PUBLIC SECTOR CHALLENGE London Bridges Walk
- Daniella Barrow
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
On Saturday 17 January 2026, a number of ACES members, colleagues and family took part in the London Bridges Walk, a 25 km challenge organised as part of the Public Sector Challenge series. The event brings together the public sector community to raise funds for charities including Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation, while offering a rare opportunity to experience London’s infrastructure in a more direct and human way.
The route began at Furnival Gardens in Hammersmith, heading east along the Thames Path and crossing a sequence of London’s bridges before finishing at Tower Bridge. It combined a physical challenge with something particularly compelling for surveyors: the chance to see how historic and modern infrastructure continues to perform, adapt and shape the city.
Conditions were typically January cool, crisp and occasionally overcast, but dry enough to make steady progress. We set off from Furnival Gardens with coffee in hand as Jenny Clack from SOLACE sounded the start with her klaxon.
West London: quieter infrastructure, strong foundations
The opening stretch across Hammersmith and Putney Bridges offered a very different Thames to the one many of us know further downstream. There was a quieter, almost residential feel to this part of the walk, with rowing crews out on the water and far less of the intensity associated with central London.
Hammersmith Bridge, with its wrought iron suspension structure, immediately highlights the challenge of maintaining historic assets in a modern context. Its current restriction to pedestrians and cyclists is a very visible example of how infrastructure has to adapt over time, while still serving a vital function.
Putney Bridge, with its long association with the Boat Race, added a sense of continuity and tradition. Watching crews practising as we crossed reinforced how these structures are not just transport links, but part of the cultural and social fabric of the river.
Together, these early crossings reflect how infrastructure supported the expansion of west London into commuter suburbs, something that still underpins the way these areas function today.
Battersea and Chelsea: character, constraint and change
As we moved east through Wandsworth and Battersea, the river began to feel busier, and the bridges more varied in form and role.
Battersea Bridge remains a good example of Victorian engineering constrained by its context. Its narrow width and alignment on a bend in the river continue to influence how it operates, a reminder that design decisions can have very long-term implications for maintenance and use.
Albert Bridge is always a highlight. Known as “The Trembling Lady”, it demonstrates how early innovation often came with unforeseen challenges. The “break step” signs are a simple but effective response, and, for me, a fascinating example of how risk has been managed in practice over time.
Passing through Battersea Park gave a welcome pause and marked the point where the 15 km walkers joined. It also reinforced how important these riverside assets are not just as transport corridors, but as wider public spaces supporting health, wellbeing and recreation.
Approaching the centre: scale and intensity
Moving through Chelsea and towards Vauxhall, the pace and scale of development increases noticeably.
Chelsea Bridge and Vauxhall Bridge reflect different moments in London’s infrastructure story. From public works designed to stimulate employment, to bridges built to accommodate trams and increased traffic capacity, each crossing tells you something about the priorities of its time.
At Vauxhall, the addition of sculpture and civic symbolism feels like a statement of confidence in public infrastructure and public service. It is a reminder that these structures were never purely functional; they were also intended to represent the ambitions of the city.
The civic heart: where infrastructure and identity meet
Crossing Lambeth and Westminster Bridges, the walk moves firmly into the civic core of London. Here, infrastructure, governance and public life overlap in a very visible way.
The contrasting colours of the bridges - red for the Lords and green for the Commons are small details, but they reinforce how embedded these structures are in the identity of the city.
From here, the frequency of crossings increases, and the character of the river shifts again. The Golden Jubilee footbridge at Charing Cross stands out as a more modern intervention, providing a clear, accessible pedestrian route alongside the historic railway bridge. Its uninterrupted view towards Parliament explains why it is such a popular filming location, but it also demonstrates how relatively recent investment can significantly improve movement and experience along the river.
Central crossings: layers of history and innovation
Image courtesy of BBC
Waterloo Bridge, often referred to as the “Ladies’ Bridge”, brings an important social dimension, recognising the role of women in its construction during the war. It is also one of the best vantage points on the route, connecting major cultural and commercial areas.
At Blackfriars, the detailing rewards closer inspection. The bird carvings marking the transition from freshwater to tidal Thames are easy to miss, but once noticed, they add another layer of meaning to the structure. The adjacent railway bridge, with its solar panels, is a clear example of how existing infrastructure can be adapted to meet modern sustainability goals.
The Millennium Bridge provides a more contemporary lesson. Its early issues with movement and the introduction of damping technology have influenced modern pedestrian bridge design well beyond London. It is a useful reminder that even recent projects continue to evolve after completion.
Final stretch: history into landmark
Crossing Southwark and London Bridges, the depth of history becomes more apparent. This stretch has supported crossings for centuries, and it shows in the layering of old and new around the river.
And then, finally, Tower Bridge. Both a working piece of infrastructure and one of London’s defining landmarks, it provides a fitting end point to the walk and a moment to reflect on the journey.
Reflections on the walk
Building on the success of 2025, which saw nearly 800 walkers raise over £30,000 for charity, this year’s event continued to grow, supporting causes such as Cancer Research UK and the British Heart Foundation. With a choice of 15 km or 25 km routes, it struck a strong balance between accessibility and challenge.
For me, completing the 25 km was not just about the distance. It was the conversations along the way, starting as an ACES group but naturally mixing with others, catching up with colleagues, and meeting new people across the public sector. The event felt genuinely inclusive, with a shared sense of purpose throughout.
There was also real value in experiencing infrastructure at this pace. Walking the route makes you notice how bridges connect communities, influence development, and continue to function as everyday assets. It reinforces why long-term stewardship, maintenance and investment matter, because these structures are not just historic artefacts, they are essential to how the city works day to day.
The organisation and support throughout the route were excellent, and we certainly added to the atmosphere with our Public Sector Challenge purple pom-pom hats.
34,000 steps later, we crossed the finish line to be welcomed by Olympians Colin Jackson CBE and Fatima Whitbread MBE, and a fantastic reception at The Dickens Inn in St Katharine Docks. The sense of achievement and camaraderie captured exactly what the Public Sector Challenge is about: bringing people together to do something positive, both for themselves and for the communities they serve.
Looking ahead, the momentum does not stop here. The Public Sector Challenge returns later this year with the “Earth, Mynd and Shire” event in September in Shropshire, offering a different landscape but the same sense of purpose: https://publicsectorchallenge.co.uk/earth-mynd-and-shire
And, of course, keep an eye out for the return of the London Bridges Walk in 2027.
Public Sector Challenge Shropshire
The Public Sector Challenge is open to all classes of ACES membership and our FACES group and we are now collecting expressions of interest for this year’s event in Shropshire on 11 September. If you would like to know more, there is lots of information about up-coming challenges on the website Home - Public Sector Challenge or to get involved in the ACES team, please get in touch with the ACES President, Alan Richards,
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