Snow in the City

Just before the snow hit my home city of Cardiff pretty hard the other week, I headed to London by train and bike. Not to escape it (honest!) but to shoot pictures and do a bit of networking at the Outdoor/Cycle/Boat show at the Excel in the docklands.

After a couple of days cooped in at the expo I’d had quite enough, so my mate, with whom I was staying, and I, took a walk in the snow. First port of call was Greenwich Park where the meridian and observatory is. The place was heaving with kids and adults and sledges. It’s unusual to have extensive snow cover in the UK’s capital and also to fall on a weekend so everyone was making the most of the opportunity.

Slopes covered in people enjoying the weekend snow at Greenwich Park, London, in the shadow of the Royal Observatory.

Slopes covered in people enjoying the weekend snow at Greenwich Park, London, in the shadow of the Royal Observatory.


The snow was falling heavily and really softened the view from the height across the small valley there with all those taking part appearing like something L.S. Lowry would paint.

Up close though, at the foot of the slope you could see the smiling faces.

Toboggan Run, Greenwich Park.

Toboggan Run, Greenwich Park.

Greenwich Park, London. Close up of bark on a sweet chestnut tree.

Bark on a sweet chestnut tree.

Apart from the echo-less noise of tobogganers the park’s long-term inhabitants shrugged under the weight of the snow and as it drifted around trees it showed off the unusual contours of some.

We made out way past the observatory back down the avenue and out the gates over to Blackheath Common. The snow was coming down quite thickly then.

Blackheath Common now white with heavy snow falling. A man strolls holding an umbrella to shield himself from the flakes.

Blackheath Common, now white.

After a quick cuppa and bite to eat a decision was made to try and get a train into London proper. Thankfully our journey into Waterloo was unhampered by the weather although the contact with the live rail was arcing as it was somewhat covered in snow. Swapping the temporary warmth of the carriage for the Thames’ South Bank we joined the throng of people enjoying the icing-sugar dusted cityscape.

South Bank; Eye and Palace of Westminster under snow, two figures talk, sheltered by their umbrella.

South Bank; Eye and Palace of Westminster under snow.

20-1-13 London. A figure in yellow on Hungerford Bridge walkway in the snow

London Snow Scenes: 20-1-13. Central London. A figure in yellow on Hungerford Bridge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After crossing the road at Westminster Bridge and attempting to make a picture of the iconic view of the Houses of Parliament with runners on the walkway in the foreground, I pulled back and found a more unusual take on the scene.

Division Bell: The sporting sculpture by Rick Kirby tensely looms over an umbrella carrying walker's head with the clock-tower housing Big Ben almost seemingly looking on.

Division Bell: Cross the Divide sculpture by Rick Kirby tensely looms over an umbrella carrying walker’s head with the clock-tower housing Big Ben almost seemingly looking on.

There was an image to make with a runner on the walkway as my friend pointed out.

20-1-13. Central London. Runner on Albert Embankment in front of St Thomas' Hospital in the snow.

Walkway in front of St Thomas’ Hospital, Albert Embankment. Cameras everywhere…

London Snow Scenes: 20-1-13. Central London. Westminster bridge walkers late in the afternoon with the lamps starting to glow.

Westminster bridge in failing light.


The light was fading fast now and we crossed Westminster Bridge and caught a Number 15 one stop up to Charing Cross. I didn’t get the iconic shot of an old Routemaster bus – one was just leaving as our bus stopped on the other side (there are only two routes running these now and one is the 15 down The Strand). Onwards into the station then…
Unfortunately the trains going in the Blackheath direction were now being adversely affected by the snow so we got one to Maze Hill and walk up past where musician Manfred Mann lives and back through Greenwich Park just before the gates were shut.
So, just time for a few closing pictures on Blackheath Common: this one, hand-held and with the snow lit with some flash off camera pointed up away from the lens.

All Saints' Church, Blackheath Common, South London in the snow at night.

All Saints’ Church, Blackheath Common, South London.

NB. Please drop me a line via my contact page if you are interested in purchasing any prints of these or any other images on my blog or if you would like to reproduce them in print.

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4 Responses to Snow in the City

  1. jason says:

    Nice set of pix!

  2. Pauline says:

    Great set of pics, beautiful set of images in the snow!

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