--- title: Narwhal spotted at Lambeth Bridge description: We always knew Google Maps was good! Google Maps did prove its accuracy; when we looked out of the window from the 27th floor down towards Lambeth Bridge there was indeed a visitor! […] url: https://canonical.com/blog/01-narwhal-at-lambeth-bridge --- 1. [Blog](https://canonical.com/blog) 2. Article --- [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical "More about Canonical") 1 April 2011 # Narwhal spotted at Lambeth Bridge [Design](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/design) [inspiration](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/inspiration-2) [Natty Narwhal](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/natty-narwhal) [Ubuntu](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/ubuntu) [Ubuntu Desktop](https://canonical.com/blog/tag/ubuntu-desktop) --- Share the article We always knew [Google Maps was good!](http://maps.google.com/maps?q=51.493,-0.124&z=17) Canonical and Ubuntu are a global organisation and there’s always *somebody* awake *somewhere*. Today that somebody was Jono Bacon, staying up late on the west coast of the United States. Before anyone in the UK was even awake [there was a tweet](http://twitter.com/jonobacon/status/53699993583886336) saying that the Google satellites had spotted the early arrival of a yellow Narwhal in the [River Thames](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_Thames) just outside the London [Millbank Tower](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millbank_Tower) Canonical offices. Google Maps did indeed prove its accuracy; when we looked out of the window from the 27th floor down towards [Lambeth Bridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lambeth_Bridge) there was a visitor: Narwhal visiting Lambeth Bridge, seen from the Canonical Offices. In Ubuntu we like to publicly test everything, yesterday the hundreds of people working on Ubuntu released [Ubuntu 11.04 Beta 1](http://www.ubuntu.com/testing/natty/beta). Canonical’s head of PR has informed us that just like the release, the Narwhal visit has been carefully orchestrated as part of the press activities for the final Ubuntu 11.04 release later in April. This 1st visit is a “beta” run to recheck whale head-room clearances under the bridges at low-tide. ## Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest Canonical news and updates in your inbox. Work email: \*I agree to receive information about Canonical's products and services. In submitting this form, I confirm that I have read and agree to [Canonical's Privacy Notice](https://canonical.com/legal/data-privacy/contact) and [Privacy Policy](https://canonical.com/legal/data-privacy). Sign up ## Share on --- ## Related posts [### Ubuntu coming soon to Snapdragon X2 Series platforms, unlocking more Linux PCs for the agentic world](https://canonical.com/blog/ubuntu-coming-soon-to-qualcomm-snapdragon-x2-series-platforms) Canonical and Qualcomm Technologies announce upcoming native Ubuntu support for Qualcomm’s flagship laptop silicon, delivering multi-day battery life, 80 TOPS NPU acceleration,... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 23 September 2026 [### Arduino® VENTUNO™ Q is available for pre-order with Ubuntu pre-installed](https://canonical.com/blog/arduino-ventuno-q-is-available-for-pre-order-with-ubuntu-pre-installed) London, UK – August 25, 2026 – Following our initial collaboration announcement in March 2026, Canonical and Arduino (a subsidiary of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.) are excited... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 25 August 2026 [### What designers should know about semiotics](https://canonical.com/blog/what-designers-should-know-about-semiotics) What happens when you look at an apple? When you see it, you perceive the apple and assign meaning to it based on your language, experience, and personal preferences – such as... [Sophie Carroll](https://canonical.com/blog/author/sophiecarroll) 15 October 2026 [### Canonical releases Ubuntu 26.10 Stonking Stingray](https://canonical.com/blog/canonical-releases-ubuntu-26-10-stonking-stingray) The latest interim release of Ubuntu previews privacy conscious speech-to-text, enables post-quantum package signing, completes the rollout of Rust coreutils, and improves... [Canonical](https://canonical.com/blog/author/canonical) 15 October 2026