Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
London Walks: River Stroll
Start: Parliament Square (Tube: Westminster)
​
Finish: Tower Of London (Tube: Tower Hill DLR: Tower Gateway)
​
Distance: 3¾ miles (6km) - an extra 1 mile (1.5km) if St Paul’s detour included
(Admission prices quoted are correct as of November 2017 and are standard, adult, on the day prices, cheaper prices may be available if booked online and / or in advance)
If coming from Westminster underground station take the Whitehall West exit, otherwise start on the west corner of Whitehall and Parliament Square.
Standing with Parliament Square ahead of you the Houses of Parliament should be across the road on your left and Westminster Abbey should be ahead to the right.
Walk down Great George Street (away from Parliament) after a couple of hundred yards there is a pedestrian crossing. Cross both roads and walk down the side of Parliament Square approaching Westminster Abbey.
​
Cross the road again and you will be in the grounds of Westminster Abbey. Access to the Gardens, cloisters and adjacent St Margaret’s is free but admission into the Abbey is £23.
​
Once finished at the Abbey head towards the Houses of Parliament.
The building immediately in front is Westminster Hall, the oldest part of the Palace Of Westminster. Turn left and take in the close up views of Parliament.
​
Turn right into Bridge Street and head towards Westminster Bridge.
Cross the road at the pedestrian crossing before the bridge. Crossing the bridge you will have views of the London Eye to your left and Parliament to your right.
Watch out for illegal traders and ‘find the lady’ scammers as you cross the bridge.
Once across the bridge go down the steps to your left which will take you down to the South Bank.
The first building you will pass is the Old County Hall building which is now home to the London Aquarium (from £40), The London Dungeon (from £30) and the London Eye ticket office.
Immediately after County Hall is the London Eye (£30), the largest Ferris Wheel in Europe.
The walk takes you past Jubilee Gardens on the right, this area is often frequented by street entertainers always good entertainment.
Next up will be the Festival Halls, ugly grey buildings, but one of the major arts centres in the country. If you are a lover of second hand books there is a second hand book market outside – a delight for bookworms.
Moving on is an area used for temporary exhibitions. Around Christmas time there is a Christmas Market in the area. In the summer of 2011 there was a temporary sandy beach with beach huts, each having a different artistic theme.
With so many distractions it can take a while to pass through this stretch.
Just after the Halls and to the right is Gabriel’s Wharf an area of eateries, some with outside eating and catering for most tastes and budgets.
You will soon come to the OXO Tower which has a bar / brasserie / restaurant on the top floor offering excellent views across the Thames and City – be warned it isn’t cheap though.
With your ice cream in hand continue along the Thames, passing under Blackfriars Bridge where, shortly afterwards you will arrive at the Tate Modern. What used to be the Bankside Power Station has been converted into a gallery of modern art and apart from special exhibitions admission is free.
At this point you have the option to pop across the river to see St Paul’s Cathedral. The Millennium Footbridge, also known as the wobbly bridge because it used to - erm wobble when first built. Have no fears now it is very sturdy.
​
You can see St Paul’s ahead of you as you cross the bridge. (By the way this is a useful stop point if you have had enough – just cross the bridge, turn right at the other end and you will find Mansion House tube station).
Like Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s charges admission (£20)
​
Once you have had a look at St Paul’s make your way back across the river to the Tate Modern.
​
Carrying on after the Tate you will quickly come across Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre or to be totally accurate a modern reconstruction of it. The theatre can be toured but, of course, it comes at a cost in this case (£17)
Resume the walk, pass under Southwark Bridge and you will soon reach one of the famous Thames side pubs The Anchor, from where the diarist Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire Of London.
Under the railway bridge and you will enter Clink Street home if the infamous Clink Prison, the oldest in England. There is now a museum (£8) on the site.
Carry on down Clink Street and you will be faced with a full size replica of Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hinde. When you actually see the size of the vessel it fills you with awe they managed to sail it round the world. It is open to the public, cost £5
As you come round the basin housing the Golden Hinde you will see Southwark Cathedral ahead of you – now this one is free to visit and walk around, assuming there are no services going on of course.
There is a London Bridge Experience centre but at £27.95 a head it is not cheap.
Once under the bridge you have a choice, either bear left and continue along the river bank or veer right and make a detour down Tooley Street, home of a couple of popular tourist attractions.
Carry on down Tooley Street and on your left you will see the Galleria shopping centre.
Inside the Galleria is a fascinating Heath Robinson type sailing ship.
As you emerge from the Galleria you will see, in front of you, HMS Belfast a former Royal Navy cruiser, again open to the public if, as they say, it floats your boat (£19)
If you decide to take the river path instead look across the river just after you pass London Bridge and you will see a white tower with a golden top. This is The Monument and it marks the spot where the Great Fire of London started in 1666.
Turn to your right and ahead of you will be one of London’s iconic sights Tower Bridge.
Before you reach the bridge you will see some modern buildings. One of which houses the Visit London Tourist Centre and the glass covered round building is the headquarters of the Greater London Authority.
Once you reach Tower Bridge go up the steps and stroll across the bridge.
Crossing the bridge you will have some great views of London. Contrast the Tower of London with the Gherkin, a perfect reflection of the old and the new.
The walk ends at the Tower Of London.
