The South Bank Cultural Mile

Tate Modern to Tower Bridge along the Thames

4 km (2.5 miles) 3-4 hours Easy

Start

Southwark Station

End

Tower Hill Station

Best Time

Late morning (markets and galleries open by 10:00)

Stops

5 locations

The South Bank is where London comes alive. This riverside walk connects the city's greatest free gallery, Shakespeare's reconstructed theatre, London's most famous food market, and its most photographed bridge — all linked by a continuous Thames-side promenade with views of St Paul's Cathedral and the City skyline. Every 100 metres brings something new: street performers, book stalls, pop-up food vendors, and some of the best views in the city.

Route Map

The Route — 5 Stops

1Stop 1 of 5

Tate Modern

Begin at the former Bankside Power Station, now one of the world's most visited modern art galleries — and it's completely free. The Turbine Hall hosts colossal installations that change annually. Permanent collections include Warhol, Picasso, Rothko, and Hockney. The 10th floor viewing gallery offers sweeping panoramas of the Thames and St Paul's Cathedral.

Insider Tip

The viewing gallery on Level 10 of the Blavatnik Building is free and less crowded than the paid viewing platforms across the river. Go at sunset.

2Stop 2 of 5

Millennium Bridge & Shakespeare's Globe

Step onto the Millennium Bridge — the sleek pedestrian bridge that famously wobbled when it opened in 2000 (now fixed). It frames a perfect view of St Paul's Cathedral. Back on the South Bank, you'll pass Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, a faithful recreation of the 1599 original. In summer, you can watch open-air performances exactly as Elizabethan audiences did.

Insider Tip

Standing tickets (called "groundling" tickets) at the Globe cost just £5 and are the most authentic way to experience Shakespeare — but you'll stand for 3 hours.

3Stop 3 of 5

Borough Market

London's oldest food market has been trading since 1014 — over a thousand years. Today it's a gourmet paradise under Victorian iron-and-glass arches. Sample artisan cheeses, fresh oysters, Ethiopian injera, Neapolitan pizza, Turkish gozleme, and some of the best sourdough bread in Britain. This isn't a tourist trap — London chefs shop here.

Insider Tip

Come hungry. The best stalls for a quick lunch: Kappacasein (raclette), Bread Ahead (doughnuts), and Padella (fresh pasta — the queue moves fast).

4Stop 4 of 5

HMS Belfast & The Shard

Continue along the riverside past the towering Shard (Western Europe's tallest building at 310m) and HMS Belfast, a WWII cruiser permanently moored in the Thames. You can board the ship and explore nine decks of naval history, from the bridge to the boiler rooms. The Shard's viewing gallery on floors 69-72 offers London's highest panorama.

Insider Tip

Skip the Shard's paid viewing gallery (£28+). Instead, ride the free lift to the Aqua Shard restaurant on the 31st floor — you can order just a drink and enjoy similar views.

5Stop 5 of 5

Tower Bridge

The walk's grand finale is Tower Bridge, London's most recognisable landmark. Built in 1894, its twin Gothic towers house an exhibition explaining the Victorian engineering that lifts the bridge for tall ships (it still opens around 800 times a year). The glass floor walkway on the upper level lets you look straight down at the Thames 42 metres below.

Insider Tip

Check the Tower Bridge lift times online before you visit. Watching the bridge open from the South Bank walkway is free and spectacular.

Premium PDF Guide

Get the Complete The South Bank Cultural Mile Guide

Our complete South Bank PDF guide includes a Borough Market food map with our top 15 stalls ranked, free gallery highlights route, best photography spots at golden hour, and a secret Thames-side pub trail with 6 historic riverside pubs most tourists never find.

Offline map — no internet needed
Best photography positions marked
Restaurant & café recommendations

Download PDF Guide

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