Billionaire's superyacht stuns London Bridge crowd

The luxury yacht belongs to billionaire, football club owner Joe Lewis, sailed up the Thames to central London. Photo / Jack Taylor, Getty

There have been strange appearances on the London skyline, as seen from the banks of the Thames.

In the last decade, controversial buildings have been popping up like exhibitions at the Tate Modern.

But last weekend, the Shard, Cheese-grater and Walkie-talkie skyscrapers (as they have been affectionately termed) had competition from the Aviva.

The Aviva, a 98 metre-long, gun-mettle blue super cruiser yacht rolled up the Thames to London's Tower Bridge.

The boat owned by, billionaire Joe Lewis, is more often seen cruising around the Caribbean, but on Sunday it appeared at Butlers Wharf.

The stretch of London's South Bank, Southwark very close to tourist hot spots such as Borough Market and the Shard viewing platform.

So there were plenty of spectators to see the hundred-metre vessel attempt the very tricky manoeuvre of turning around.

The German-built luxury yacht's construction was conducted in highest secrecy, and took at least three years to complete.

What is known is that there's space for 15 of Mr Lewis's friends to sleep onboard. Roughly enough people to hold a small tournament on the ship's onboard tennis court.

The Aviva, moored by Butler's Wharf in London. Photo / Jack Taylor, Getty

Lewis, the 80-year old owner of English football club Tottenham Hotspurs, rarely makes an appearance to support his team. He currently lives in the Bahamas.

Though, according the Sun Newspaper he is originally a Londoner and from humble beginnings "raised in a unit above the Roman Arms pub in East London."

A sightseeing river cruise through the East End must have been a trip down memory lane.