A London South Bank walk – the best Instagram views
I never tire of staring out along the Thames – it’s a view that feels both timeless but is always changing, with endless new details. And nowhere more so than a walk along London’s South Bank, with its street art and pop-up events, as well as some of the best places to gaze at the river.
So when Maria from One Tiny Leap and I were asked to run an Instawalk for Britmums Live, what better excuse for another wander in one of my favourite parts of the city on a South Bank walk – and to take another 50 photos looking out the best Instagram views.
If you’d like to walk in our footsteps, these are some of my highlights – including a section that works well for bad weather. Because it’s the ever-changing South Bank, do expect some of the art and sculptures to vanish – but there’ll always be something new to find when you visit.
For a longer stroll around the city, check out my ultimate London landmarks walking route
1. Golden Jubilee Bridge
Start your South Bank walk from the northern Embankment and get your first view across the river – stroll over the Golden Jubilee bridge, the bridge linking Embankment tube and the Southbank Centre, usually to a soundtrack of steel drums.
2. Hungerford Bridge street art
Head down from the bridge in the direction of the London Eye – but first take a few steps away from the river and head under the bridge to check out the Stik street art on the back, stick figures against a bright yellow background growing ever larger along the wall.
3. London Eye view
Head back to The Queen’s Walk and the riverside for views across the carousel to the London Eye. It’s also one of many spots where you can see the decorated street lamps – apparently dolphins or sturgeon but definitely looking more fishy to me.
This is where you’ll find the Christmas market and festivals as well, if there’s an event running.
For more great London views with kids, check out my pick of the best across the capital
4. Royal Festival Hall and Southbank Centre
The bright orange ‘modified social benches’ which decorated the river walk this summer might have gone, but there’s always something to spot here.
Head up above the restaurants and find street art around the corner from Wahaca with its brightly painted steps, as well as the temporary dancing fountains.
For more things to do on the South Bank with kids, check out my tips
5. Southbank skate park
Whether you want a grittier urban backdrop or simply to watch the bikers and boarders test out their tricks, this is one spot which is never quiet.
6. River view
Keep wandering in the direction of the Oxo Tower and the bank widens to give a great view down to Blackfriars bridge and the tower itself – sparkling with lights if you’re there at dark, or with unexpected pops of colour on the opposite bank in the daytime.
Discover the pastel buildings of Gabriel’s wharf too, including some quirky shops and lovely places to eat and drink if you fancy a break.
7. Barge House Street
Another small detour from the river itself, cut around the back of the Oxo Tower to Barge House Street – also lit up at night, the stripped brick walls are decorated with the names of the nine muses – or spot the brightly coloured ampersand sculpture.
8. Blackfriars Bridge
Cut back through to the river and head under Blackfriars Bridge with its historic Victorian crest, illustrated tiles telling its history and the red pillars which no longer carry railway tracks.
There are more great views of the river and back to the Oxo Tower from the bridge too, especially at night. It’s a good place to spot the red buses driving past if you’re looking for a shot on your South Bank walk.
9. Tate Modern
Walk towards the Millennium Bridge and the Tate Modern – there’s usually art on display by the banks, with St Paul’s Cathedral on the opposite side plus exhibitions and modern art galore inside.
10. Clink Street tunnel
Take your pick – continue along the riverside past the Globe Theatre or cut through the Tate Modern building for some quirky architecture shots and head towards the Clink Street tunnel to spot the street art mural of Shakespeare near the entrance.
11. Borough Market
Keep walking and head towards Borough Market – open until 5/6pm, it’s best on Wednesday to Saturdays and closed on Sundays except in December.
Not only will you find stall after stall of fabulous food to snap, there are choices galore to eat. Which you’ll surely deserve after a long walk along the South Bank!
For my top free things to do in London with kids, check out this post
London South Bank walk: Need to know
The total distance is less than two miles, depending how many detours you take and you can do it (or any part) in reverse too. The last three sections have more cover if the weather isn’t great.
If you walked without stopping, it would take at least 30 minutes – but with so many places to snap, make sure you leave plenty of time to pause!
PIN FOR LATER: A LONDON SOUTH BANK WALK
Images copyright MummyTravels
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I love this post Cathy! I adore the South bank! So many lovely sights to see.
Thanks Donna! It has transformed into such a great area.
Some great alternative views of the great river. A fabulous place to walk – didn’t know about the muses wall – my wife is called Ourania and my goddaughter Kaliopi so I need to check this out. Great debate – Thames in London or Seine in Paris?
You certainly do! It was a very unexpected find. And I do love the Seine but with the Thames Path (and possibly a small amount of bias) I would always pick London.
I’m so pleased for you that you got a sunny day! We take this route regularly, especially if we’re showing off London to our American friends. Although can you believe I’ve never been to borough market! we’re actually in the middle of planning a trip to London based on borough market! Great post, I’ll be pinning it!#citytripping
Thanks! I used to work close to Borough Market and still regret that I didn’t visit a bit more often – it’s a lovely spot to showcase London to visitors I think.
That’s one of my favourite routes down the Thames too, although I don’t tend to do detours, which is clearly my mistake as the warehouse with the muses on is very cool.
That’s one of my newest finds – really quirky. It’s rare to have the time to meander and detour rather than rushing from A to B.
OMG this is great (you had some nice weather too!). I’ll jot this down on my ‘things to do next in London’ list.
#CityTripping
Thanks! It was a gorgeous blue sky day – a bit greyer when we repeated but you never know with London. Hope you enjoy it if you get here.
Love this! Some of it I’ve seen and others I’m not sure how I missed them, like the wall murals! Will have to check that out next time! #CityTripping
Some are tucked around a corner, so easy to find if you know they’re there but easy to wander past too. Next time!
I’ve loved following your insta pics and stories for this. This is a great post! So interesting how a walk along South Bank will be different every time. #citytripping
Thank you! And absolutely – it took us by surprise that so much had changed in such a short space of time already.
There seem to be a lot of Instagram worthy spots. I especially love the stick figure mural. #citytripping
There really are – and that mural is one of my favourites, so many fun little details.
Note to self: check out Barge House Street! I didn’t know about it, even though I’m often on the Southbank. Just goes to show, there’s always more to discover! #citytripping
It always amazes me that you only need to step a little way back from the river and there are little gems like that – so tempting to stay by the Thames and easy to walk right by. I’m sure there are lots more I need to stumble across as well.
yes, South Bank walk is one of my favourite walks in London:) as you say , you can never get tired of that gorgeous view which keeps on changing:)
Absolutely – I wonder how many times I’ve wandered that same stretch, and hope to do it again many many more.
Oh London! I miss it so much. Thanks for taking me back there through your lovely photos! #CityTripping
My pleasure – and thank you! I hope you can get back in real life before too long.
Love all of the street art #citytripping
Thanks – it really transforms an area, I think.
Aaah what a fun opportunity for you and Maria. I always say to myself that I need to just wander the streets of NYC more (though in my defense I’m in the suburbs), and this has inspired me to do so. So many fab shots you’ve taken here! #citytripping
A few people on the walk said that – wherever you live, there’s always so much to discover, but everyone’s rushing to work, or to do the school run, or to run errands etc etc and it’s so rare to have a few hours to wander and enjoy. Would love to see your NY version.
I’ve been to South Bank a few time, but didn’t see as much as you saw, so I apparently need to go back 🙂
Do!
What a great walk! I have a lot of love for London – especially Borough Market, that place is ace! 😉 #citytripping
Thanks – and it is a fab place to wander (and munch) around.
What a fantastic walk. We love the Southbank but haven’t been to all these spots. Have pinned to follow your walk. Fab photos. #citytripping
Thanks! It’s such a fun area, hope you get there to find some of these spots as well.
What an awesome walk down memory lane! Some bits I’m not sure that I’ve been to but others were so familiar. I love walking across the Millennium Bridge towards St Paul’s. And along the Southbank past the OXO building and the Globe Theatre. I remember going to the Christmas Markets on the other end of the Southbank as well. So many fun memories!
I love the Christmas market there as well – and I agree, that view of St Paul’s peeking through the buildings from the bridge is glorious
I took a few pics if the skate park too. Some graffiti works really well. Some lovely images here.
#citytripping
Thanks! And yes, can’t imagine that skate park with bare concrete walls.
I’ve been on an Instagram walk through Shoreditch before. Would love to do another one in South Bank or another part of the city.
I still keep meaning to do a proper one in Shoreditch – some much to see there, but more and more art popping up all over the capital too.
Sorry! Forgot the hashtag. #citytripping
🙂
I really enjoyed going through this post. If anyone is thinking of doing this instawalk, I’d thoroughly recommend it. We found some hidden gems like Hungerford Bridge even though it was a slightly cloudier day
Thank you! I wish we could have arranged the same weather as on our recce but so glad you liked some of the spots we found.
After visiting the UK a few times and only having brief layovers in Heathrow, I’ve finally made plans to explore London in more detail next year. The Tate Modern has long been at the top of my list, and this makes me want to go there even more. Everything seems so lively and vibrant there, what a gorgeous place. The type of city one could (and let’s face it, will) easily fall in love with. #citytripping
How exciting finally to have chance to explore properly – I’ve lived here for over 15 years and have been visiting on and off all my life, but I still always find more to discover, changes to enjoy. Definitely captured my heart.
I love this post! This is a favorite neighborhood of mine, and I’m a big fan of Stik! I hope that one will still be there when I visit in December… #citytripping
Thanks – that one has been there for a few years so hopefully it’s staying put.
This looks like a great walk! I love street art so I’m adding this to my itinerary for our next London visit. #CityTripping
Hope you get to try it out!
I love the South Bank too and it’s a view I never tire of either. There’s always so much to see, whether it’s temporary or has been there for centuries.
The mix of the unchanging and the always changing really makes it so special.
This is my favourite urban walk anywhere! I really wanted to join your insta walk but had to be back to set up the Scout jumble sale. #CityTripping
There is always so much to see there, definitely somewhere I love revisiting again and again – sorry you couldn’t make it along.
I’ve taken part of this walk — and would I love to go back and visit all of these places! Especially the market (yum!).
The market is always so amazing to wander through – especially when you’re hungry!
When I lived in London, I also loved spending time here! Thanks for taking me on a trip down memory lane.
My pleasure – what a fab area to live in.