Month: February 2017

When the riverside path at Nine Elms, just south of Vauxhall, reopens the great landmark will not be Dolphin Square in Pimlico across the water but the new US Embassy.

Later this year the Embassy is relocating from Grosvenor Square in Mayfair to Nine Elms.

The striking design by KieranTimberlake of Philadelphia resembles a crystalline cube.

The last ambassador said farewell on the eve of President Trump’s inauguration and it is expected that the incoming ambassador will present his credentials shortly before the building  opens.

The building will attract lots of attention for an embassy. Taking a snap this week whilst on the diverted Thames Path I was stopped by  a security guard. He wanted to check the photo and know why I wanted to  photograph the new building.

I did not help him. You are free to take a photo from the public highway.

The police advice, known as the Trotter guidelines, is: “There are no powers prohibiting the taking of photographs, film or digital images in a public place. Therefore members of the public and press should not be prevented from doing so.”

Recent press reports have given the impression that Battersea Power Station riverfront is now open.

Yes, but there is not yet a through route.

It is still necessary to follow Nine Elms Lane and Battersea Park Road past Battersea Dogs Home and walk through Battersea Park.

However, there is  glimpse of the future. From Battersea Park it is possible to walk under Chelsea Bridge, on a new footbridge over the water, and enjoy the new riverside path each side of Grosvenor Railway Bridge.

But there is still much work to be done before this new path joins upstream Tideway Walk.

Temporary Closure: Elm Quay which links St George Wharf at Vauxhall with Tideway Walk next to Battersea Power Station is closed for resurfacing and landscaping. The path is diverted along Nine Elms Lane and on to its south side to pass the new Waitrose .

But the good news is that Waitrose has a cafe and toilets. Lunch today was pork, lentil and kale soup followed by croque monsieur. Coffee is free!