North Bank of the Thames River, London, from the OXO Tower observation deck by T. E. Smith-Lamothe

This hand-held panorama was taken from the eighth floor observation deck (free admission!). Good companion panoramas are "661 on the South Bank" by Kilgore661 (which is basically the same view, but taken from the river side eight stories below) and "London by New Scientist" (which shows the OXO tower clearly on the right side). The OXO building was originally a generation station, then OXO beef boullion used it as a warehouse and added the iconic Art Deco tower in the 1920's. The intention was to put huge letters in neon as an advertising beacon, but the city department wouldn't issue a permit, so the designers made the windows in the tower spell "OXO" and lit up the inside at night! Quite a creative end-around, I think. One can imagine the telling the irate sign permit agent, "Well, they are not a sign, they are windows -- got to have windows, you know." Saved from demolition later, the tower and building below are now a complex of elegant crafts and art galleries, chic restaurants and, of course, the observation deck. For more information, visit: www.londontown.com/LondonAreas/Southwark /