“I’ve been loving you a long time” - London recommendations

“I’ve been loving you a long time” London recommendations

For as long as I can remember I have loved London but the Southbank will always be my favourite place. The walk along the river from the London Eye to Tower Bridge will always be a place I can relax. It gives an amazing view of iconic London landmarks.

London Eye

If you begin at the bottom of the London eye, you have a view of Westminster Bridge and the Houses of Parliament (fun fact - Westminster Bridge is green to match the seats of the House of Commons and the next bridge along to the west, Lambeth Bridge, is red to match the seats of the House of Lords).

Waterloo Bridge Book Market

Following the river, going under Hungerford Bridge, you will reach the book market under Waterloo Bridge. It is a great place to second hand books, and, occasionally, a small selection of prints.

The National Theatre

Only steps away from the book market is the National Theatre. It is possibly one of the most famous theatres in Britain, hosting a wide range of performances every year that are usually very good. My recent favourite was Nye, a play about Aneurin Bevan and the creation of the NHS. Inside the building, along with theatres, there are also a range of cafes and bars that provide great views of the city.

The OXO Tower

As you walk on from the National Theatre towards the OXO Tower you will pass Gabriel’s Wharf where there is a space with benches that overlooks a small beach (at low tide otherwise it overlooks the river). From here you will have an amazing view of Blackfriars Bridge with the background of the London skyline. When you reach the OXO Tower you will be able to browse the shops that sell anything from doughnuts (I would highly recommend) to jewellery.

The Tate Modern

Passing under Blackfriars Bridge you will quickly reach the Tate Modern, a museum that houses a vast range of exhibitions and areas to get views of the London skyline.

Millennium Bridge

In front of Tate Modern you will see the London Millennium Footbridge. Though this may be its official name I think most Londoners would agree with me that it is very well known as the wobbly bridge. I believed this was its actual name for a long time. The name wobbly bridge originates from the fact that when it first opened it wobbled. It was closed on opening day, and after a few days of limited access, it was closed for 2 years while £5 million worth of changes were made. It no longer wobbles but the name has stuck.

Shakespeare’s Globe

Only metres away from Millennium Bridge is Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre. A fantastic place to see a wide range of Shakespeare’s plays in a variety of adaptations. Standing tickets are reasonably priced at between £5-£10 and provide a great view. I would highly recommend the gift shop for a great selection of fun Shakespeare souvenirs (Macbeth is my favourite so I always keep an eye out for Macbeth themed items).

Winchester  Palace

As you continue, going under Southwark Bridge and the rail bridge, you will pass the clink museum and you will see Winchester Palace. It is only the ruins of what was once a large 12th Century bishop’s palace. It is one of my favourite places on this walk. I enjoy reading the history displays and seeing what grows in the flower beds that have been created in the bottom of the ruins. It is such a peaceful place in the middle of such a busy city.

Tower Bridge

Going around the Golden Hinde, under London Bridge and through Hays Galleria you will come out on the path to Tower Bridge. The view gets better and more impressive the closer you get. It is the perfect place to take photos.

 

 

 

My favourite time to do this walk is early in the morning on the weekends so I can watch the sunrise over the city while the streets are mostly empty, a rare sight in such a busy city. 

I hope you will enjoy this walk as much as I do.

Comment if you know what song the quote in the title is from.