Chapter 01 · Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Albert Bridge and River Thames Evening
We walked along the south bank near Battersea as evening fell, catching Albert Bridge just as its lights came on and reflected across the Thames, with a red double-decker crossing as the tide exposed the muddy riverbank below.
Waterside Point, 2 Anhalt Rd, London SW11 4PD, UK
“A red double-decker crossed the bridge while we were watching, which felt very London.”
Caught the Albert Bridge at just the right time — the lights were coming on as the sun went down, and the whole thing reflected off the Thames. We were walking along the south bank near Battersea, and the tide was out enough to see the muddy riverbank. A red double-decker crossed the bridge while we were watching, which felt very London. Greg, Hazel, Sarah, and I just stood there for a bit taking it in before moving on.
Construction
Albert Bridge was built in 1873 using a hybrid design that combines elements of both suspension and cable-stayed construction — an unusual engineering compromise that has made it structurally awkward to modify ever since.
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford.”
— Samuel Johnson, quoted in James Boswell's Life of Johnson
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