A seal delighted onlookers after being spotted having a lie-down on a beach opposite Canary Wharf in central London.

The semiaquatic mammals are often seen swimming in the River Thames but rarely make an appearance on land.

But over the weekend, the seal stunned Nick Nomi, 41, who spotted one having a rest on the sand of Rotherhithe Beach.

He said the seal, believed to be a harbour seal, seemed more than happy to pose for photos as tourists stopped to take a look.

@nicknomi Norbert the Seal lounging around Canary Wharf this weekend. #seal #london #londonlife #londonwildlife #londontown #wildlife #cityscape #city #cityseals #norbert ♬ Kiss from a Rose - Seal

Seal spotted on banks of the River Thames

Nick, a writer from Rotherhithe, South London, said he did call a marine agency first, as he feared the seal had been injured.

But it got back into the water before the experts could arrive - causing them to believe the seal was "just having a rest".

Both grey seals and harbour seals are known to be spotted in the Thames, but it’s a rare occurrence for them to come ashore.

The seal seemed to enjoy posing for pictures.The seal seemed to enjoy posing for pictures. (Image: SWNS)

Nick said: "I've seen lots of seals in the Thames but only in the water.

"I didn't get too close when I took pictures, but he didn't seem too bothered at all.

"He was just having a lazy day I think."

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The calm seal is not the first of its kind to be seen around the Thames, with reports from the  Zoological Society of London (ZSL) and London Wildlife Trust sharing that both Harbour and Grey seals have been spotted around London.

Back in 2006, London was amazed when a Northern Bottlenose Whale was spotted in the Thames near Battersea when the animal became beached.

Whilst attempts were made to rescue the whale it sadly did not survive and is now in the National Research Collection at the Natural History Museum.

The Thames has seen at least five species of sharks in recorded times, with the most common being the Tope and Starry Smoothhound sharks. 

ZSL believes that the Greater Thames Estuary is somewhat used as a nursing ground for the sharks.