The Thames crossing at Walton has a long and storied history. The current Walton Bridge opened in 2013, replacing a 1950s concrete structure. It’s a modern cable-stayed bridge with a distinctive sweeping silhouette, and offers fine views upstream and downstream.
The site is historically famous for the old wooden bridge painted by Canaletto in 1754 — one of only two paintings the Venetian master made of English scenes. The original painting now hangs in the Yale Center for British Art.
Historic significance
Multiple bridges have crossed the Thames here since the mid-18th century. The wooden bridge depicted by Canaletto was a remarkable Chinese-influenced design by James Paine, considered an engineering marvel of its time.
Visiting
The bridge is freely open to pedestrians and cyclists. The towpath on both banks offers lovely riverside walking. The Angel pub on the Shepperton side, and the riverside at Walton, are popular spots on either end.