A couple of our recent favourite images from your walks along the river 📸 We love how you keep finding new ways to capture Illuminated River - keep tagging us in your shots for a chance to be featured on our channels.

Today is #NationalWalkingDay - a great day to announce 2️⃣ extra dates for our official Illuminated River Walking Tours.  Tours are led by friendly, knowledgeable City of London Guides, so you'll discover the history & stories behind the Thames, its bridges & the world's longest piece of public art.

There's still time to enjoy an Illuminated River Boat Tour this Spring, but the clock is ticking... Step aboard a Thames Clippers vessel at Tower Pier and prepare to see London in a new light. You'll hear from experienced Guides & experience sights from the water in a way you can’t on land.

Tomorrow, 28 March, is #EarthHour. As part of a City of London initiative, the Illuminated River artworks on London, Southwark, Millennium and Blackfriars Bridges will power down from 8.30pm to 9.30pm, to raise awareness about climate change and encourage environmental action. 📸 Jason Hawkes

A gorgeous glow-up for one of the Thames' oldest bridges. Leo Villareal's artwork celebrates Cannon Street Bridge's utilitarian character & monumental Doric columns, with subtle kinetic colours mirroring the motion of the trains passing above.

For #WorldPoetryDay, we’re re-sharing a poem inspired by the light and movement of the Thames at night.

✍️ What's your favourite way to spend time along the Thames?  Today is #InternationalDayofHappiness, and the river has plenty to offer. Sunset walks, riverside chats, watching the Illuminated River artworks bring the bridges to life... Share your happy places in the comments 👇 Photo: Paul Crawley

We're proud to be part of the inaugural River Art Walk this weekend ✨ RAW is a new weekend art trail bringing together major galleries, independent spaces, and working artist studios across the South Bank, Waterloo, Lambeth and Southwark. 📸 James Newton

A major new courtyard installation by artist Dana-Fiona Armour, blending sculpture, science, and responsive light technology, is now open at Somerset House.

Just a few more chances to join an Illuminated River night photography course this season, so don't miss your chance to learn new skills from award-winning photographer Nigel Wilson. Dates & booking: https://illuminatedriver.london/whatson/illuminated-river-photography-courses-4 📸 Steve Williams

On #InternationalWomensDay, we celebrate the women of Waterloo Bridge. 📸 © Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

As the days get longer, our Illuminated River Walking Tours take a break until Autumn - so if you've been meaning to join one, there are just two chances left this season.

Have you ever spotted this distinctive 1950s sign on the side of Waterloo Bridge? It was designed by LCC architect Norman Engleback and restored by Heritage of London Trust, preserving the iconic design and adding to the vibrancy of the area.

✅ Westminster Bridge reimagined. Leo Villareal’s artwork honours the bridge's historically significant design, by bringing its iconic green to life from below.

We ❤️💚💙 seeing the Illuminated River artworks through your lens - here are a few that caught our eye recently. Tag us in your photos for a chance to be featured on our channels 📸

A landmark exhibition of work by Tracey Emin opens this weekend at Tate Modern.  Tracing 40 years of Emin’s groundbreaking practice, the exhibition showcases career-defining sensations alongside works never exhibited before.

Have you ever spotted the fascinating 30m long mosaic at Queenhithe Dock? You can find it on the North Bank of the Thames, between Southwark Bridge and Millennium Bridge, both of which are illuminated every evening, as part of the world's longest public artwork.

Talk about a glowup ✨ Leo Villareal's artwork adorns Lambeth Bridge with a red glow - to match the colour of the benches in the House of Lords’ chamber, and mirror the red accents of the bridge’s railings and arches.

Wrap up warm and immerse yourself in the Illuminated River artwork - with a walking tour along the Thames. All tours are led by friendly, knowledgeable City of London Guides, so you'll discover stories of the Thames, its bridges and the world's longest piece of public art.

To the romantics, the late-night Londoners, and the lovers of light... Happy Valentine's Day, from Illuminated River ❤️ Which bridge would you choose for a Valentine’s walk?  📸 Blackfriars Bridge, by James Newton

Weekday sailings of the Official Illuminated River Boat Tour continue throughout February and March, with Thames Clippers.

Did you know the average amount of energy used to light each Illuminated River bridge is just 10 kilowatts - roughly the same as powering five standard fan heaters?

If the Thames inspires you, we’d love to see your response on film, in the new Video category of the Thames Lens competition, sponsored by Illuminated River.

#Throwback to New Year's Eve when the Illuminated River bridges were a glorious backdrop to the London NYE fireworks display. Here are a few of our favourite photos from a spectacular night on the Thames.

Blackfriars Bridge - the glow up ✨ Leo Villareal's Illuminated River artwork uses subtle scarlet and mauve tones to complement the red pillar supports of the original Blackfriars Railway Bridge, lighting the underside of the structure.

In his new book Coding Light, Illuminated River artist Leo Villareal reflects on how the world's largest public artwork reveals the beauty of nine bridges over the Thames - and the best ways to experience the work. Find out more: https://www.phaidon.com/en-gb/products/leo-villareal-coding-light

#Throwback to a month ago tonight, when the Illuminated River bridges were a glorious backdrop to the London NYE fireworks display - here are some of our favourite photos from a spectacular night on the Thames.

The South Bank Lion started life sitting on top of the Red Lion Brewery, until the building was badly damaged by fire in 1931.

What can you expect when you join an Illuminated River Photography Course? We caught up with award-winning photographer and course leader Nigel Wilson to find out.

In his new book Coding Light, Illuminated River artist Leo Villareal reflects on how his artworks for Cannon Street Bridge and London Bridge communicate to form an immersive diptych. Find out more: https://www.phaidon.com/en-gb/products/leo-villareal-coding-light

Our popular Illuminated River walking tours are back for 2026. Wrap up warm and experience the city differently - by taking a walking tour along the Thames.

The only kind of #BlueMonday content we want to see 💙 📸 Southwark Bridge by Paul Riddle. Waterloo Bridge, Lambeth Bridge & Millennium Bridge by James Newton.

The video category of the Thames Lens 2026 competition, sponsored by Illuminated River, has been extended to 12 February -  so there's still time to get out and explore the River Thames through a creative lens.

Warm up a winter evening in London, on a NEW weekday sailing of the Official Illuminated River Boat Tour, with Uber Boat by Thames Clippers.

Shining a Light On: Winter Light at @southbankcentre.bsky.social. This weekend is your last chance to discover 11 outdoor artworks that play with light and colour, across the Southbank Centre site.  Image: Southbank Centre / Christoffer Askman

In his new book Coding Light, Illuminated River artist Leo Villareal reflects on how his artwork for Westminster Bridge reveals the subtle, elegant beauty of its structure. Find out more: https://www.phaidon.com/en-gb/products/leo-villareal-coding-light

We caught up with award-winning photographer Nigel Wilson ahead of his new 'mobile only' photography workshops.

The @thamesfesttrust Thames Lens competition 2026 closes on Friday, so there's still time to submit your entry.     Thames Lens encourages photographers to get out and explore the River Thames - and this year there's a new video category sponsored by Illuminated River.

After the festive bustle, start the year with something for you - an Illuminated River tour. Choose from guided walks with City of London Guides, boat tours with Thames Clippers or photography workshops with Nigel Wilson, and enjoy a bright start to 2026. https://illuminatedriver.london/whatson

When you watch the London fireworks this New Year's Eve, just glance down for a moment. The lights on London's bridges aren't part of the show - they're part of the city. #NYE #NewYearsEve2026 #LondonNYEFireworks

"The combination of light and space and code... was an epiphany I had, that changed the path of my work"

Happy Christmas from all of us at Illuminated River, and a huge THANK YOU to everyone who's taken a moment to enjoy the artwork in 2025 - it's been wonderful to see how you make it part of your London.

There's no shortage of lights in London, especially at this time of year. But the subtle movement of Illuminated River brings a different kind of glow to the Thames - ideal if you need a moment of calm, in a city that never stops moving.

Happy Winter Solstice ✨ here’s a little warmth from the world's longest public artwork, to illuminate the shortest day of the year. It gets lighter from here. Images James Newton, Paul Crawley

"It was a symbol of resilience for London... something that brought people together." Artist Leo Villareal talks about creating Illuminated River against the backdrop of Covid, in his new book Coding Light, which is out now. https://www.phaidon.com/en-gb/products/leo-villareal-coding-light

We interrupt your scroll to bring you this moment of calm at Southwark Bridge. Take a deep breath and drop your shoulders. Focus on the gently moving lights and serene musical composition by students from Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Share with a friend who needs a moment like this ✨

Give a little glow this Christmas - gift an Illuminated River tour 🎁 https://illuminatedriver.london/whatson

On this day in 1945, the current Waterloo Bridge was officially opened by Deputy Prime Minister Herbert Morrison - but it wasn’t the first to cross this stretch of the Thames.

The London glow-up that's not just for Christmas ✨

Illuminated River photography courses are now booking for January to March 2026 - including NEW "mobile only" workshops.  Join award-winning photographer Nigel Wilson on an evening photographic adventure along the Thames, and learn how to capture great photos at night.