If you've played the game before and just want to skip some of this level, there are several useful shortcuts and bug exploits. As always, I recommend saving in a new slot before trying anything tricky. Then if it doesn't work, you can reload your earlier save and continue from where you left off.

If you're up to the nimble-fingered techniques used by speedrunners, try the über-shortcut from the level start over the crane shown in these speedruns by MMAN, xRikux89, Apel, and AtlasRaider. I don't know who was the first player to discover this path. It may have been Laurent Calonne, who reported it to tombraiders.com back in 1998-99.

If you want to skip most of the level, but can't manage the tricky jumps shown in the videos, here's an alternative. Note that you can also get the first three secrets, as described in the main walkthrough, use this shortcut, then pick up secrets 4 and 5 before proceeding to the level exit.

From the starting point, turn around and head for the end of the ledge near the perpendicular catwalk. Drop down onto the small metal ledge below.

Take a running jump across the alley onto the rooftop above where the zip line is anchored.

Move to the right end of this roof and carefully drop down onto the little roof below, where you'll find a small medi pack.

Grab the horizontal crevice in the wall and traverse to the right...

...until you can pull up onto a flat ledge. (The angled roof below is safe, but there's no need to drop down.)

Climb up two block steps then turn right...

...and follow the passageway.

Where the metal part of the walkway ends, there's a slightly lower section of wall on the right.

Grab the edge and traverse to the left as far as you can. Then pull up and...

...before Lara even begins to slide down the other side, press Jump + Left to land on the roof next to the slope.

Cross the roof to the left, drop down onto the roof below. Then take a running jump onto the tan walkway running around the base of the bell tower. Go to the left and jump down at the gap in the railing to end the level.

Several players appear to have discovered this shortcut independently. Thanks to Dempsey R. for reminding me about it and to tombraidergirl.com, which has one of the earliest references to it I'm aware of.

[Shortcuts Part 2 | Return to the Thames Wharf Walkthrough]