enjoying what the organisers had prepared.
My routes also take me to England, however, so perhaps one day I will manage to return to London by truck. Then I will certainly check where it is possible to park the entire vehicle safely and how best to get from there to the city centre, and of course I will share all the practical information on the blog.

IS A CRUISE ON THE THAMES WORTH IT?

In my case, the answer is definitely yes. Two days earlier, I had explored London on foot, so the cruise on the Thames turned out to be a perfect complement to my first encounter with the city. I was able to look at many places I already knew from a completely different perspective, while also seeing parts of London that I probably would not have reached on foot during such a short stay. The city viewed from river level made a huge impression on me, and the opportunity to photograph its skyline from the deck of the boat gave me a great deal of pleasure.

The cruise was free for me because it was part of the SAMSUNG GALAXY UNPACKED programme. However, if I had had to pay for it out of my own pocket, I think I would have chosen it without much hesitation. The experience itself was worth it, especially because I was able to combine sightseeing with photography and see London in a way that an ordinary walk could not have offered me. I would very gladly take such a cruise again, perhaps along a different route, to discover more parts of the city.

GALLERY

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