Victoria Embankment Park
by irisbe
Victoria Embankment Gardens is a nice tiny green lung of Public Park by the Thames. It was created in the late nineteenth century along with the construction of the Embankment.
It exists out of a garden with grass parts on which some you are allowed to sit and others you cannot walk on; a cafeteria with terrace where you can have a drink
In Summer time it houses open-air concerts.
Inside the park you will notice different statues of notable British citizens. One of them is the Scottish poet Robert "Rabbie" Burns 1759 - 1796. A poet with a very turbulent social life, very succesful in writing but also in seducing women and making children `-)
The water gate at the northwest corner, constructed in 1626 as the triumphal entry to the Thames for the Duke of Buckingham, is probably the main historical feature of the garden. This water gate was part of York House that was the home to the Archbishops of York, before becoming the Duke's residence.
The Watergate is still in its original position, but because of the embankment of the Thames, hence the name of the park; it is now 330 feet distance from the edge of the river.
Victoria Embankment Gardens
by riorich55
On our 2nd day in London we had originally planned on taking a boat down (or is it up) the Thames River to the Tower of London. However taking our first London bus ride down to the Embankment area to catch the boat we were a little past the time to catch the morning commuter boats. This actually turned to our advantage as we walked a bit along the Thames and came across this lovely little area. Now a little guide book information.
Located on Villiers Street in London WC2 this narrow strip of public park by the Thames was created in the late-19th century with the construction of the Embankment.
The gardens have many statues of notable British citizens, including the Scottish poet Robert Burns.
"The main historical feature of the gardens is the water gate at its north west corner, built in 1626 as the triumphal entry to the Thames for the Duke of Buckingham. The water gate was part of York House, which once stood on the site, the home to the Archbishops of York, before becoming the Duke's residence. Although the water gate is in its original position, because of the embankment of the Thames, it is now 330 feet from the edge of the river."
In the summer the gardens host a season of open-air concerts.
Across the road, at the edge of the Thames, stands Cleopatra's Needle which if you study the first picture really hard you can see in the upper right hand corner peaking above the foliage.
