London Walks: Tower Bridge to London Eye
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Our London Walks travel blog post explores the Queens Walk in Southwark. The pedestrianized promenade is lined with trendy pubs, shops, and museums. On the banks of the River Thames, our London free walking tour takes you from the Tower Bridge to the London Eye.
Southwark, where the Queens Walk is located, is one of the oldest London neighborhoods. The district is a mix of ancient and ultramodern. The Southwark Cathedral where Shakespeare once worshipped sits in shadow of The Shard skyscraper. This eclectic neighborhood is packed with London attractions.
In addition to the sites listed above, the walk takes in Borough Market, The Clink Prison Museum, St Paul’s Cathedral, Blackfriars Pub, and Shakespeare’s Globe. The trek includes crossing four iconic bridges (Tower, London, Millennium, and Blackfriars), and spectacular views of the London England skyline.
Seeing the city on foot is one of the best things to do in London. Escape the Westminster crowds, and meander at your own pace on the beautiful Queens Walk.
This is a route Randy and I used during the summer of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. We paired it with a morning visit to the Tower of London for a really wonderful day. Here are some walk details:
Shorter Walk Length: Tower Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral 2.5 miles (4km)
Longer Walk Length: Tower Bridge to London Eye 4 miles (6.4km)
Walk Duration without Stops: Tower Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral 57 mins; Tower Bridge to London Eye 1 hour 29 minutes
Route Note: It would be difficult to get lost along this route, all the stops are a block or so from the River Thames.
WHERE IS SOUTHWARK
Southwark (pronounced SA-thook) lies on the south bank of the River Thames. It is a district of Central London.
LONDON NEIGHBORHOODS: SOUTHWARK
Around 43 AD, the Romans developed Southwark after choosing the spot to be the location of the city’s first bridge. Over the centuries, the region became filled with brothels, pubs, theaters, and other businesses of ill-repute. Today, Southwark’s once seedy streets have been transformed into charming walkways, parks, piers, museums, and malls.
THE QUEENS WALK
The Queens Walk originated as a walking path for Queen Caroline (wife of George II) in the 1700s. Since the 1950s, the walkway has been redeveloped in sections. Today, the path stretches from around the Tower Bridge to the Lambeth Bridge. The route is lined with redeveloped wharves and warehouses, green spaces, and outdoor art displays. Locals and visitors flock to the area to enjoy the amazing city views, markets, heritage sites, shops, buskers, and dining.
To stay in this area, check out these Southwark London hotels:
To enjoy a guided excursion through this area, look at these London tours:
SOUTHWARK AND QUEENS WALK MAP
LONDON WALKS: TOWER BRIDGE TO THE LONDON EYE
Tower Bridge
Begin your London free walking tour at the North Tower of the Tower Bridge. For a fee, you can climb the North Tower and trek to the South Tower on walkways with glass floors. With traffic beneath your feet, enjoy panoramic city views. Then, descend the South Tower and explore the site’s Victorian era engine rooms. Click here to learn more about ways to see the Tower Bridge.
Exit the Tower Bridge and turn left onto the Queens Walk. Trek past Potters Fields Park. Stop on the wide pedestrianized walkway to enjoy views of the City of London skyline.
HMS Belfast
When you come to the Hay’s Shopping Mall, make a stop at the Hay’s Art Galleria. Then, if you enjoy touring old military vessels, climb aboard (for a fee) the HMS Belfast. The armored vessel is a warship from World War II. From the Belfast, look for The Shard skyscraper a few blocks away. Click here to learn more about HMS Belfast tickets and tours.
The Shard
The Shard is a 92 story skyscraper that is currently the tallest building in Western Europe. The glass-sided high rise has restaurants and viewing platforms (for a fee) on its upper floors. We did not visit this attraction. If you would like to, this is the place to veer off route to see it up close. To spend more time at the Shard, consider this Go Up the Shard & London Landmark Walking Tour.
Borough Market
Leaving the HMS Belfast, continue on the Queens Walk until just before the London Bridge. At the St. Olaf Stairs turn left. Then, turn right onto Tooley Street. Continue on to Montague Cl, and look for the Borough Market.
Spend some time walking through the stalls of Borough Market. London’s oldest food market has existed in Southwark for over 800 years. Here, visitors will find fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and artisanal foods. If it’s not time to eat, stock up on snacks for later. Click here for information on a 3 hours Borough Market Morning food tour. To learn more about Borough Market and the surrounding streets, try this Borough Market and Beyond tour.
From Boroughs Market, retrace your steps up Montague Cl. Turn right onto Borough High Street and walk till you see the entrance to Southwark Cathedral.
Southwark Cathedral
Southwark Cathedral is an Anglican church that dates back to the 13th century. William Shakespeare once worshipped here while employed at the nearby Globe Theater. John Harvard (the namesake of Harvard University) was baptized in this church. During the day, if there is no mass in session, visitor can tour the cathedral for free.
London Bridge
From Southwark Cathedral, head back to the Queens Walk. Trek to the middle of the London Bridge. Take in the exceptional panoramas, and then return to the Queens Walk. For more fun on the London Bridge try the London Bridge Ghost Walking Tour.
The Golden Hinde
Next, continue along Queens Walk until reaching a replica of Sir Frances Drake’s ship. “The Golden Hinde” is a period attraction where actors dress in costume to reenact life on a 16th century sailing galleon. On the original ship, Sir Frances Drake became the first Englishman to sail around the world. Take some photos of the colorful warship. Then, explore the shops and restaurants in the Pickford’s Wharf area. We enjoyed stopping for a drink at the Old Thameside Inn.
The Clink Prison Museum
About one block behind the Pickford’s Wharf area is the Clink Prison Museum. We were not able to visit the museum, but have heard it features medieval torture devices, life-size paper mâché exhibits, and story boards with grisly tales.
Back out on the Queens walk, pass the Southwark Bridge. Continue on until you spy Shakespeare’s Globe.
Shakespeare’s Globe
Shakespeare’s Globe is open air theater offering a full calendar of plays each season. The oak & thatch theater is a replica of the original Elizabethan theatre Shakespeare wrote and acted in. Theater buffs may enjoy the Shakespeare’s Globe Story and Tour offered from May to October. For more in-depth history of Shakespeare's old neighborhood, try the Booze, Brothels, & The Bard Walking tour or the Shakespear Walks tour.
Tate Modern
Near Shakespeare’s Globe, locate the Tate Modern museum. The gallery, featuring international contemporary art, is set in a renovated power station. See works by Picasso, Kusama, and Matisse.
Millennium Bridge
Outside of the Tate Modern, take the pedestrian Millennium Bridge across the River Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral. The sleek minimalist bridge was once nicknamed “wiggly bridge” because is shook in the wind (now repaired). After exiting the bridge, it is a straight walk up St. Peter’s Hill to the cathedral.
St Paul’s Cathedral
The Anglican Cathedral of St. Paul’s was built between 604 and 1500. The church holds daily guided tours. Or, visitors can tour on their own (for a fee) and see the gilded dome murals, sculptures, and paintings in the main nave. Also, included in the admission fee is viewing the crypt, and climbing 528 steps to three stone galleries with look-outs. Click here for information on Admission Tickets and/or a St Pauls Cathedral & Westminster Walking Tour.
The shorter version of our London free walking tour ends here (2.5 miles). To complete the longer version of the tour, trek from St. Paul’s Cathedral 7 minutes to Blackfriar’s Pub (St. Paul’s Churchyard, Right on Dean’s Ct., Right onto Carter Ln, Left onto St. Andrew’s Hill, Right onto Queen Victoria St.).
Blackfriars Pub
Built in the 1870’s as a medieval friary, Blackfriar’s Pub features a mosaic and marble interior. Stop here for a drink. Then, continue on to Blackfriar’s Bridge (follow Queen Victoria Street to Blackfriar Road and the river).
Blackfriars Bridge
Cross the historic 18th-century Blackfriar’s Bridge and admire its iron arches and stone carvings. As you exit the bridge, turn back onto the Queens Walk. Follow the promenade past the Bernie Spain Gardens, the National Theater, and Gabriel Wharf (full of shops, restaurants, pubs, and art galleries). The Queens Walk will lead to the London Eye ticket office.
London Eye Ferris
The London Eye, aka the Millennium Wheel, is Ferris wheel (cantilevered observation wheel) on the River Thames. You can purchase tickets for the attraction onsite or book ahead for a fast track ticket. It is one of the most popular London attractions so consider booking ahead. The ride offers panoramic city views and takes about 30 minutes to complete.
Hope you enjoy this spectacular London free walking tour, Laura and Randy
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