Waterloo Sunrise

Last week I had the chance to take a trip out of Waterloo station into Surrey. The day was fresh, but the skies were cloudless and the sun was glorious. Also I was heading in the opposite direction to the rush hour commuters, so even though it was only 9am, the station seemed unusually quiet. Although definitely not a Waterloo Sunset, bringing back memories of the wonderful Kinks song, it was reasonably close to a Waterloo Sunrise.

Entrance to the London Underground, Waterloo station, London

I assume this array of tubing is some sort of ventilation system, possibly coming up from the underground below. On a grey day this would probably be a fairly ugly structure, but today with the clear blue sky in the background and the sun reflecting off the silver tubing, this was transformed into something quite beautiful.

Industrial architecture, Waterloo station, London

Further down the platform I saw the London Eye just peeking out above the top of the station, and nicely framed by the roof supports. A shame about the bin in the first shot though.

London Eye from Waterloo station, London

And a shame about the lamp post in the second shot.

London Eye from Waterloo station, London

    

Urban Wandering by night, evening strolls around London

As the evenings start to get darker, it won't be long before my daylight, after work urban wanderings will draw to a close for the year. But fortunately that time has not quite arrived yet, although as I was starting one short wander, and coming to the end of another the evening had most definitely set-in, making for some interesting pictures.

First up we have a picture of the New West End Synagogue, on the corner of St Petersburg Place and Orme Lane, between Bayswater and Notting Hill.

New West End Synagogue, London

Walking beyond the synagogue towards Notting Hill, I turned for a second and was presented with this view of the synagogue and St. Matthew's Church in the same shot, silhouetted slightly against the evening sky.

New West End Synagogue and St. Matthew's Church, London

The following evening, my wandering took place after an event held on a boat on the side of the Thames. By the time I left the boat, it had begun to get quite dark, offering some great photo opportunities, perhaps only spoiled by using a phone rather than a camera, and my unsteady hand.

No introduction needed for the first two, the London Eye taken from the Millennium Bridge. 

London Eye across the River Thames, London

London Eye across the River Thames, London

As I made my way across the Millennium Bridge and turned to descend the lower section of the ramp, up popped St. Paul's Cathedral, beautifully lit up with the neon blue of the bridge pointing towards it like an arrow.

St. Paul's Cathedral across the Millennium Bridge, London

Even though we were in August, it was unusually cold and after having crossed the Millennium Bridge, I walked back along the south bank and these white and blue lights in the trees made me feel a bit like Christmas.

Lights in the trees on the Southbank, London