This is the north bank of the River Thames by Blackfriars Bridge. The cranes in the foreground are all associated with enabling works for Crossrail, a multi-billion pound project that puts 73 miles of railway across London, sometimes underground, linking east with west. Here they are creating additional land by reclaiming some space from the River Thames.
The name Blackfriars (for this area of London) was first used in 1317 (as Black Freres from the French 'frère' meaning 'brother') and derives from the black cappa worn by the Dominican Friars who moved their priory from Holborn to the area between the River Thames and Ludgate Hill (just beyond the right of this picture here) in about 1276. The site was subsequently used for great occasions of state, including meetings of Parliament and the Privy Council, state visits, such as of Charles V in 1522, as well as the location for a divorce hearing in 1529 of Catherine of Aragon and Henry VIII. The priory was eventually closed in 1538 during Henry's Dissolution of the monasteries.
The area in the centre of the picture was once home to the "white friars", the Carmelites, who are remembered in various street names still used today.
My thanks for your many very nice comments over recent days - all very much appreciated.
Ian