London's Buried Rivers Rise Again

The Mayor of London is pushing a plan to bring London's undergrounded rivers to the surface.

1 minute read

June 17, 2008, 12:00 PM PDT

By Tim Halbur


"The scheme to revive old rivers will start in the suburbs but may attempt to recreate "ornamental stretches" of inner London rivers if possible. The Serpentine lake in Hyde Park, for example, is a remnant of the Westbourne River, a section of which, however, still passes over Sloane Square Tube station in an aqueduct.

One design firm has even proposed that Fleet Street, which crosses the route of the old River Fleet, might turn into a Venetian-style waterway.

Peter Bishop, director of Design for London, the group advising the mayor, said: "When these rivers are opened up I think Londoners will be absolutely amazed. They [the rivers] have been there all the time but you never see them."

A scheme in Sutcliffe Park, southeast London, has uncovered a section of the River Quaggy, and another project is under way in Lewisham where the Quaggy and the Ravensbourne also flow underground. A new development of flats will restore parts of both rivers within a public space lined by cycleways and footpaths.

"We're looking at raising the Wandle, which runs from Croydon to Wandsworth, the Bourne, which flows through southeast London, and the Brent, which passes through Wembley," said Bishop."

Thanks to ArchNewsNow

Sunday, June 15, 2008 in London Times

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Green public transit bus at stop in Silver Spring, Maryland.

DC Area County Eliminates Bus Fares

Montgomery County joins a growing trend of making transit free.

15 minutes ago - The Washington Post

Close-up of full beer glass with purple train-themed design sitting on bar between two frosty tall cans.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?

TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

June 30 - Cities Today

Vintage red Toronto streetcar passing in front of Rogers Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events

Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

June 30 - blogTO

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.