ExCeL, a piece of modern London you don't get to see so often
 

Late Saturday evening and two of us (me and another SSP forumer Mercutio, known as Monkey over SSC) went for a little walk in London DOcklands to grab some nightshots of Canary Wharf and Millenium Dome. The areas in that part of London don't seem exacty pleasant neither safe (warehouses, doddgy clubs, dark side streets... not a place to go with a camera)

a map to illustrate the location
http://img474.imageshack.us/img474/7018/image1xh1.gif

1.
On the way, still in Baker Street station, we'll be on the opposite side of London in about 20 minutes
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6710/img4302xz4.jpg

2.
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/8275/img4303zp7.jpg

3.
A nice surprise, a place we didn't plan to go to. A beautiful and charming Thai restaurant Nakhon Thai near our destination ExCeL exhibition centre in East London. We had some chicken Satay, rice and Singha beer, it was absolutely great :tup:
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9873/img4305oz5.jpg

4.
Waitress
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/3896/img4308ql7.jpg

5.
That's pretty much the view we came for, Millenium Dome and Canary Wharf
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/4654/img4310db0.jpg

6.
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/2733/img4311oa3.jpg

7.
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9818/img4312yf1.jpg

8.
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9006/img4313rg9.jpg

9.
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7079/img4317qo1.jpg

10.
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/4613/img4318vp5.jpg

11.
Despite looking like something from a sci-fi movie it's only a footbridge over a dock. The interesting feature of the bridge is that first you have to get ontop of it by using an elevator (you can use stairs if you want as well) then go to the other end and get down in the same way
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/9712/img4319ch0.jpg

12.
On the bridge
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6114/img4321wa8.jpg

13.
Views from the bridge towards Canary Wharf
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9152/img4322uj3.jpg

14.
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/1825/img4323lp7.jpg

15.
http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/8894/img4324wh2.jpg

16.
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1312/img4327bn8.jpg

17.
http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/1/img4328xt9.jpg

End :)

(c) Jonas

Canary Wharf photos are absolutely stunning :worship: :worship: :worship: : !!!

stunning photography :eek:

Great shots Jonas. You captured the atmosphere well. :tup:

Spectacular night shots, Jonas! :tup: :tup: :tup:

I like this one in particular:

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/6114/img4321wa8.jpg


And I'm glad to hear you both made it out of that part of the world safely! :)

Cool!

number 5 pic is beautiful!!

Thank you all :)

It was the first time I was there and I loved that place. It's got a nice tuch to it. Perhaps modern also can be charming and cosy. In my opinion, this is yet another great example in London (along with Canary Wharf and other chunks of Docklands) of how area revitalization projects should be done. And it seems to be just the core beginning, there are lots of areas around it suitable for potential development (waterfronts currently occupied by useless warehouses and other low-value buildings). And considering the shortage of housing in London, we won't have to wait too long (unless, of course, the planning process will lag as it often happens here :|)

is this on the northern bank of the thames? or the south? i'm discombobulated.

nice tour though.

Facinating. One question about the footbridge to ExCel; I remember the original plans was to have a "transporter" under the bridge. Much like the famous one in Bilbao, or the Middlesborough bridge, as well as the standard walkway over the top. Was this ever built?

Great photos Jonas.

As far as I know, it's just a regular bridge.

Awesome night pic's.

From what I can gather, is that the transporter ferry was supposed to be a 2nd stage in the construction of this bridge. Maybe the plans were mothballed.

Here is a link that describe it:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...05/ai_54956119

Excellent pictures