What's that wet thing running through London? The lead singer of The Feeling doing a marathon? Well, yes... but also: The Thames.
London is as synonymous with the River Thames as it is with Big Ben or pigeon hate - so why not enjoy a meal where you make the most of this famous landmark?
Whether you're bobbing up and down on the Thames or just with a bird's eye view of it, we've put together a list of London's best restaurants on the river...
London's best restaurants on the river
The modern British menu at The Bingham (a “restaurant with rooms” as they bill themselves) earned them a Michelin star in 2010. House in a Grade II listed Georgian townhouse, the restaurant overlooks the river, and there is a terrace with equally great views perfect for drinks on sunny evenings.
The Blueprint Café on the first floor of the Design Museum is one of several riverside venuesowned by D&D, the company who bought out Conran Restaurants in 1991. This is not to suggest the Blueprint is merely one of many identikit branches, quite the contrary as chef Jeremy Lee’ssimple yet compelling menu with Mediterranean and British influences deserves its excellent reputation. Lee may have moved on to Quo Vadis now, but his imprint remains. The view over Tower Bridge, aided by fantastically huge windows, is equally delightful.
Another D&D restaurant on Shad Thames, Le Pont De La Tour is beloved of tourists for the scenery,which includes Tower Bridge and the Gherkin. The French a la carte menu is on the pricey side (chateaubriand, lobster and caviar being some of the components) but the set menus are good value. There’s an impressive wine cellar too.
There’s an unparalleled view of Tower Bridge from this restaurant, particularly at night when it’s lit up. Open from breakfast through to supper offering modern British cuisine.
The 8th floor of the Oxo Tower has food and views for two different moods. The fine dining restaurant overlooks the South Bank; the cuisine is mostly British and on the expensive side. At the more fashionable, slightly less expensive brasserie you can dine with the City of London and St. Paul’s as your backdrop; the menu has a combination of Mediterranean and Asian dishes. Both have terraces with much coveted seats on warm evenings.
The vistas at the glass-fronted Oyster Shed (brought to you by the Geronimo Inns pub group) are magnificent, as it’s about as close to the river as you can get without actually being in it, and the menu has hearty dishes like Lancashire hot pot, fish ‘n’ chips, and of course, oysters, all at very reasonable prices.
Named after the futuristic structure that was part of the 1951 Festival of Britain, the Royal Festival Hall’s restaurant comprises a formal dining room with a modern European menu and the more laidback Skylon Grill, which essentially does posh, comfort food. But the main draw here of course is the view from the floor to ceiling windows over the Southbank and the river.
The restaurant at this forward-thinking riverside arts complex is worthy of a visit in its own right, thanks to a delectable seasonal menu of dishes like confit of duck leg on Toulouse sausage and sea bass fillet with braised fennel at very reasonable prices. There’s outdoor seating too, overlooking Hammersmith Bridge.
High Timber is lucky enough to have tables on the banks of the Thames. Located just a few yards away from the Millennium Bridge, the Tate Modern is directly opposite and St. Paul’s Cathedral is a couple of minutes’ walk away. The menu’s main highlight are the steaks, and the restaurant boasts a cellar with over 40,000 wines, many of which come from the owner’s own vineyard in South Africa.
The riverside vistas and well-priced food at The Depot have made it a fixture since opening in 1984. Located in Barnes, it benefits from being right on the riverbank and having tables outside for warmer days. The food is hearty – think Shepherd’s pie, pork belly and fish cakes – and their set menus are great value.