On Monday 12 October 2009 a keen group of Year 12 Geographers enjoyed an intensive day of physical and human geography, making full use of the public transport around South East and East London. Having met at London Bridge we hopped on a train to Charlton to view the Thames Barrier. The girls completed detailed field sketches and discovered more about the role of the Barrier. We then took the local bus to Sutcliffe Park in Kidbrooke. The area is currently undergoing huge redevelopment work, with the demolition of the Ferrier housing estate. The local park, Sutcliffe Park was re-landscaped in 2003, to re-create a natural washland to stop flooding in Lewisham. This part of the day will be followed up with a lecture from a visiting speaker, Dr Wharton, from Queen Mary University, later in the term.

Following a short stop at St Katherine's Dock, north of London Bridge, we walked up to Brick Lane, where the girls explored the streets around London's best known curry houses. The girls enjoyed seeing the contrasting range of houses, from gentrified Georgian town houses to modern apartments overlooking the City, situated so close to such a vibrant multicultural part of London.