View the River

Numerous positions on the riverside provide great advantage points from which to view the river.
The Shore at Northfleet Riverside provides views upriver of the industrial waterfront and to the east the observation platform at Imperial Business & Retail Park, Gravesend gives a clear view across the river to the London Cruise Terminal at Tilbury and the cruise ships that make regular calls throughout the year.

Elisabeth Gardens, West Street, Gravesend, located behind The Rum Puncheon public house and adjacent to the Gravesend-Tilbury Ferry landing stage has a seating area from which to view the river to the east of Town Pier. This can be accessed from the riverside walkway that runs parallel to West Street along the river.

Public access to Town Pier and its viewing platform provides unrivalled views of the river out over the water. Construction of a new pontoon is due to start shortly and will return the Town Pier to its historic role as the primary entrance to the town from the river and will receive visiting recreational and leisure craft.

St Andrew's Gardens situated between Town Pier, The Three Daws public house and the St Andrew's Arts Centre and Bawley Bay has ample space to sit and relax while viewing the river.

To the east of Gravesend Town Centre, the built area gives way to the wide expanse of open riverside that comprises the Riverside Leisure Area and Gordon Promenade. Here numerous vantage points exist to view shipping, river pilot activity and recreational sailing from the Gravesend Sail Club. The Gravesend Canal Basin is a colourful cluster of boats and river barges.

Further east between Gravesend and Higham Reach a walk along this part of the Saxon Shore Ways affords long views the Thames and its estuarine marshes.