I’ve always loved walking, but it wasn’t until lockdown that I truly began to realise its importance to my wellbeing. There’s nothing quite like being cooped up in a small flat for weeks on end to make one long for the great outdoors.
Being a capital city, most people don’t think of London as a place to go walking. I was certainly of that mindset, but there’s actually so much to discover, and I want to share some of the scenic walking routes that can be found in this huge city, beginning with Greenwich to the iconic Tower Bridge.
Low-down of route
Start/Finish: Greenwich and Tower Bridge
How to get there: The closest station is Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich DLR. Turn left as you exit the station, pass the Cutty Sark Ship towards the Thames and turn left onto the Thames Path to begin your route. Look out for sign posts. Also note depending on where you live you can begin this walk from Tower Bridge and finish in Greenwich.
Distance: 6 miles
Time to complete: 2 1/2 hours (without stopping for beers!)
Difficulty: Easy
Walking guide from Greenwich to Tower Bridge
1. Greenwich to Deptford walk
From the Cutty Sark, walk upstream with the river on your right and a row of riverside apartments and restaurants on your left. You will cross over a bridge and after a few moments, you’ll be greeted by a rather odd statue in the form of Peter the Great.
The reason I call it odd is first due to the proportions of Peter the Great, who appears to have an incredibly small head in comparison to his body which I have absolutely no explanation for – if you do then please leave a reply in the comment section! And the second reason being is the dwarf to his right with a big hat who is holding a globe and has a cherub on his shoulder. To Peter’s left is also an empty chair, whilst the whole thing is surrounded by two replica cannons.
You might be asking, what does a Russian tsar who died in 1725 have to do with the Thames Path as it snakes its way through Deptford?
Designed by two Russian sculptors, Viacheslav Bukhaev and Mikhail Chemiakin, the statue was unveiled in 2001 to celebrate 300 years since Peter’s visit to London. History states in 1698 Peter travelled to London undercover to learn about ship building. For three months Peter worked at the Deptford Dockyards by day, and held drunken parties by night, before waltzing off to such glamorous cities as Leipzig, Vienna and our very own Manchester too.
It’s amusing to think what he would have made of the statue commemorating his visit to Deptford, surely a man of his stature wouldn’t take too kindly to seeing himself with a tiny-pea head. Honestly, I want answers…
Anyhow, along to Deptford we go.
2. Deptford to Rotherhithe walk
Walk a little further until you reach a section where you’ll need to divert off the path to reach Deptford. This route will pass the pleasantly named Twinkle Park and well-loved pub, The Dog & Bell, noted for its pillar box red exterior and quality beers, though its too early to park up so add it to your list of places to visit in the future. Sorry, I’m cracking the whip – we’ve got walking to do!
Follow signs to get back onto the Thames Path through Pepys Park and towards the Greenland Surrey Quays Pier leading into Rotherhithe. As you walk along this section, to your right impressive views of Canary Wharf’s shiny tower blocks beam out up into the sky, the modern architecture offers an interesting contrast to the smaller wharf buildings along the river.
On your left there’s even a small farm which you can visit if you have time www.surreydocksfarm.org.uk. I’ve not visited it yet, but I’ll be sure to update this blog post with piggy pics when I do.
Plod along a bit further and you’ll come across a striking red-painted bascule bridge. Bascule is the French word for a seesaw or balance and the best known British bascule bridge is Tower Bridge which you’ll see later. Scherzer bascule bridges are lift bridges that roll or rock back on a curved base to rise so that ships can pass beneath in a similar vain to Medieval draw-bridges. The draw-back mechanism of this bridge in Rotherhithe is no longer in use but the engineering and appearance is still pretty awesome to see.
3. Rotherhithe to Tower Bridge walk
The path now leaves the riverside again taking you past The Brunel Museum on your right. The museum has a quirky exterior, it was the former pumphouse, used until 1971 to pump excess water from the Thames Tunnel.
Now if you really fancy stopping somewhere for a quick libation, make it the Mayflower pub. You deserve a drink and this place has built up a reputation for being among London’s finest pubs, and not to mention, prettiest.
A little further on is King’s Stairs Gardens and a few moments later, you should spot a collection of statues depicting the Salter family. They are part of a group of figures by the sculptor Diane Gorvin titled “Dr Salter’s Daydream”.
The Salters were a family who helped transform the lives of those living in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe. Ada Brown was born in 1866 and moved to Bermondsey to work in the slums in one of the Settlements established across London. Alfred Salter was a student at Guy’s Hospital when he met Ada at the Bermondsey Settlement.
Their ideals for social change were a match made in heaven. They tied the knot in 1900 and lived in Bermondsey. Both Ada and Alfred worked tirelessly to improve conditions for locals in the area.
Ada became a Labour councillor, the first woman councillor in Bermondsey in 1909. She set about recruiting women workers to trade unions to organise against the terrible working conditions in the area’s factories.
Alfred was elected MP for Bermondsey in 1909, the same year as Ada was elected Mayor.
In this spot, you’ll also discover excellent views across the Thames, with the beautiful Tower Bridge creeping into vision.
The Tower Bridge emerges in the distance
After a relatively quiet and quaint walk, descend happily into the more crowded streets of central London, admiring the several sculptures leading up to your final destination – the glorious Tower Bridge!
If you will have more fuel in your tank, I recommend taking a walk over the famed bridge. The views from both sides across the Thames are some of the best views you’ll find in London.
At the end of the bridge, to your left, another iconic London landmark awaits, the Tower of London. Now how’s that for a finale? It’s definitely worth going inside, but a walk around the grounds is still impressive if you decide to leave entry for another day. After all, I suspect you’ll be ready to put up your feet up after a long day of walking.
Where to stay in London
If you’re visiting London and would like to do this Thames Path walk from Greenwich to Tower Bridge, I recommend staying at the southern side of the Thames. Greenwich is a nice place to stay, and accommodation is usually more affordable since it’s less central.
However, if you want to be around lots of bars and restaurants, then you will probably prefer staying around Tower Bridge, London Bridge or Bermondsey.
→ Browse and book hotels in London
Looking for more things to do in London?
If you’re looking for more walks and things to do in London. Check out these posts for inspiration:
