The South Bank of the Thames is London's finest riverside promenade, a continuous walkway that strings together theaters, galleries, markets and unbeatable views of the skyline across the water. If you want a walking tour in the United Kingdom that keeps the river always at your side, this London self guided walking tour follows the south bank downstream, from the giant observation wheel opposite Parliament past a great modern art gallery and a reconstructed Elizabethan theater to a bustling food market and the iconic bascule bridge. It is a flat, lively, view-filled walk through the cultural heart of the modern city, with the north bank's spires and towers on show the whole way.

Before you set off, a few practical notes. This walk covers about five kilometers and takes around two hours at an easy pace, entirely flat along paved riverside paths. Wear comfortable shoes and bring a layer, as the wind off the river can be brisk even on a mild day. Late afternoon into early evening is a wonderful time to walk it, as the lights come on across the water and the riverside bars and food stalls fill up. If you are following along by audio, keep your eyes up on the river and the skyline, watch for cyclists and the dense crowds on busy stretches, and pause whenever a view, a gallery or a market stall invites you to slow down.

Westminster Bridge

You begin on Westminster Bridge, the broad green-painted bridge that crosses the river beside Parliament, offering the single most famous view in London before you even reach the south bank. Pause in the middle and look across to the great Gothic palace and the clock tower of Big Ben rising directly beside you, close enough to hear the chimes, with the abbey's towers just beyond. Downstream, the river curves away past a forest of cranes and towers. Poets have stood on this very spot and marveled at the city spread silent in the early light. The bridge is always busy with travelers snapping the classic photograph. Take in the unbeatable view of Parliament and the river. Then cross to the south bank, where a giant wheel turns slowly against the sky, and step onto the riverside walkway beneath it to begin your journey downstream.

London Eye

The London Eye is the great observation wheel that has become a symbol of the modern city, a vast ring of steel turning slowly on the south bank, its glass capsules lifting visitors high above the river for a panorama across the whole capital. Stand beneath it and look up, following the slow rotation of the wheel and the enclosed pods gliding up and over, and appreciate its sheer scale, one of the tallest of its kind in the world. Even from the ground it is a spectacle, framed against the sky with Parliament directly across the water. The riverside around its base buzzes with street performers, ticket queues and crowds gazing upward. There is a festive, holiday energy here. Take in the wheel and the views across to Parliament. Then continue along the riverside walkway downstream, where a cluster of grand concrete cultural buildings marks the beating heart of the South Bank's arts scene.

Southbank Centre

The Southbank Centre is the cultural powerhouse of the river, a cluster of concert halls, galleries and theaters in bold mid-century concrete, fronted by a lively riverside terrace that is one of the great gathering places of London. As you walk through, the area hums with life, skateboarders carving through a famous graffiti-covered undercroft, book stalls set out beneath a bridge, buskers playing, and crowds spilling from the concert halls and food stalls. The architecture is uncompromisingly modern, all raw concrete and sharp angles, softened by the constant human activity around it. There is a democratic, creative energy here, art for everyone right on the river. Wander through the terraces and past the book stalls and skaters. Then keep following the river downstream, past cafes and bars, toward a small cluster of colorful low buildings and craft studios set back from the walkway.