If you want to see the genuine stuff, pop over to the British Museum where they have a vast array of real things dating back 3,000 years.
The Russell Square institution has more than 100 mummies alone and they’ll let you look at them for free.
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition has perhaps a dozen, somewhat sorry-looking historic objects, plus a bunch of replicas in varying degrees of quality.
Somebody didn’t want to pay the extra cash for the King Tut mask with the inlays, so the colours are just painted on.
But this is because Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition is really all about spectacle.
The visuals are stunning, even if the narrative arc is far from clear – image by Jon Massey
a flurry of facts
Visitors are initially introduced to a series of museum-like displays offering info on the Boy King and the discovery of his barely-touched tomb in the 1920s.
These are pretty informative, presenting a drip-feed of knowledge.
There are teasing mysteries too such as the questions over Tutankhamum’s parentage – was his mum actually the famous Nefertiti, for example?
There’s quite a bit on archaeologist Howard Carter, his partnership with Lord Carnarvon and how their blockbuster discovery took the world by storm.
There’s some depth – just enough to get the neurons firing as we wander into a space grandly titled “The Treasure Room”.
But this is not a touring museum, it’s an entertainment.
The replicas that lie within – including a full-size mummy, the ersatz death mask plus the odds-and-ends collection of bits from ancient Egypt – are only an aperitif.
What this “exhibition’s” creators are really all about is digital.
Replicas in the exhibitions’ ‘Treasure Room’ – image by Jon Massey
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition, a digital spectacle
First we enter a room with projections on all four walls and the floor. Here, a 30-minute looped video presents a visually arresting vision of – what exactly?
Golden geckos run around the floor, sandstorms act as screen wipes, followed by infestations of scarabs, scorpions and, at one point, an unstoppable cascade of golden jewellery.
Lightning flashes, deep voiceovers intone important-sounding words. If there is a narrative at all, presumably it’s the life of King Tut, but to be honest, that’s not the point.
It’s a surprisingly fun and engaging watch.
Imaginative in the extreme (Gods come to life, temple pillars telescopically retract for unclear reasons), it’s like an ancient Egyptian acid trip made flesh for our amusement.
This is equally true of the not one, but two VR experiences that follow.
The first takes place in a swivel chair and starts off as a tour of the tomb.
Reality is quickly left behind, however as we ascend to the afterlife, complete with lava, giant God statues and a heart weighing ceremony with Anubis.
The graphics aren’t amazing and the content is balderdash – Nefertiti is now definitely Tut’s mum, for example – but it’s diverting for seven minutes or so.
In the second one, we don headsets and wander around a room.
One minute we’re in the tomb, the next we’re on the dig site.
Then we’re half trapped under some poorly rendered sand.
Other guests are represented as the top third of a greyscale Howard Carter, which adds an extra level of silliness to proceedings.
Maybe there’s a plot but who knows? And frankly, who cares?
At about £25 a go the ride is amusing.
There’s a light shower of facts, followed by at least 90 minutes of solid nonsense that’s worth a watch purely because nobody seems at any point to have queried whether it’s a good idea to flood the screen with golden rings, just because you can.
Even what purports to be a serious holographic presentation of the mummification process features sky water, or something.
You have to see it to believe it.
4/5 ****
Columns are brightly coloured and sometimes bounce up and down like telescopes – image by Jon Massey
key details: Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition
Tutankhamun: The Immersive Exhibition is booking until June 29, 2025, at Excel London’s Immerse LDN in Royal Victoria Dock.
Tickets start at £22 plus booking fees and can be purchased via Eventim or Fever.
The exhibition is located about five minutes from Custom House station offering DLR and Elizabeth Line services.
Never before have so many people had access to such a wealth of content at the mere tap of a finger.
But with the vastness of a largely unregulated digital world comes the issue of quality.
With not only humans (who are bad enough) but AIs churning out swathes of answers, opinions and hallucinations as they whisper what it heard or saw, humanity is increasingly submerged in a sea of at best confusion and at worst falsehoods.
It’s not so very long ago that wellness blogger Belle Gibson fooled hundreds of thousands of followers and Apple with her tale of overcoming brain, blood, spleen, uterine and kidney cancers, mostly through exercise, healthy eating and a positive mindset.
In reality there’s no evidence the Australian social media personality was ever diagnosed with the disease – but that didn’t stop her developing an app, gaining widespread influence and being embraced by one of the world’s largest tech firms.
Her twisted story is especially relevant, given its use of cancer as a jumping off point.
About half of us will develop some form of the disease during our lives.
Cancer Awareness Trust is based at Canary Wharf tech community Level39 in One Canada Square – image by I-Wei Huang
searching for information
“At the point of diagnosis, the vast majority of people will go online to search for information, as do their loved ones,” said Daniel Woolf.
“But they can easily find themselves in the wrong place – TikTok or Instagram, for example.
“A short-form video of someone who is very charismatic may lead someone to go away and make life-changing decisions because they are looking for a glimmer of hope.
“But are they trustworthy?
“Something like one in three online sources is either misinformation or not pertinent to a particular individual’s diagnosis.”
That’s what the development of Cancer Platform is seeking to change.
As the organisation’s chief tech and data officer, it’s Daniel’s job to oversee the app’s development, a task he’s relishing after a long career in the NHS.
“I planned to be there for four weeks and ended up being there for 17 years,” he said.
“I’ve been an engineer, a data analyst and have directed a number of teams at regional and national level.
“But as I moved through the various national bodies, I found I couldn’t have the impact I wanted.
“There are so many layers and I felt insulated.
“With so many different governments the chairs were always being moved around.
“What I wanted to do was use technology to help improve people’s lives.
“The bureaucracy in the NHS was enormous and so, when it came time for a career change, I wanted something small with the feel of a startup where I could be hands-on, albeit in an organisation with huge ambition.”
the Cancer Awareness Trust’s ambitions
The Cancer Awareness Trust is aiming big.
Drawing funds and support from its creative brand Evamore Music – which has released works featuring the likes of Ozzy Osborne, Cillian Murphy, Glenn Close and the late Sinéad O’Connor – the organisation is supported by Canary Wharf Group, among many others, in its efforts to deliver Cancer Platform.
“The trust’s aim is to empower people to change the course of cancer,” said Daniel, who was born in Hoxton and grew up in east London.
“Having the artists, music, events and that creative spirit involved makes us unique – it’s very different from the technology side.
“With Cancer Platform we want to hold people’s hands through their journey after a diagnosis.
“We’re testing it this summer and we’re aiming to put it out there in 2026 and then to gradually build it up with more and more information.
“What we’re creating is a layer above the standard websites that are out there.
“Cancer Platform uses personalisation and AI to make the information highly relevant to each user.
“There is a lot of good information out there already, but it’s fragmented and often it’s left to the individual to find what’s relevant to them.
“Cancer Platform helps users to build up a scrapbook of information that helps them consolidate their knowledge and understanding from a trusted source.
“It’s about taking away the unpredictability of Dr Google.
“Cancer is complicated. Treatments may be available in certain regions but not in others. Ethnicity, background and age are also relevant.
“Our aim is to provide information and services that are relevant to each individual as well as relatable stories from people in similar situations, offering hopeful optimism where appropriate.
“A lot of medical information can sound cold and clinical – more about the cancer than the person.
“Our ambition is for people not to have to log-in initially.
“We want to build that trust first and some people might have a diagnosis they don’t wish to disclose – safeguarding is important to us and we won’t be selling their data.
“We also want people to be able to search for information that’s personalised to a degree, but then we’ll encourage people to sign up for an account so they can take the next steps and we can really hold their hands.
“They might come to Cancer Platform to ask about symptoms or a diagnosis and then what we’re doing in the background is pairing them up with relevant information, pulling it from trusted sources and feeding it back to them in an understandable way.
“The key thing is not just giving answers, but making sure we give them the right sources to guide people to specific charities. Then they are able to see the next steps.
“One of the things we’re trying to do is to inform people about the questions they should be asking when they next visit their oncologist such as whether they are entitled to a second opinion.
“Users will get responses, suggested prompts and stories of people like them so they can get an idea of what their own journey might be like.”
the process of assurance
Key to Cancer Platform’s aims will be ensuring the information it supplies to users is robust, accurate and clear.
This is one of the greatest challenges in its delivery and one Daniel and the team are already deeply engaged with.
“The assurance process is in development at the moment,” he said.
“It’s quite a new field. There are a number of academic papers, which are all looking at the area of trusted information.
“These include some principles and measures, which we’re then building our own assurance processes on top of as well as working with leading oncologists.
“We also have a team which is taking a granular approach in ensuring that the information we supply is accurate and comprehensive.
“For example, we have banks of questions from a wide array of sources, that say: ‘These questions are what people come to us to ask’.
“So we’ve taken those answers through our assurance process and then they’re assessed for their accuracy and fitness for purpose.
“It’s vital to get the balance right.
“We’ve got our oncology team working through that now and the results from them will show us what levers to pull next.
“Have we identified the gaps in our knowledge base?
“Do we need to tune the AI a different way to access and serve more information?”
a trusted source of information
Ultimately, the charity’s intention is for Cancer Platform to provide information on all forms of the disease, a project truly massive in its scope.
Initially, the plan is to focus on breast and prostate cancers before expanding out to other areas.
“Admittedly, our ambition is huge so it’s about constantly focussing on the next step,” said Daniel.
“A number of specific charities already exist in these areas, so we can build out from that and make sure it’s working for those groups of patients.
“It also helps us to co-design with those communities.
“One of the biggest challenges – because there are so many good ideas – is to make sure we’re hyper-focussed. That’s my job.
“Building a platform like this is hard but we’re at a crossroads moment.
“Until recently, much of the information we needed just wasn’t there but it is now.
“We want to make it available to people and to do that without selling their data. We’re a charity so there’s no profit motive.”
key details: Cancer Awareness Trust
You can find out more about the Cancer Awareness Trust, Cancer Platform and Evermore via the charity’s website.
Nearly 200 new homes are set to be released for sale in south-east London next month.
The one, two and three-bedroom apartments – plus duplexes – are scheduled to hit the market in June as Peabody New Homes and Lovell unveil the second phase of their joint venture to regenerate Thamesmead – Southmere.
Spread over two red brick-clad buildings, Lakeshore and Skyline, the properties are set alongside £2.5million regeneration of Southmere Lake.
The blocks boast direct views over the water with apartments that feature large windows, and private outdoor space for all residents.
Interior design firm Suna has created schemes for both buildings with distinct colour palettes for bathrooms and kitchens in green and blue to differentiate the properties on offer.
Properties have been designed with distinct colour schemes – image by Peabody New Homes / Lovell
lakeside living
“Providing lakeside living with Zone 2 convenience, we are excited to soon be launching our next phase of highly anticipated homes at Southmere,” said Raquel Soares, assistant director of sales strategy, intelligence and compliance at Peabody New Homes.
“Located at the heart of Thamesmead’s vibrant regeneration, Lakeshore and Skyline are set to the backdrop of gorgeous green and blue spaces, exciting new amenities and exceptional transport links.
“With properties in regeneration areas typically seeing an additional annual sale price performance of 4.3%, Southmere is inviting buyers to invest in a growing community.
“Launching shortly, those hoping to find their place in this up-and-coming destination can register their interest now.”
Apartments come with private outdoor space – image by Peabody New Homes / Lovell
amenities at Southmere
Residents at Southmere get access to a 16-hour concierge service, a residents’ lounge, co-working spaces and a cinema room.
Those moving into Skyline will also benefit from an entertainment room.
Those living locally will also be able to take advantage of paddleboarding, kayaking and sailing facilities at a new boat club, which is set to be unveiled on Southmere Lake.
Simon Ginsburg, head of sales at Lovell said: “We’re really excited for Southmere phase two on the beautiful lakefront in Thamesmead.
“Our vision is to create amazing places where people want to live and a lakeside view in London on the balcony is truly a rare find.”
Southmere is located a 10-minute walk from Abbey Wood station, which offers connections to the likes of Canary Wharf, Farringdon and Paddington in 11, 20 and 28 minutes, respectively.
The hub also offers rail services to a range of destinations and there are plans to extend the DLR to Thamesmead too.
Local amenities include the likes of The Nest Library And Community Space, a Co-Op, an Anytime Fitness gym, a health centre and a dentist as well as the open public space of Cygnet Square.
The project to regenerate Thamesmead aims to preserve as much open space in the area as possible while providing new homes for Londoners.
Residents at Southmere will be within easy reach of nature reserve Tump 53 and the ancient woodlands of Lesnes Abbey Woods.
Southmere Park boasts South London’s first ever Tiny Forest, made up of 600 trees, while walking and cycling routes offer connections to the area’s five lakes, 18 kilometres of riverside walks and 7 kilometres of canals.
Homes in the latest phase of the Southmere scheme are set to go on sale from June 21 – image by Peabody New Homes / Lovell
key details: Southmere
Prices for private sale homes in the second phase of Southmere start at £350,000. The apartments will be available from June 21, 2025.
Shared ownership properties at the development are scheduled to launch in 2026.
White Rabbit Projects is all set to pull another Canary Wharf opening out of its hat.
Founded by Chris Miller, the brands the company works with already have a significant presence in and around Crossrail Place.
Now Lina Stores is getting ready to join Island Poké, Kricket, Soma and Arc Community beside the waters of West India North Dock as the team works to open a branch of the Soho stalwart in June 2025.
Soft pale green stripes already adorn the windows of the space that used to house The Breakfast Club and inside serious work is well underway.
The colour is all important and, just before our interview, Chris has to pop off for a word with the site manager having spotted some tiles that aren’t quite the right hue and arrange for them to be replaced.
“It’s very clear for us what the brand’s identity is – quality first that’s affordable – and we’re here to ensure that this is protected and never compromised,” said Éadaoin, managing director at Lina Stores and COO at White Rabbit.
“When I look at the fresh food suppliers we have in London, we’re using the same companies as Michelin-star restaurants, but we’re not charging Michelin-star prices – people see that value.
“I’ve been involved with Lina for eight years now and we established its first restaurant in Greek Street in 2018.”
White Rabbit COO and managing director of Lina Stores, Éadaoin McDonagh – image by Jon Massey
growing Lina Stores
That expansion was the first milestone on a road that has seen the green stripes appear on eight locations in London and one in Manchester.
Canary Wharf will be Lina’s 11th UK site in addition to three in Japan.
But it all began with a love story.
Orphaned in Italy, Carolina Parisio moved to London in the early 1920s to work at the Italian Hospital in Queen’s Square as a live-in cleaner, with the prospect of a better future and to financially support her two brothers.
There she met Enrico Crippa, an engineering fitter from Lake Como and began a relationship that would last the rest of their lives.
By 1939, he was the proprietor of a wholesale business and the couple teamed up with business partners Alberto and Rita Seradi.
Operating out of Tisbury Court, the women ran the day-to-day shopfront, while the men worked behind the scenes.
Realising they needed bigger premises, they found space on a corner in Brewer Street and establishing the store that continues to trade there more than eight decades later.
Emilio named it Lina after the love of his life.
Lina Stores is set to open at Crossrail Place in Canary Wharf – image by Jon Massey
safeguarding the legacy
“It’s passed through four generations of Italians since then,” said Éadaoin, who left a career in teaching to work in the hospitality industry in New York and the UK.
“It was the first place in London you could get olive oil back in the day.
“The beauty of Lina Stores is that we have always had that we’re primarily and importer and have that direct relationship with Italy, where others might go through a distributor.
“We ship many of our products and ingredients over and taste everything regularly to ensure the quality is there.
“Our delicatessens are still the place to go for flavours and produce from Italy you can’t get elsewhere.”
It was Lina’s position as a Soho institution that first led Chris to approach the owners with an offer.
“I worked in Soho House in Dean Street for many years and, on the way home, I would regularly go into Lina Stores for meats and cheeses,” he said.
“It’s a very special place and I love it.
“White Rabbit is an incubator – a way to grow hospitality concepts – so I reached out to the families who owned the site with a view to collaborating.
“They wanted to do something with the brand to help keep it alive and they’d been approached by lots of people before – but having worked in and around the area for 15 years, I had a real love for Lina, and they said they would trust me to take it on the next journey.
“They are still shareholders in the business, they come to all the tastings, sign off on designs, so it’s a real collaboration, a real, personal promise to the family to say we will look after this.
“We are growing and that provides real opportunities, but if you look at Soho, there are some really old institutions that over time have been forced out by rising rents and other pressures.
“What this collaboration has done is enable us to retain the original deli as it was. It’s been a really fun journey
“The only thing that’s changed is that it now has a bar in the basement, the first Bar Lina.”
The original Lina Stores in Brewer Street, Soho, which boasts a speakeasy-style bar beneath – image by Jon Massey
a hidden drinking spot
This cosy, speakeasy-style venue is regularly filled and has been the inspiration for the drinking offer for the other venues since it opened.
That includes Canary Wharf which will have its own Bar Lina to the rear with a menu packed with Negronis.
The Crossrail Place venue will also feature a full Italian deli (complete with correctly coloured tiles) and a more formal restaurant on its upper floor under an expansive curved ceiling.
“We’ll be doing breakfasts in Canary Wharf, including a new menu, so people can come in for a full sit-down meal in the morning, at lunch or for dinner,” said Éadaoin.
“We’ll have the delicatessen at the front where customers who don’t have much time can come in and grab panini or a salad to go.
“In the restaurant, guests can have just one or two courses and we know how customers in busy neighbourhoods need to have lunch in just 45 minutes, so we can provide fresh pasta with toppings that can be served very quickly.
“We also know that Canary Wharf has a lot of families visiting over the weekend and we’ll be ready to welcome all ages.
“Our bar will have an Italian style, based on the 1940s and 1950s and a late licence. In addition to the Negronis, people really love our Limoncello Spritz, which is made with our own liqueur.
“Working with Lina over the past eight years has been a really beautiful opportunity and I feel really protective of it and the people.
“The team we’ve built up over the years is very passionate and excitable and that’s really infectious.
“It started off with me and a couple of people I knew, but it’s extended and become the norm across the business.
“I love what I do and that’s driven by the people.
“With that number of branches we’ve opened we’ve grown a real entrepreneurial spirit in the teams to make everything better and better.
“They also know, that if we open another store, then it’s a real opportunity for them and that enhances the camaraderie.”
a boost for Lina Stores
It’s also good for that very first store.
As the brand has grown, the buzz has grown with each new opening creating fresh interest in the story of Lina.
“The original deli is much busier than it’s ever been, because people know more about it now,” said Chris.
“I think the starting point of its appeal is still value.
“We provide incredibly high quality at an accessible price point.
“We’ve been careful over the years, with massive inflation, that we’ve rarely had to touch price.
“We’re still seeing very positive, like-for-like growth, and that’s down to a value-for-money proposition.
“We picked Canary Wharf to open our latest restaurant because there’s so much development and opportunity here.
“I think the food scene in the area has changed dramatically over the last five to 10 years.
“When I first came to Canary Wharf, the super high-enders were well taken care of.
“What’s great now is that the premium quality is available to many more. It’s about value for money, but that doesn’t necessarily mean cheap.
“Lina provides a really flexible way to dine.
“You can come in for lunch and you can just have a bowl of pasta – you’re in and out very rapidly.
“Alternatively you can have starters, sharing dishes, pastas and more. It’s the kind of place where customers can also come for special events and they’ll get a great deal for their money.”
With Lina now gearing up to launch, it’s tempting to look at White Rabbit’s list of brands and wonder what else might benefit from a Canary Wharf branch.
Maybe it’s time the likes of Eve X Proper Slice expanded its pizza offering beyond Kensington.
key details: Lina Stores
Lina Stores is set to open its doors at Crossrail Place in June, 2025.
The ground floor will feature a delicatessen and bar, while the upper floor will house a restaurant.
This year, in addition to a selection of free activities, the festival will also feature an extended range of paid-for classes offering Wharfers the chance to experience discounted sessions from top brands.
“Wharf Wellness is a celebration of the health and wellbeing brands we have in Canary Wharf,” said Poppy Price, retail events and partnerships executive at Canary Wharf Group.
“This is the third time we’re hosting it – we held four-day events in 2023 and 2024 to showcase our diverse offering.
“It’s really grown in popularity and classes were selling out very quickly, so this year we wanted to extend it to a whole month, working with our partners for a longer period of time.
“We wanted to ensure as many people as possible could come here as we know there’s a real appetite for these kinds of events and activities.
“Workers can take a break from their desks for a taster session at Padium or Pilates with Third Space trainers at Eden Dock.
Canary Wharf Group’s Poppy Price – image by Jon Massey
“For our residents it’s an opportunity to try different things that are on their doorstep.
“For visitors, it’s a chance to discover a different side to Canary Wharf and to see what else is here.
“It’s about showing people they can really make a day here, participating in our programme of wellness activities, then making use of the offers our retailers are running throughout June.”
Retailers across the neighbourhood will also be participating in Wharf Wellness with June offers and experiences available from the likes of Aesop, Malin+Goetz, Jo Malone, Pure, Feels Like June and Get A Drip.
Pure is offering a 20% discount for the whole of June to customers mentioning Wharf Wellness at the till – image by Pure
Wharf Wellness, going deeper…
Poppy added: “We know wellness goes beyond fitness. It’s your mental health, self-care and the chance to spend some time with nature too.
“Canary Wharf offers all that. We’re really excited to be working with Arc Community on a series of talks during June.
“Arc is a contrast therapy space where people can engage in meditation, communal saunas and ice cold plunge baths.
“For Wharf Wellness the venue will be hosting three expert-led sessions in the beautiful lounge space they have.
“It’s a chance to both see Arc and also learn something. There’s one on hormonal optimisation, which is an area that’s growing.
“There’s another one on sleep too, which is a huge trend. We’re all so busy it’s about finding time to relax and take time out.”
Scroll down to find full listings for Wharf Wellness’ month-long programme and booking links.
Padium in Bank Street Park is set to run social events and introductory sessions in June as part of Wharf Wellness – image by Padium
a chance to win
In celebration of Wharf Wellness, Canary Wharf Group is also running a competition for one person to win a £500 gift card to spend on health and wellbeing on the Wharf.
Jun 2-8, daily, times vary, Freedom Clinics, Cabot Place, £49
The challenge – join Freedom Clinics for seven days of Pilates (or at least 3x a week) and experience the transformation this form of exercise delivers.
Every participant is entered into a draw to win a 10-class pack
Jun 2, 6.45pm-7.30pm, Arc Community, Crossrail Place Level -2, £35
This workshop provides multiple tools to optimise mental, physical, and emotional performance in our chronic burnout culture.
Through intention setting, education on the science of peak performance and self-assessment activities, you’ll gain actionable insights to enhance your performance sustainably.
Meet other padel enthusiasts in a fun, social setting where you’ll play a series of 15-minute matches, moving up or down a court based on wins and losses.
After the games, unwind and connect over delicious pizza in Padium’s mezzanine area.
Barry’s in Crossrail Place will be hosting two charity classes for Wharf Wellness – image by Matt Grayson
United We Barry’s Charity Class
Jun 14, 3pm-4pm, Barry’s, Crossrail Place Level -2, donations
Experience Barry’s legendary workout while supporting a worthy cause.
This special charity class offers the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself in their signature Red Room while contributing to their partner charity.
All proceeds go to United We Barry’s partner charity.
Docklands Sinfonia String Quartet are set to delight with a programme of classical chill-out, helping audiences relax to their favourite melodies. No booking required.
It was 200 years ago that construction began on the Thames Tunnel, a pioneering engineering project that saw the first crossing dug beneath a navigable city river using patented technology
Two centuries ago, work began on the Thames Tunnel. Today, The Brunel Museum tells its story
There’s always been a bit of pluck about The Brunel Museum in Rotherhithe – a trait that would doubtless have won it the approval of its main subject.
It might have been his grandson, Henry Marc, who worked up the detailed designs for Tower Bridge (see our latest article), it may have been his son, Isambard Kingdom, who achieved true engineering fame for his remarkable creations.
But it was Sir Marc Isambard Brunel – something of a gifted but fortunate chancer – who, along with Thomas Cochrane, came up with an iron tunnelling shield to protect workers from cave-ins while they hand-dug the world’s very first subterranean link beneath a navigable river.
Despite floods, delays and foul conditions, two centuries after construction began, the Thames Tunnel is still in use, carrying Windrush Line trains between Wapping and Rotherhithe.
Above it, telling its tales, lies The Brunel Museum.
Comprising the Brunel Engine House, what remains of the Thames Tunnel shaft and the garden on its roof, this self-funded institution offers visitors insights and info on the big name engineers, but increasingly goes beyond that remit to reveal the lives of the extraordinary folk whose sweat and toil actually built the link.
Museum director, Katherine McAlpine – image by Jon Massey
engineering learning at The Brunel Museum
Katherine McAlpine has been director of The Brunel Museum since 2021, having previously worked at the Natural History Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich and the Imperial War Museum.
“I really liked the idea of working somewhere I could combine my interest in the history of science with STEM learning – hosting activities with schools and families – so it was a really exciting opportunity,” she said.
“The Brunel Museum celebrates the achievements of Marc and Isambard Brunel, but I also wanted the chance to tell the broader stories of the people who actually dug the Thames Tunnel.
“The miners were working eight hours on, eight hours off.
“If they were on the bottom tier of the tunnel shield, they would be standing in water from the Thames – much more polluted than it is today, it was effectively an open sewer.
“There was no PPE, no hard hats – just communal, over-the-knee boots, sweaty, smelly, really horrible.
“We’ve done is research into what the workers wore and we’ve created a resource called Tunnellers Tales that contrasts their equipment with the world of modern construction.”
The Tunnel Shaft at the Brunel Museum – image by The Brunel Museum
recycled time and again…
With plans to refurbish the museum – aimed at boosting its accessibility – still in the pipeline, the doors will remain open this year as it continues to celebrate the two-century milestone.
Katherine said: “One of the things we’ve done is to launch our Summer Of Sustainability Trail.
“We’re looking at the Thames Tunnel as a big recycling project because it was originally conceived as a route for cargo to travel under the river.
“Trains were still in their infancy at the time it was built so they would have used horses, but there were many setbacks in the construction of the tunnel – it was supposed to take three years but ended up taking 18.
“Horses and carts would have needed big ramps but, by the time it came to build them, the money had run out and the necessary land had been sold.
“Instead the Thames Tunnel became a pedestrian route and was then reinvented as a shopping arcade under the river before it became part of the London Underground network.
“The space was constantly recycled, becoming many different things in contrast to what it was originally built for.”
The Brunel Museum is located in Rotherhithe – image by Jon Massey
a revolutionary story
In July, 2025, visitors will also be able to dig deeper into a particular aspect of Marc Brunel’s life as well as the story of his wife, Sophia Kingdom.
“One of our favourite items in the collection are his shoe buckles, something he kept long after they were fashionable, but he absolutely loved them,” said Katherine.
“They’re going to be part of something we’re doing about the French Revolution and we’ll be looking at the factors that brought Marc to England in the first place.
“There’ll be a small display and an events season alongside that in the autumn.
“Marc was born in Rouen in northern France and, while serving in the French navy, met Sophia, a young English woman who was the governess for the children of some of his friends.
“Like all good love stories, war and revolution tore them apart. He was a royalist – hence the shoe buckles – so he fled to America after the French Revolution before coming to England.
“Meanwhile, Sophia doesn’t have such a good time of it. She’s imprisoned in a French convent as a spy but is eventually released and reunites with Marc in England.
“ The two get married, move to Portsmouth and have three children, including Isambard Kingdom Brunel.”
It’s a tale that also involves a Russian Tsar, debtors prison, a failed bootmaking business for the Napoleonic wars, a new way to make blocks to rig ships and a fair dose of self promotion – although not necessarily in that order.
What also echoes down the years is the sheer power of the Brunels’ engineering triumph.
While things have moved on a bit, modern tunnelling essentially uses the same strategy pioneered under the Thames.
“I’m constantly amazed by the number of engineers who come here, look at the models we’ve got and realise it’s the same principle that’s used today,” said Katherine.
“Now it’s one person and a huge boring machine, then it was 36 men in over-the-knee boots doing the digging, but the process is the same.
“As the shield moves forward, the tunnel is built behind it.”
key details: The Brunel Museum
The Brunel Museum is open four days a week from May 2025 and also offers monthly guided tours of the site for visitors on the second weekend of the month.
Standard entry costs £8.50 for adults while children cost £5.
Guided tours cost £12 for adults when booking online or £16.50 on the day.
Making memories are what summer socials are all about.
As the mercury climbs, the great outdoors provides an ideal change of scene from the office or the home – a backdrop to shared experiences.
For those seeking something just that little bit different, Skuna’s BBQ Boats are all set for 2025’s summer months.
Based at West India Quay, these self-drive electric craft come with built-in BBQs offering Wharfers “an unforgettable way to eat, drink and spend time with others”.
BBQ Boats hold up to 10 people, with cruises lasting 100 minutes
BBQ Boats offer 100-minute cruises
The experience begins with a quick briefing before guests take the helm for 100 minutes of cooking and relaxing on the tranquil waters of North Dock.
Each boat holds up to 10 people, who can either bring their own food to grill or pre-order from Skuna’s freshly prepared food packages.
Drinks can be purchased from the on-site bar, which also sells captains hats for those who want to take a turn at the tiller.
“Our BBQ Boats offer the perfect dining on the water experience for summer,” said Stuart ‘Tommo’ Thomson, founder of Skuna.
“They are great for team bonding experience as you cook and sail yourself around the beautiful docks of Canary Wharf.
“This is a world away from the ordinary BBQ in the park or back garden – it’s summer dining, but not as you know it – and a bucket list activity to enjoy with friends and colleagues alike.”
The craft are a popular option for summer parties in Canary Wharf
key details: Skuna BBQ Boats
Skuna’s BBQ Boats are available during the summer months from their home on West India Quay.
Prices and details of the various food packages available can all be found on Skuna’s website, as well as booking links for its Sauna Boat and Hot Tub Boat experiences – also based in Canary Wharf.
The early season sunshine has already started making an appearance across Canary Wharf, with pleasant evenings tempting workers, residents and visitors to the area outside.
The time of summer socials is almost upon us, with the smart and the organised already beginning to consult diaries, form plans and make bookings.
With whole businesses, teams and small groups of colleagues all looking to capitalise on the clement weather ahead, it’s best to secure key dates early, especially at the estate’s top spots.
Having arrived in the vanguard of the area’s regeneration Hawksmoor Wood Wharf quickly established itself in the upper echelons of the estate’s hospitality scene.
Both have terraces for guests to enjoy dining or refreshment in the open air.
Wood Wharf is the brand’s largest venue and, moored at the head of Water Street, acts as a gateway to a part of the estate that’s become well known for drinking and dining in recent years.
Oysters with bone marrow at Hawksmoor
just ‘a little unexpected’
Hawksmoor says: “Our Wood Wharf venue isn’t about reinventing the wheel.
“It’s about doing things properly: sustainable food, an award-winning cocktail menu and genuine service – all delivered in a space that feels considered, open, and just a little unexpected.”
Those planning seasonal events can look forward to a solid offering menu-wise.
Hawksmoor has long specialised in “dictionary-thick steaks”, chicken dishes and seafood such as lobster, monkfish, hake and Dover sole.
The cooking is big, bold and honed by the team over many years to reflect the quality of the sustainably sourced ingredients.
Crowd-pleasing sides such as Tunworth mash, macaroni cheese and beef dripping fries sit happily on a menu next to starters such as potted beef and bacon, smoked salmon with Guinness bread, roasted scallops and oysters.
>> Hawksmoor Wood Wharf boasts a 20-seat dining room for guests or businesses hosting private gatherings.
It’s fully equipped for presentations and groups of 34+ can take a semi-private space with a dedicated waiting team and sommelier to ensure guests are effectively refreshed.
To make planning easy, Hawksmoor offers both a canapé menu, with bites inspired by the flavours on its main menu as well as bowl food options for those seeking something more substantial.
Bite-size desserts can also be arranged to send guests away with a sweet taste in their mouths.
The Queenie Watts private dining room at Hawksmoor Wood Wharf
key details: Hawksmoor Wood Wharf
Hawksmoor Wood Wharf is located on a floating pontoon beside Water Street and is open from 11.45am-11pm, Monday-Thursday, 11.45am-11.30pm Friday and Saturday and 11.30am-8.30pm on Sundays.
At weekends, the venue offers extensive traditional roast options.
Event enquiries can be made online for all of the venue’s spaces or via email to woodwharf@thehawksmoor.com.
In a vaulted brick chamber on the banks of the Thames, the lime green wheel of a massive steam engine is gently, powerfully revolving.
Picked out in vibrant red, yellow and black stripes, this stately machine is no longer powered by boiling water, but a marvellous industrial relic, animated for the benefit of visitors to Tower Bridge.
Originally there would have been eight such engines – four on each side of the river – used to pump water into massive hydraulic accumulators that were used to store energy to raise the crossing’s two huge bascules.
These would swing up and down, on average, 60 times a day to allow tall ships to sail up and down the river unimpeded.
The Victorian technology is, however, just one of myriad surprises awaiting those on a trip into this major landmark.
Perhaps one of the most startling is its age.
At 131 it’s considerably older than many of the buildings that surround it, but less than a seventh of the age of the neighbouring Tower Of London, which celebrates its 950th birthday this year and inspired the aesthetic design of the crossing.
One of the preserved steam engines at Tower Bridge – image by Tower Bridge
visit for £1
“Tower Bridge is London’s defining landmark, welcoming visitors from all over the world,” said Amy O’Rourke, marketing manager for Tower Bridge at City Bridge Foundation.
“We want to make it accessible to everyone, but particularly to people living locally so that they can feel it’s their local landmark.”
Amy, who joined the team at the attraction five-and-a-half years ago – after travelling down the Thames from Royal Museums Greenwich – is leading the charge to encourage more of its neighbours to visit.
To that end, Tower Bridge is seeking to highlight the fact that residents of the boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Southwark – or those living in the City Of London – can get tickets to explore Tower Bridge for £1 per person.
Amy O’Rourke, marketing manager at Tower Bridge – image by Jon Massey
“We want everyone to feel welcome at the bridge,” said Amy.
“The story that we tell about its history is focused on the people – those who built it and those who have worked here.
“We have these lovely connections to the local community, the docks and the work that went on in this part of London, so we want people who are here now to know about them.”
Visitors with pre-booked tickets queue to gain access to the experience on the bridge itself then, following a quick security check, climb 200 steps or take the lift in the north tower to the crossing’s twin elevated walkways some 42 metres above the Thames.
There’s even a glass floor so people can look down on the bridge below.
The walkways were originally intended to allow pedestrians to traverse the river unimpeded given the bridge’s frequent openings, although in practice its operation was so slick most Londoners simply waited at ground level.
The crossing opened 131 years ago – image by Jon Massey
discovering Tower Bridge
“On the way up and in the walkways, you’ll learn about the history, why it was built – because of the need for a river crossing with the increase in traffic,” said Amy.
“You’ll also find out about the alternative designs for the crossing that were put forward, and how we got to the final design of the lovely bascule bridge we have today.
“At the time it was finished, in 1894, it was a marvel of engineering. Visitors finish the tour by descending in the south tower and making their way to the engine rooms, which are really the beating heart of the bridge.
“It’s my favourite place because you can really feel the hard work that would have been done there – blood, sweat and tears. It’s very special.
“When it was running on steam, about 80 people were needed to manage and maintain the crossing in working order.
“Throughout the visit we talk about their stories, including the likes of cook Hannah Griggs, who was born in Bermondsey and helped keep staff fed from 1911-1915. These are the people we want local residents to know about.”
There’s another aspect to Tower Bridge.
While the capital’s most easterly physical river crossing is rich in heritage, it plays many other roles too.
Hydraulic accumulators at Tower Bridge – image by Jon Massey
events at Tower Bridge
“Once the doors close at 6pm, things start to happen behind the scenes,” said Amy.
“We work with a partner called Social Pantry and have a number of spaces available for events of all kinds.
“For example, there’s a room in the north tower that can hold about 60 people for a wedding or small dinners.
“The walkways can also be used for photography, drinks receptions and dining.
“We are quite flexible on what we can accommodate – recently we’ve had jazz bands playing, gymnasts performing and acrobats showing off their moves.
“We can also offer dinner and drinks in the engine rooms, which are a more intimate space and great for engineering enthusiasts.
“We can change the lighting to match corporate branding, or events can be timed to coincide with sunset.
“It’s really special to be over the Thames, especially at night with the whole city lit up.
“We can also arrange special tours for guests so they get an enhanced experience.”
While Tower Bridge can be visited daily with slots from 9.30am-4.30pm, it’s worth trying to catch a bridge opening just for the sheer spectacle.
“When it happens London just stops for a while,” said Amy.
“It feels really special, standing there and witnessing it.
“Everyone’s normally rushing everywhere and I thought it must also be good for people’s wellbeing to just take a moment.”
Forthcoming openings are listed on Tower Bridge’s website and will take place most days in May.
The walkways include glass floors so visitors to the bridge – which is dog-friendly throughout – can look down to the Thames below – image by Tower Bridge
key details: Tower Bridge
Those living in Tower Hamlets, Southwark or the City Of London can get tickets to visit Tower Bridge for £1 per person.
The tide has washed over the space set aside for major exhibitions at London Museum Docklands and left behind it a rich haul of finds, information and art.
Unveiled this month, Secrets Of The Thames is a hymn to the capital’s longest archaeological site – the river’s foreshore – and those who prowl the edges of the water in search of its treasures.
The exhibition, which runs until March next year, is a celebration and revelation of the long-observed practice of mudlarking – raking through stretches of land that are exposed as the tides reveal London’s beaches and mudflats twice a day.
To that end, curators have combined a vast array of finds with a recreation of the exposed riverbed, artworks and a technical window into how the museum works with the beachcombers to catalogue and preserve historic pieces rescued from the depths.
Today mudlarking is popular – it’s regulated by the Port Of London Authority, which issues 4,000 permits for enthusiasts each year.
It has suspended new applications at present due to a waiting list now exceeding 10,000.
But while 21st century archaeologists, artists and social media producers are driven to dig in the soggy stuff for a variety of lofty motivations, those who went before were often simply scratching a living.
The exhibition includes a recreation of the Thames foreshore for visitors to explore – image by London Museum
the story in the mud
“We tell the whole story from the earliest mudlarks who were first recorded in the 18th century” said Thomas Ardill, curator of paintings, prints and drawings at London Museum.
“It was probably going on long before that too.
“These people were just searching for useful things to sell – bits of coal and steel, for example.
“They were scavengers, sometimes children, sometimes women – but as they were finding useful objects, they were also digging up historical pieces.
“This was in a period when antiquarians were starting to get interested in London’s history and mudlarks found they could sell artefacts.
“In the exhibition we’re showcasing not just what objects were found, but also the people who found them.
“The earliest mudlarks were entrepreneurs, and they were creative and inspired by what they found.
“Some were conning the art world by creating fakes, but that also showed their creativity and ingenuity.
Thomas Ardill, curator of paintings, prints and drawings at London Museum – image by Jon Massey
“A lot of the mudlarks today are fantastic artists and it’s an exhibition that you see through their eyes.
“It’s about the joy of discovery as much as it is about the objects.
“About five years ago, we touched on mudlarking a bit and realised it had potential – Secrets Of The Thames has been a long time in the making.
“We’ve been working closely with Stuart Wyatt, London Museum’s finds liaison officer, whose job it is to record the finds made by mudlarks with permits.
“One of the things I really like in the exhibition is the finds desk. It reveals how we record objects and will feature rotating exhibits.
“At the moment, there’s an Italian ceramic water vessel, which is one of four or five discovered in a particular spot on the Thames over the years.
“There’s definitely something interesting going on in that location.
“Stuart thinks what might have happened is a box containing a shipment may have been broken and been dumped over the side of the ship that was carrying it.”
London Museum curator Kate Sumnall – image by London Museum
connecting to London’s history through Secrets Of The Thames
With brightly-lit cabinets full of deeply personal items – false teeth, rings, bones and even phallic fertility symbols – it’s also a chance for Londoners to get a sense of the city’s former inhabitants.
“We are lucky in London to have this amazing tidal river environment that has preserved so much of our past,” said London Museum curator Kate Sumnall.
“It is the longest archaeological site in the capital and here we find an unbelievably rich selection of finds, from beautifully worked prehistoric arrowheads to a small, ivory sundial used to tell the time.
“Thanks to the dedication and expertise of today’s mudlarks, we are constantly uncovering new objects that inform our understanding of history.
“Above all this exhibition is an exploration of love and desire, faith and loss, migration, community and culture – the stories of generations of people who have visited the city or called it home.”
With many mudlarks using their finds to create art, the museum has chosen to embrace their creativity and showcase their talents as part of the exhibition.
Printmaker, sculptor and artist Amy-Leigh Bird – image by Jon Massey
a mudlark’s tale
Amy-Leigh Bird is a printmaker, sculptor and artist who regularly scours the foreshore in search of inspiration and materials.
One of her pieces is included in Secrets Of The Thames.
She said: “I started mudlarking as a kid, inspired by going to see an exhibition by artist Richard Long at Tate Britain.
“There was a beautiful piece he’d made out of red bricks and so I went down onto the foreshore with my dad and made my own little piece there – that was my first work.
“Then I went to university and started collecting in the rivers in Glasgow, collecting ceramic and glass objects. I also found a gun.
“When I came to London, it just seemed instinctive to go mudlarking.
“At first I was just aimlessly collecting – stuff I was interested in, but that did include bones and teeth, and this grew more into my practice.
“Other mudlarks were looking for coins, pins, garnets and cameos – which are all beautiful and exciting – but I like objects that are uglier.
“We’re all made of bones and teeth come from the mouths of living, sentient beings.
“Animal bones and teeth in the river might have come from meat markets that would feed the people of that time.
“They link back to us, which is really beautiful.
“Coming from a small town, I find that London can be an assault on the senses – it’s relentless.
“When you go mudlarking, there is this wonderful moment, highlighted in the exhibition, when you leave the chaos and noise behind.
“Once you’re on the foreshore, the sounds are different.
“It’s the the waves lapping, the gravel beneath your feet. I end up being there for hours and the time just flies.
Amy-Leigh Bird’s Ancient Ruins 2020 – image by Jon Massey
“Finding something feels euphoric. It’s personal, it’s mine. I lost a lot of my childhood toys in a house move, which was sad.
“So when I find something mudlarking it’s a sign to me that the object has in some way chosen me, which is a beautiful experience.
“My favourite object in the exhibition is a neolithic bone.
“It’s such a simple object but it’s made me wonder how many of the bones I’ve picked up for my collection are neolithic.
“I originally started making work by finding things and making prints out of them.
“I’d put bones, clay pipes and things together, photograph them and then translate that image into a photo-polymer etching.
“In lockdown, when I couldn’t go out or mudlark, I was stuck at home with a big box of bones and started to think of how I could create work differently.
“That was a shift in my work as an artist, to go from 2D work to sculpture.”
Amy-Leigh’s piece, Ancient Ruins, 2020, is included in Secrets Of The Thames.
Mudlark Alessio Checconi explores the Thames foreshore at low tide in search of treasures washed up by the ever-churning waters – image by John Chase / London Museum
key details: Secrets Of The Thames
Secrets Of The Thames will be at London Museum Docklands until March 1, 2026 and is accessible during normal opening hours.
Tickets are cheaper if booked online in advance and start at £16 for adults.
