Trenvy Travel

Travel Like You Live There

So, you’re in London and looking for something free to do. Turns out, there’s plenty of ways to see London without spending any money. The South Bank Walk along the River Thames, taking in the London Eye, Tower Bridge, and plenty of cafes and street performers, is a great way to see London and its historic offerings for free – all while on a budget! It’s a unique way to get a feel for London and tour as if you live there. Here is your step-by-step guide to the free South Bank Walk, London.

1. The Itinerary
2. Tower Hill Tube Station
3. Tower Bride and the Tower of London
4. Tower Bridge
5. Thames views and HMS Belfast
6. A foodie detour to Borough Market
7. Oldest Cathedral, Ships, Palace ruins, Prison, and Shakespeare
8. The Globe Theatre
9. Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge
10. The bookshop under the bridge
11. Street performers galore
12. London Eye
13. The final stop: Westminster
14. How did you get on?

The Itinerary

• Starting point: Tower Hill Underground Station (North Side)
• Ending point: Westminster (great views of The Palace of Westminster and Big Ben!)
• Distance: 4-5km
• Time: 1.5-3 hours – but we think you should take it slow and take it all in!
• Best time: Afternoon-evening – try and catch the sunset!
• Cost: absolutely free!

Tower Hill Tube Station

Start your walk on the North side of the Thames. Trust us, it’s for a good reason.

Use Tower Hill Underground Tube Station as your starting point. From here, you will see the historic Tower of London, along with the city skyline of London, including The Shard. It makes for great photo opportunitites!

When you exit Tower Hill and look out at the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, you will find to your left an old wall. It looks rather ordinary and is often overlooked by tourists.

This wall is the original Roman wall, when London was Londinium, and was the original boundary of the city of London. The wall was built circa AD 200.

London was originally protected by a fort, which later became part of the wall that still stands today.

It fell into disrepair around 410, when Roman rule in Britain fell. It wasn’t until after 886 that the wall began restoration, with repairs continuing throughout the medieval period.

In the 18th century, large parts of the wall were demolished to make traffic flow easier.

Seeing this wall as your starting point is a great reminder of how historic London truly is, and it’s something to keep in mind as you walk away from Tower Hill Tube Station, and walk under the tunnel in the direction of Tower Bridge.

Tower Bride and the Tower of London

When you cross under the road, you will have the Tower of London directly in front of you.

It’s an imposing site. It was first and foremost a fortress, a Royal palace, and a prison.

Instead of walking right, and in direction of the entrance to the tower, you will take a left, walking towards Tower Bridge.

As you walk, know that you’re passing a palace with almost a thousand year history, built by William the Conqueror in the 1070s.

It took him around 20 years to build his fortress, nervous of a rebellion after his coronation. It dominated the skyline, and nothing had ever been seen like it before in London.

Other expansions took place over the years.

You’ll witness its exterior for free by walking alongside it, but should you want to go inside, you’ll learn of the Princes in the Tower, along with the execution of Anne Boleyn and Katherine Howard.

I have been inside before, and it truly is worth it. I’m a sucker for Tudor history, so to walk in the footsteps of Anne Boleyn felt special.

The famous White Tower in the middle of the fortress became known as such when Henry III had it painted white in 1240.

Until 1810, money was made in the Tower of London in the Tower Mint.

People might be surprised to know that this is still a working palace to an extent. Beefeaters and their families live within the walls, with soldiers still protecting the Crown Jewels inside – which you can see, should you go in!

These beefeaters are known as the Yeoman Warders, originally intended to be the personal bodyguard of the monarch. It is because of Henry VIII that the Yeoman Warders still guard the tower, after he decreed that there should always be Yeoman Warders in place permanently.

It’s a building with a lot of history, ghost stories, legend, folktales and character so when you do have a chance, do visit.

Optional cost:

• Adult (18-64) £37, or £40.70 with donation
• Child (5-15) £18.50, or £20.40 with donation
• Child (0-4) go free
• Senior (65+), £29.50, or £32.50 with donation
• Young Person (16-17 Years), ID may be required. £18.50, or £20.40 with donation
• Full time student 18+ – Students need to show a valid student identification card. £29.50, or £32.50 with donation
• Disabled Concession, £29.50 or £32.50 with donation
• Groups of 15 or more £34.10

Always check the website for up-to-date ticket prices.

Tower Bridge

To get over to the South Bank, where the true South Bank London walk begins, you have to cross Tower Bridge.

That’s why we asked you to start at Tower Hill. By crossing Tower Bridge, you’re getting one of the best views of the Thames absolutely free!

Tower Bridge is a suspension bridge completed in 1894. The bridge was opened by Edward, Prince of Wales and Alexandra, Princess of Wales in 1894. It’s often mistake as London Bridge.

I love looking out at London as I cross Tower Bridge. It’s a great place to stop and get photos of yourself with the Thames and the city skyline behind you.

If you want, you can book to go inside the towers, crossing over a glass walkway and looking down at the traffic below.

Optional cost:

• Adult tickets start at £18
• Student starts at £13.50
• Child starts at £9
• Senior starts at £13.50

Booking in advance is highly recommended. Always check up-to-date ticket prices on the website.

Once you’re over Tower Bridge and onto the other side, take the stairs down to the South Bank.

Here, you have the option of turning to Shad Thames, a picturesque riverside street that has plenty of places to grab a bite to eat and a coffee. For the two of us, it cost around £20.

We stopped at Blue Duck, where we got a halloumi bagel and a latte. Truly delicious and the perfect bite to eat before we continued on our walk.

Quick tip: if you can hold out a little longer, you might want to save yourself for Borough Market.

Places to stay: I once stayed at the Leonardo Royal Tower Bridge and had a fantastic view of the Tower of London and Tower Bridge from my room. I’d highly recommend it as a plush, relaxing base.

Thames views and HMS Belfast

Fed and caffeinated, it’s time to continue your walk towards Westminster Bridge.

The walk along this route gives you a fantastic opportunity to have stunning photos with Tower Bridge behind you.

Originally, you would have passed City Hall with its iconic round architecture, but at the time of writing, the building is under construction, and unfortunately the famous staircase has been removed.

This is a walk that brings you a lot of modern architecture, framed with the historic.

There’s not a lot going on, other than seeing what’s around you, but that is part of its charm.

A little way down, you’ll find HMS Belfast, built for the Royal Navy and now a permanent fixture along the Thames. It’s a museum with 9 decks to explore.

The ship has its own chapel, radio station, and bakery.

• Tickets start at £26.35. Under fives go free.

Open from 10am until 6pm and perfect for the Navy buffs amongst you.

Careful, though. I filmed here for a vlog for the Trenvy YouTube channel and socials, and I was told off for doing so. I think they thought I was filming for TV!

A foodie detour to Borough Market

Don’t be worried when the South Bank walk seemingly ends shortly after HMS Belfast. You’re going to come to London Bridge and walk away from it, down a street and towards Borough Market.

Borough Market has an emphasis on high quality food, and is a historic market a stones throw away from The Shard.

If you’re truly into your food and want to sample local traders, then save yourself for this market.

There are more than 100 stalls, along with bars and restaurants. If you’re a movie buff, you’ll also find Bridget Jones’s apartment nearby.

From Greek inspired food to handmade cakes and pastries, and cheeses, wine bars, bao, bakeries and desert, this is paradise for those who love food.

Oldest Cathedral, Ships, Palace ruins, Prison, and Shakespeare

Once you’re done at Borough Market – and honestly, you might be a while – you’ll walk back towards the river bank.

This is a historic little part of the walk.

It’s not every day you can walk a short distance and see an old exploration ship, a haunted prison and the ruins of a once great palace. But that’s what makes London so fascinating.

First you’ll see Southwark Cathedral, an 800-year-old riverside cathedral.

The story goes that it was originally founded as a nunnery, by a nun who crossed the Thames by ferry before the Normal conquest. This woman was the ferryman’s daughter, known as Mary. It’s a local story, though historians doubt its authenticity.

Walk around the corner and you’ll then see a docked ship that looks like it has come from the set of Pirates of the Carribean.

This ship is The Golden Hinde, an Elizabethan galleon, and the first English ship to circumnavigate the globe, and is now a museum.

This replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship was built in 1973.

A short walk from there is the Winchester Palace, nothing more than a ruin. You cannot enter it, but you can look down at the ruins and foundations.

Winchester Palace was built in the early 13th century, and was once London’s most influential and important palaces.

It was built for the Bishops of Winchester, and destroyed in a fire in 1814. All that remains in the Great Hall, with its round, rose window, and a planted garden.

Walk down Clink street, and you’ll then find yourself outside the Clink Prison Museum, which is built upon the original prison dating back to 1144, making it the oldest prison in England.

The museum aims to educate those about prison standards, including the sounds and smells, and discover the prisoners of the past.

I love a good haunting, and The Clink delivers.

You can book to stay overnight and investigate the paranormal activity within the museum, which would make for a truly unique and spooky experience.

Option costs:

• Southwark Cathedral is open Monday – Saturday | 9am – 6pm, and Sunday | 8.30am – 5pm. You can also join a guided tour. Ask at welcome desk for more information.
• The Golden Hinde prices are: Adults £6, Children (3 – 16) / Concessions £6, Family of 4 £20, and Under 3 Free.
• The Clink adult ticket prices start from £11, and a family from £31.90.

Once you have seen these, you’ll come out onto a street that leads back onto the Thames.

But turn around to look back up Clink Street before you go, and get a glimpse of a colourful bit of artwork of playwright Shakespeare.

Yes, you’re in Shakespeare territory now.

The Globe Theatre

This might be my second favourite part of the South Bank London walk. It’s lively and historic and arty.

You’ll see Shakespeare’s Globe on the banks of the Thames.

It is an Elizabethan reconstruction, built to emulate what once was.

It still shows Shakespearean plays, and visitors can experience the work how they were meant to be performed by standing at the stage and getting a unique experience.

Sometimes, Shakespeare’s Globe will also offer a guided tour, where you can take in 400 years of history.

I’d recommend that while you’re here, you should make a brief detour to the original site of the Globe Theatre.

Instead of continuing your walk past the current Globe Theatre, you’ll instead walk past the Sam Wanamaker playhouse, and walk down New Globe Walk.

You’ll turn left on Park street, and walk directly down.

It’s somewhat inconspicuous where the original site is, so keep a sharp eye out.

There’s a sunwashed information board and a dim plaque that gives you all the information on where the original site was.

Now, apartments overlook the courtyard.

It’s pretty cool to see, and truly authentic. Not many tourists see it, either, so you’ll make your friends back home full of Trenvy (that’s Travel Envy, by the way).

Double back on yourself to go back down New Globe Walk and return back to the Thames, and the functioning Globe Theatre.

Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge

The Tate Modern is one of the best places to visit for free in London, especially if you like modern art.

Right on the banks of the South Bank, the Tate Modern houses some fantastic modern and contemporary art pieces, and has a lot of events on, including a late night celebration of the works of Tracey Emin.

Permanent collections are free to view, and the Turbine Hall is an attraction in itself, with vast, dramatic space.

But if you don’t want to go into the Tate Modern, you can instead access the Millennium Bridge, opened in 2000.

It’s a steel bridge that crosses the Thames, but offers a fantastic opportunity to take photos of St Paul’s Cathedral, perfectly framed to line up with the bridge itself.

Did you know, though, that when it opened, the bridge had to be closed again for a further two years?

Londoners found that it wobbled a bit too much, and so it had to be tested and tested again before opening in 2002.

Cost:

• Tate Modern: permanent collection – free!

The bookshop under the bridge

By far my most favourite part of the South Bank London Walk is the Southbank Book Market, underneath Waterloo Bridge.

You’ll find tables upon tables of books out on display being sold, with a fantastic selection across ages and genres, including non-fiction.

It’s incredibly on brand for the arty area, and a relaxing way to browse. I’ve found some absolute gems when I’ve been there.

Be careful with your drinks, though. When I was there, I saw someone spill their coffee on what looked like vintage books, and it broke my heart, I won’t lie.

Street performers galore

The South Bank offers street performers, and you’ll see them at the Southbank Centre.

People blowing bubbles, your favourite characters, or singing add to the lively atmosphere of London.

The Southbank Centre is incredibly arty, and just being there helps me feel inspired.

You can catch an LGBTQ+ film festival in March, showing over 100 queer films to audiences.

Other events include classical music, international artists, and a literary festival, curated in 2026 by Dua Lipa.

Obviously, you can soak up the atmosphere for free, along with the potential for ice cream, coffee and food, but if you have time, it’s definitely worth seeing what the Southbank Centre has on.

London Eye

The street performers continue as you approach the London Eye, with Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster in view on the other side of the Thames.

On a good, dry, warm day, take a seat on the grassy banks or linger to look at the boats passing along the Thames.

This is probably going to be the busiest area on your walk – though we can’t guarantee foot traffic on your day – so be prepared for that. It’s for a good reason.

Standing along here, you’ll see how London can be enjoyed. You’ll find fantastic London photo opportunitites, and you can interact with some of the street performers, too. Though they will expect money!

There will normally be a queue for the London Eye, which was never meant to be permanent. Book in advance online, if you can, as it is cheaper, costing £29.

You can walk in on the day, but it will be more expensive – £39 – and you may have to wait.

You can also buy a ticket that gets you into 5 attractions, including the London Eye, for £59 per person, or £53 per child.

The London Eye is a right of passage for any tourist to London, but I personally feel as though it is overrated.

You’ll be in a pod that goes incredibly slow with people, and you’ll look out over London but it doesn’t go that high.

It’s enjoyable, sure. But there are better ways to spend your money.

Besides, this is a free guide to London, so save your money and keep walking!

• London Eye: £29 online, or £39 walk in.

The final stop: Westminster

Oftentimes, people will say you should start your South Bank Walk at Westminster. We disagree at Trenvy. The reason we say for you to finish your walk at Westminster is because of what you’re seeing.

If you time it right, you can absorb the area as the sun sets, and listen to the chimes of the Elizabeth Tower, or as it’s commonly called, Big Ben.

The main South Bank walk around this area will of course be busy, especially because you can get fantastic photos with Big Ben.

You’ll also see runners go by – quite a good spot for a running route, I think!

It’s up to you where you go from here.

You can walk the bridge itself and cross over to the other side of the bank, or you can lean against the wall and watch the sunset.

This is such a fantastic spot in London, and of course, it is completely free!

How did you get on?

There is so much to see and do in London, but the South Bank walk is a must for those on a travel budget, or simply looking for something free to do in the heart of the city.

The South Bank is a walk well worth doing, as not only will you see London’s history, but you’ll have plenty to do and something to look back on.

The South Bank London Walk will have many a surprise and you’ll probably want to explore everything you can. Don’t be afraid to do so!

I want to know what you got out of the walk, and what you did. Let me know what you saw and what you thought!

Enjoy your free day in London, where you can explore the city without spending any money!