48 Shad Thames, London SE1 2LY
Horselydown Old Stairs
Tiny historic site
Place photograph
4.0
Wildland
Under 1 hour
Time
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Cost
Atmospheric
Feel
Why it's Wildland
4.0A surviving way down to the working Thames: Horselydown Old Stairs appear on John Rocque’s 1746 map, when river stairs served people moving between the shore and ships moored out in the river. Today, they offer a close-up encounter with the river’s old edge beneath Tower Bridge.
This is a small, unusually tangible fragment of the working Thames. The old stairs, traces of paving at the foreshore and the looming span of Tower Bridge make the river’s former everyday life visible in a place that is easy to pass without noticing.
Atmospheric · Historic
Find your way
Open map48 Shad Thames, London SE1 2LY
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The experience
A brief heritage stop to see the surviving river stairs, inspect the remains of paving at the foreshore if access is safe, and look back towards Tower Bridge. Do not assume that foreshore access is safe or available at every tide.
Things to do
Trace the old river stairs
Look at the surviving descent from street level towards the Thames. The stairs are described as among the few remaining along this stretch that provide access from street level to the river.
15–30 minutes
Look for the foreshore paving
If the foreshore is accessible and conditions are safe, look for the remains of the paved surface extending from the bottom of the stairs towards the river. Access and safety vary; check before descending.
15–30 minutes
Compare the river view with its 1947 photograph
The historical account reproduces a photograph taken from the stairs in 1947 and compares it with a later view, noting that a wall now obscures part of the earlier outlook.
10 minutes
Make a day of it
Quick escape · Under 1 hour
The old stairs and river edge
- 01
Find the stairs beside the former Anchor Brewery building on Shad Thames.
- 02
View the surviving stairway from the street and note how it descends towards the Thames.
- 03
Only descend to the foreshore if access is available and conditions are safe; check tide and surface conditions beforehand.
- 04
Look for the remains of the paved surface at the foot of the stairs and the view towards Tower Bridge.
Verified history
Horselydown Old Stairs are marked on John Rocque’s 1746 survey of London and on a 1940 map cited by the source. The historical account explains that Thames stairs were used by river workers and people travelling by small boat to larger vessels moored in the river. It describes the old stairs as one of the few remaining routes from street level to the foreshore in this stretch. The nearby Anchor Brewery building was restored in the late 1980s, according to the account; a wall now obscures part of the viewpoint recorded in a 1947 photograph.
Hidden details
The path once continued onto the foreshore — At the bottom of the stairs, the historical account records remains of a paved surface leading out towards the river. The foreshore can be hazardous, and access should not be assumed safe or available.
A viewpoint changed after the brewery restoration — A 1947 photograph shows a view from close to the stairs. The later account notes that a wall now blocks much of the view from the photographer’s original position.
When to go
· Daylight; check foreshore conditions and access before visiting.
The supplied sources do not identify a preferred season. Conditions on the stairs and foreshore, including the tide and surface slipperiness, matter more than season.
The foreshore may be slippery or hazardous. Check current access and tide conditions before descending; do not proceed if conditions are unsafe.
Worth pairing with
Shad Thames
The stairs sit beside Shad Thames. The supplied historical account describes the nearby old Anchor Brewery building and the area’s former riverfront context; it does not verify a specific visitor itinerary or facilities.
Tower Bridge riverside view
The historical account describes views towards Tower Bridge from the stairs and foreshore. Treat this as a nearby visual point of interest, not a verified access route onto or beneath the bridge.
What to look for
- 01
The stairs’ route down from street level
- 02
the remains of a paved surface leading from the bottom of the stairs towards the river
- 03
the adjacent former Anchor Brewery building
- 04
and the changing view towards Tower Bridge. The source also compares a 1947 photograph with a later view, noting that a wall now obscures part of the earlier viewpoint.
The story
Industry, Maritime, Archaeology
Best time to go
Any season, subject to safe access and conditions at the foreshore.
Visit in daylight and check current access and tide conditions before considering the descent to the foreshore. No more specific best time is established by the supplied sources.
How long to spend
Under 1 hour
Perfect for
History lovers · Photographers
Before you go
Address
Listed hours
- Monday: Open 24 hours
- Tuesday: Open 24 hours
- Wednesday: Open 24 hours
- Thursday: Open 24 hours
- Friday: Open 24 hours
- Saturday: Open 24 hours
- Sunday: Open 24 hours
Check before visiting.
Google rating
Practical information
Opening & access
The source describes stairs leading from street level through the former Anchor Brewery building to the Thames foreshore. Access and current opening arrangements are not independently confirmed; check before visiting. The foreshore can be hazardous, particularly around the tide or on slippery steps. Access arrangements are unconfirmed. Check before visiting; do not enter private land or restricted structures.
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Parking
Parking availability is not confirmed; check before visiting.
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Toilets
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Food & drink
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Dogs
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Accessibility
The route described includes stairs and uneven foreshore surfaces. Wheelchair access is not confirmed; the source record indicates no wheelchair-accessible entrance or car park.
Cost
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Check before visiting
Water
River
Gallery
Place photographsKeep exploring
Around Horselydown Old Stairs
Within 50 km · approximate straight-line distances
