The South Bank Walk: The Best Free Afternoon in London
- Free cancellation up to 1 hour ahead
- Skip the ticket line
- Wheelchair accessible
The single best free thing to do in London. Every major South Bank landmark in one flat, traffic-free walk, with the river on one side the entire way. Costs nothing beyond whatever you choose to eat or enter along the route. Every one of our itineraries builds around a version of this walk for a reason.
Highlights
- Walk 4km of London's best riverside views, entirely traffic-free
- Pass the London Eye, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe and Borough Market in one route
- Finish at Tower Bridge, with the Tower of London directly across the river
- Costs nothing beyond whatever you eat or choose to enter along the way
The route, stop by stop
Starting at Westminster Bridge, cross to the South Bank and head east. Within ten minutes you'll pass the London Eye and the Southbank Centre — London's largest arts centre, with free foyer events most days. Continue past the BFI (British Film Institute) and under Waterloo Bridge to the National Theatre, whose riverside terraces are worth a short detour.
Past the Oxo Tower (good independent shops and a viewing gallery), the walk continues to Tate Modern — the free permanent collection is a natural stop, and the Millennium Bridge here gives you a direct view across to St Paul's. Continue past Shakespeare's Globe to Borough Market, the natural lunch stop roughly two-thirds of the way along.
From Borough Market, the walk continues past Southwark Cathedral and HMS Belfast to Tower Bridge, with the Tower of London directly across the river — a natural point to cross and continue into the City, or turn back.
How long to allow
Walked straight through, the full route takes about 50 minutes. Realistically, allow 2–4 hours if you're stopping at the Eye, going into Tate Modern, and having lunch at Borough Market — which is how most visitors actually do it, and how every itinerary on this site builds the walk in.
See it from the river instead
If your legs need a break, or you just want a different angle on the same landmarks, a hop-on hop-off river cruise covers much of the same route from the water, with stops at Westminster, the London Eye, and Tower piers.
South Bank Walk: Frequently Asked Questions
Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge is around 4km (2.5 miles) along the river. Walked straight through without stopping, it takes about 50 minutes. Most visitors take 2–4 hours once you factor in the London Eye, Tate Modern, Borough Market and other stops along the way.
In order from Westminster: the London Eye, the Southbank Centre, the BFI, the National Theatre, the Oxo Tower, Tate Modern, Shakespeare's Globe, Borough Market, and Southwark Cathedral, finishing at Tower Bridge via HMS Belfast and City Hall.
The walk itself costs nothing, and several of the best stops along it — Tate Modern's permanent collection, the National Theatre foyers, the Southbank Centre — are free too. You'll only spend money on food, drinks, or any paid attractions you choose to enter along the way.
Starting at Westminster Bridge and heading east toward Tower Bridge is the more common direction and works well with the morning light. It also builds naturally toward lunch at Borough Market roughly two-thirds of the way along.
Yes — it's flat, traffic-free, and has enough variety (street performers, the London Eye, SEA LIFE, food at Borough Market) to keep most children engaged. Budget more time than the adult estimate; children will want to stop more often.