SOUTH BANK WALK

SOUTH BANK WALK

South bank Walk takes you over Westminster Bridge (A bridge at Westminster was proposed in 1664 as the nearest bridge to London Bridge), along the south bank of the River Thames on a pedestrian walkway past the London-Eye and South Bank Arts Centre towards Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe, to Tower bridge and London tower. If you take a ferry from Westminster Pier you will be able to see these attractions, but it is a different experience. You can either take one one-way ferry to Tower Bridge or return a ticket to Westminster Pier.

Nearest tube station: Westminster tube station

(However, I took WATERLOO TUBESTATION because the kids wanted to use the toilet and have some breakfast from Mc Donald’s and buy some nibbles as the walk can take more than an hour- These facilities are available in Waterloo tube station)

There is a children’s play area near the London Eye and if you are lucky, you will be able to feed pigeons near the play area as there are a group of pigeons present sometimes.

Things to see: 

1. BIG BEN, WESTMINISTER PARLIAMENT BUILDING, WESTMINSTER ABBEY (CHURCH): Cross the Westminster bridge, then you will be able to get a close look at Big Ben and Westminster Abbey.

2. County Hall, London: The building, which was designed in the Edwardian baroque style and faced in Portland stone, was opened in 1922 by King George V. County Hall was ‘sold off’ in the 1990s due to political conflicts between the National and London governments. The main part of the building is now a major entertainment centre with top tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, and private apartments.

3. Aquarium In London – Sea Life, London Scary Attractions – The Dungeons, A Unique Shrek Experience | Shrek’s Adventure! London (https://www.shreksadventure.com/ ) are some paid attractions near LONDON EYE. You can take multiple attraction tickets which is cheaper than taking individual attraction tickets.

4. London Eye: The London Eye, which opened in March 2000, was a truly European project with; the steel structure from the Netherlands, cables and glass from Italy, bearings from Germany, spindles and hubs from the Czech Republic, Pods from France and electronics from Britain.

5. LONDON EYE: Originally built as a temporary structure, like the Eiffel Tower in Paris, it became so popular it was made a permanent landmark on the London skyline.

6. Southbank Centre: The Southbank Centre is one of the world’s most famous art venues and at the centre of London’s cultural life. The 5 iconic venues which make up the UK’s largest arts centre are host to classical, pop, jazz, and modern music, poetry, literature, and the visual arts. With multiple eating and drinking facilities, riverside views and 100’s of free events each year the Southbank Centre is one of London’s top visitor attractions and a popular meeting place.

7. Royal National Theatre: The National Theatre company was formed in 1963 by Laurence Olivier and was originally based at the Old Vic in London’s Waterloo. The National gained Royal status in 1988 and is one of Britain’s leading publicly funded performance venues along with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal Opera House.

8. OXO Tower and Gabriel’s Wharf: The OXO Tower and Gabriel’s Wharf on The Queen’s Walk are two repurposed Southbank sites next to the river Thames which have been saved from modern developments. The area around the tower and Coin Street contains eclectic businesses, design studios, historical landmarks, shops, restaurants, and cafes. OXO Tower was originally constructed as a power station for the Royal Mail in the late 19th century the OXO building was purchased for cold storage by the Liebig Extract of Meat Company, famous for its OXO (oxen) beef cube. Barge House Street behind the OXO Tower and the wharf dates back to the 16th Century when King James I used the site to store the Royal barge. The King regularly travelled on the river Thames between the Royal Palaces of Windsor, Westminster, and Hampton Court. Walk into Gabriel’s Pier for a paralimbic view of London.

9. Tate Modern: Tate Modern is Britain’s National Gallery of international modern and contemporary art, works from the beginning of the 20th century. Housed in what had been an enormous disused Power Station it opened to the public in the year 2000 and has become one of the most visited and most famous Art Galleries in the world.

10. Shakespeare’s Globe: The Globe Theatre, which opened in 1599, was an Elizabethan playhouse and home to an acting company called The Chamberlain’s Men. William Shakespeare was one of its members and some of his best-known works were written for the Globe Theatre.
11. London Millennium Footbridge: The London Millennium Footbridge is a 325m long suspension bridge which crosses the River Thames at Bankside on the Queen’s Walk. Opened on June 10th, 2000, the bridge links Tate Modern on the Southbank with the City of London and St Paul’s Cathedral on the north bank. It had been over 100 years, since the construction of Tower Bridge, that central London had been provide with a new walkway across the River Thames, a unique design which offers spectacular views of London like The shard, sky garden and St. Pauls cathedral.

12. Southwark Cathedral is an Anglican Cathedral on the south bank of the River Thames. It has been a place of Christian worship for more than 1,000 years, but a cathedral only since the creation of the Diocese of Southwark in 1905. (ENTRANCE IS FREE. IF YOU NEED A BREAK, THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR COFFEE AND A TOILET BREAK.)

13. The Golden Hinde (Replica of a ship The Golden Hinde is a life-sized replica of Sir Francis Drake’s flagship, the Golden Hinde, on which Drake circumnavigated the globe in a voyage beginning in 1577. The ship is docked at St Mary Overie Dock, Bankside, a short walk from both Southwark Cathedral. This is not just a museum, but an actual working ship. It was built in 1973 in Devon, and since that date has sailed over 100,000 miles, including a recreation of Drake’s global circumnavigation voyage.
14. Tower Bridge is a Grade I listed combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, built between 1886 and 1894. When first built, Tower Bridge was the most sophisticated bascule bridge ever completed. The bascules were operated by hydraulics, using steam to power the enormous pumping engines. Today, the bascules are still operated by hydraulic power but are driven by oil and electricity rather than steam.
15. Tower of London: As protector of the Crown Jewels, home of the Yeomen Warders and its legendary guardians, the pampered ravens (A BLACKBIRD), the Tower now attracts over three million visitors a year. Here, the Ceremony of the Keys and other traditions live on, as do the ghost stories and terrible tales of torture and execution.
16. Borough Market: London’s premier food market is very close by. Don’t eat before you go! Borough has a world-class reputation, and it certainly lives up to it. So much amazing food to eat right there at the market, and plenty to take home too. You’ll want to take photos; everything is so beautifully displayed.