Southbank

Explore some of London’s most iconic buildings, markets, theatres, and fabulous views on this private walking tour in the London Borough of Southwark along the south bank of the River Thames and discover the London Bridge, Southbank, Borough Market, and more!

On your private walking tour, you will: 

• Start your tour beside the river on the beautiful Bankside footpath and enjoy incredible vistas of London's finest bridges, castles, and cathedrals;
• See Blackfriars Railway Bridge with its red pillars – and learn how it was demolished during the war;
• Walkthrough the Founder's Arms, a lovely pub with incredible views across to St Paul's Cathedral;
• Have a look at Bankside Beach and enjoy the marvellous view of the Thames;
• Admire the facade of the incredible Tate Modern Art Museum, and the iconic wobbly Millennium Bridge – made famous by the last Harry Potter book/movie;
• Stop at Shakespeare’s Globe and the now-iconic mural of the Bard for a fantastic photo and to hear all about life in Elizabethan London.;
• Marvel at the Golden Hind pirate ship, and hear the tales of Sir Francis Drake, Queen Elizabeth I’s favourite sailor who circumnavigated the globe;
• Stop at Southwark Cathedral, the oldest Gothic church in London where Shakespeare’s brother is buried;
• See HMS Belfast from the outside as you stroll along the river;
• Explore Southwark's treasure trove of galleries, historic buildings, and pubs. Visit the Hay's Galleria, an impressive Grade II listed mixed-use building and desirable warehouse in London;
• Pass by the Globe Theatre and learn about the area's strong connection with Shakespeare;
• See the old prison walls, the haunting pauper’s burial grounds of the ‘Winchester Geese’ and London's last surviving coaching inn;
• Visit Borough Market - where your tour ends - and learn the history of the historic market before enjoying its many fares. 

Begin at London Bridge, where the small trading town built by the Romans stood upon the river Thames. Hear the stories of how the Thames helped Britain take command of the oceans - from Sir Francis Drake and his journey on the Golden Hind to the HMS Belfast, the most significant surviving Royal Navy warship from the Second World War.

London has stood at the centre of the world’s commerce for centuries, adapting to the shifting tides of power and technology. A former dockland and industrial slum, and now an icon of successful regeneration, London Bridge is one of London’s most historic and storied districts.

Move west along the river and into the time of Shakespeare, as you pass by one of the world's most famous theatres, known for the timeless words penned by arguably the greatest playwright of all time.

A few blocks east and several centuries later, step into the world of Southwark, which was built on industrial, smoky origins. Grand Victorian wharves, granaries, and shipyards once spanned its shores, amassing the trade and treasures of Her Majesty's Empire.

Now, the area has evolved into one of London's most trendy and exciting districts. The neighbourhood has arguably the best vistas across the city, its finest riverside walk, and London's most beloved food and fresh produce at Borough Market.

From Warhol to Banksy, explore the world-famous Tate Modern museum, a converted power station on the banks of the River Thames, followed by a stroll through the creative hub of London’s Southbank for stunning views, spectacular Brutalist architecture and London’s best street art.

On this private walking tour, you will: 

• Begin your tour at the Millennium Bridge with stunning views along the river.
• Walk to the Tate Modern, and enjoy an expertly guided 1.5-hour tour of this famous treasure trove of contemporary art.
• Admire the converted power station, famous for its 99m tall brick tower, just shorter than St Paul’s Cathedral, and enter the famously spacious turbine hall. 
• See world-famous art - paintings, sculptures, installations, performances, and videos - by a vast range of artists, including Picasso, Rothko, Warhol, Dali, Chiriko, Beuys, Fontana, Hirst, Barlow, Gallagher and more. 
• Enjoy a stroll along the river - with stunning views of London, towards the Southbank Centre. 
• Explore Europe’s largest centre for the arts, a vast and lively complex of art and performance venues, famous for its Brutalist architecture.  
• Visit the colourful Undercroft of Southbank, the birthplace of British skateboarding and political street art, and see the street art on Hungerford Bridge. 
• Walk towards Waterloo to see famous muralist Lionel Stanhope’s superhero Covid tribute to the NHS. 
• Finally, head beneath the streets and rumbling platforms of London’s Waterloo Station to discover Southbank’s hidden treasure trove of street art and graffiti: the Leake Street Arches and Street Art tunnels started by none other than Banksy in 2008. 

London's Southbank has always had a salubrious reputation for divergent arts and creativity. Historically it was home to munitions factories and overcrowded industrial slums. The area was heavily bombed during the Blitz, but in the last decades has undergone a total regeneration. 

It is also famous for its counter-cultural vibe, its street art and graffiti, and urban creative engagement programs across the arts including theatre, dance, poetry, writing, art and sculpture, at the various buildings within the Southbank Centre, with its magnificent Brutalist architecture.  

The Tate Modern is as famous for its architecture as for the impressive collection of contemporary art within. Your tour guide will show you the highlights of this vast space, including iconic works like Warhol’s Marilyn Diptych, Fontana’s Spatial Concept, Waiting (the slashed canvas series), Beuys’ dramatic Lightning with Stag in its Glare, Picasso’s Nude Woman with Necklace, and many more.

The second part of the tour takes you on a fascinating and colourful stroll along the river Thames with spectacular views of London landmarks, towards the Southbank Centre. Soak up the lively atmosphere, admire the spectacular Brutalist architecture and head below - to the Undercroft, a Skate Space that has been going for 40 years and is covered in a mass of graffiti and that has taken on iconic status as part of London’s counter-culture. 

You’ll also see some fabulous street art on the Hungerford Bridge before walking south towards Waterloo, via the superhero Covid tribute to the NHS by celebrated muralist Lionel Stanhope. 

Lastly, you will visit the hidden gem of London’s street art scene… Below the rumbling platforms of Waterloo Train Station, you will find the Leake Street Arches and 300-metre graffiti tunnel… the longest, biggest street art space in London. As an active, free space it is an ever-changing canvas with artists working there every day… some creations last months, others days, or even hours!

It is a vibrant hub and testament to the years of hard work and cultural regeneration that have gone into making Southbank one of the most trailblazing artistic hubs in the world.