Our tour now brings us to Blackfriars, a riverside district steeped in centuries of history, and the strikingly modern Millennium Bridge just upstream. Together, they form a fascinating stretch of the Thames where medieval monasteries, Victorian engineering, and contemporary design sit side by side. For walkers on the Thames Path, this is one of London’s most layered and atmospheric sections.

A Riverside District Shaped by Monks and Monarchs

Blackfriars takes its name from the Dominican friars who settled here in the early 13th century, wearing the black cloaks that gave the area its enduring identity. Their monastery stood on the riverside from 1221 until its dissolution in 1538 and became a significant venue for royal councils, parliamentary meetings, and even the hearing concerning Henry VIII’s divorce from Catherine of Aragon.
The neighbourhood later gained a reputation as a fashionable residential area in the early 17th century, and its position on the Thames made it a natural focal point for wharves, theatres, and trade. 

Blackfriars Bridge: A Tale of Two Structures

The first Blackfriars Bridge, completed in 1769 and originally named William Pitt Bridge, was only the third bridge to span the Thames in central London. Designed by Robert Mylne, it was made of Portland stone and quickly became a vital crossing point.
Though ambitious in style, the bridge was plagued by structural issues and required major repairs in the 1830s before eventually being dismantled. By the 1860s, a new bridge was rising in its place — this time a robust wrought‑iron structure designed by Joseph Cubitt. Opened by Queen Victoria in 1869, this second Blackfriars Bridge is the one we see today. 

Its carved stone birds — seabirds on one side of the bridge and freshwater birds on the other — mark the point where the river shifts between tidal and non‑tidal flows. This thoughtful design detail makes it one of the more symbolically rich crossings on the Thames.

Layers of History Beneath Your Feet

Beneath Blackfriars Bridge lies the hidden mouth of the River Fleet, once an open waterway but now flowing directly into the Thames through underground channels. The bridge’s location was chosen partly to use the Fleet’s path for easier access to the north bank.
Nearby, street names like Bridewell and Watergate hint at Tudor palaces and historic wharves that once lined this bustling waterfront. 

The Millennium Bridge: A Modern Icon

Just a short walk east along the Thames Path stands the Millennium Bridge, London’s first new pedestrian bridge across the Thames in over a century. While not covered directly in the sources above, it is famously known as a sleek steel suspension bridge linking St Paul’s Cathedral with Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe. Its minimalist design provides uninterrupted river views, making it a favourite for photographers, commuters, and film crews alike.

Today, the Millennium Bridge serves as the perfect contrast to Blackfriars’ layered history — a symbol of London continuously reshaping itself while honouring its past.

Why This Stretch of the Thames Is Worth Exploring

From the medieval echoes of the Blackfriars monastery to the Victorian ironwork of Blackfriars Bridge and the clean lines of the Millennium Bridge, this area encapsulates London’s unique ability to blend eras seamlessly.

For walkers, it’s a place where every few steps reveal another story — from hidden rivers to historic crossings, from royal intrigue to modern engineering. Pause here to look upriver to St Paul’s or downriver toward Southwark, and you’ll see exactly why this part of the Thames is one of London’s most compelling chapters.