How to walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge: Thames Path Day 18

The walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge takes you past all the big London landmarks. You could call this the tourist stretch.

It was raining, and had been raining for a good week or so, but I decided I had had enough of waiting for it to stop. It’s July. If we were in winter I’d understand, but it’s July. With the combination of it being the weekend, and the rain, I was hoping there wouldn’t be too many tourists. But of course there were. It’s July.

Looking across the river to Big Ben and the houses of parliament on the walk between Battersea and Tower Bridge.

Looking along millennium bridge to st Pauls cathedral on the other end, along the walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge. there are masses of people walking on the bridge with umbrellas. Its a grey day.

What to expect on the walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge

The walk starts off along a big road, and it’s about 2 miles before you reach all the good stuff. It’s been a few years since I’ve walked out this way, and it was quite nice seeing it all again.

Looking along the river with Southbank and the London eye on the left side, and a bridge crossing the river ahead, when walking between Battersea and Tower Bridge.

Masses of people walking with umbrellas, with a brick pub on the right and the shard poking up from behind the bridge ahead.

Once I was out the other end, and past everything, it was a strange feeling. London was done in a flash. I know, we aren’t quite out of London yet, but what one might consider ‘London’ was done. I had been walking for over 150miles to get to this point, and it was over in a few miles.

There are 11 bridges, so you need to decide if or which ones you want to cross over to see the different sights. If you are a tourist to London and want to do some proper sightseeing, it might be worth breaking this stretch up. You have public transports options everywhere now.

I’m quite familiar with this bit of river so chose my bridge crossings based on what I think gives the best views, and avoids too many people.

Looking through a gap in the wall to a framed view of the skyscrapers of the city of London, on the walk between Battersea and Tower Bridge.

Logistics

Start: Battersea Park. London.
Finish: Tower Bridge, London.
Distance: 6 miles.
Time: 2h.
Difficulty: Easy.
Option to shorten the walk: Yes. Lots of options.
Terrain: All hard ground now.
Amenities: Lots the whole way.
Time of year: I walked from Battersea to Tower Bridge in a very wet July.

Read day 17: Putney to Battersea

Public transport

Battersea Park underground station on the Northern Line. London Bridge railway and underground station is the nearest to Tower Bridge. (If you cross the bridge then there is Tower Hill underground, and Fenchurch Street overground stations).

Along the route you have lots of buses, and the London Underground. When I describe the route below, I will show you where each stop is. There is also the Uber river bus.

Looking across the river to buildings on the other side and an uber boat on the river.

Map for the walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge

Route description: How to walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge

From Battersea, you want to walk over Chelsea Bridge (or you could go check out the power station first).

Looking along the calm river from Chelsea bridge, with the river bank and trees of Battersea park to the left, at the start of the walk towards Tower Bridge.

Over the bridge, turn right. It’s not very scenic to start. Just a very busy road. You do get a good view to Battersea Power station a little further along, but it’s mostly just a mix of industrial looking with new build apartments.

A pavement leading ahead with the road and red bus on the left, and black railings on the right. There are trees along the edge of the pavement.

Looking across the river to Battersea Power Station on the other side, at the start of the walk towards Tower Bridge.

You get a bit of a break from the road when you reach the Westminster Boating Base. You can walk through those gardens and out the other end under the apartment tunnel.

A large black tarmac walkway in the small gardens, with a table tennis table and red brick hut ahead. There are trees on the trees and a man walking his dog.

The path leading through and archway tunnel next to the buildings.

Looking across the calm river to tall skyscraper glass apartment buildings on the other side.

A walkway with apartments to the left, a wall to the right and river on the other side of the wall. There are lots of new build apartments on the other side of the river.

You’re then pushed out onto the road again for a brief moment.

The pavement on the right and road on the left. There is a blue cycle lane between the pavement and road. There is a black signpost on the pavement.

The start of the landmarks

When you reach the massive junction at the bridge, cross the road and take the steps down to walk alongside the river. The building you can see across the river next to the bridge is MI6.

Looking down to a walkway with a wall and the low tide river to the right, and curved buildings to the left. There are tall glass apartment buildings on the o0ther side of the rive.

Looking across the river to a large building on the other side with a crane in front, on the walk between Battersea and Tower Bridge.

You will also start to see some of the skyscrapers of the city through the building gaps. Namely the Gerkin, and Cheesgrater. We are heading past those later today.

Looking across the river to lots of buildings on the other side, and view to the skyscrapers of the city of London through the gap.

You are then pushed onto the busy road again. Here you will pass by the Tate Britain, and then you will get a a bit of a view to the houses of Parliament, and a distant view to the Shard.

Looking across the road to the Tate Britain, partway through the walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge. There is a black taxi parked outside on the road.

Looking along the road with a view to part of the houses of parliament past the trees, on the walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge. There is a red bus on the road. There are trees lining the right side of the road and a large stone building on the left side.

Looking across the river to tall apartments, and an ares of trees, with a view to the shard between the two. There is a bridge on the left.

Westminster

Just before the next bridge is a token green stretch, then when you reach the bridge, I recommend crossing over to walk along the other side of the river. That’s where you get the best view of the Houses of Parliament.

A long black waling path with green to the left and wall to the right. There are tree branches hanging over the path from the left side.

Looking along the river at low tide, with the bank visible to the left with masses of green left trees next to it. The London eye is visible in the distance. There is a group of boats moored in the middle of the river.

Some old buildings on the other side of the river, with a view of the shard poking out from behind them. There isn a red bus on the road in front of the buildings.

Looking across the river to Big Ben and the houses of parliament, partway through the walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge. There is a boat in the middle of the river.

There is a covid memorial wall along here. I’ve not seen this before. I realised I’ve not walked this way since before then. For the long stretch of the wall are hearts, and you can come here to write someones name in the heart in memory of them.

the covid memorial wall with red writing and hearts.

A path with a the covid memorial wall lining the right side covered in red hearts. There are lots of people walking along the path.

This is where the crowds started to pick up. I was stood taking a photo of Big Ben and heard a tour guide tell people about things I did not know about. So stood and listened in.

Looking across the river to a group of green leafy trees on the other side, with a big building to the left, and the bridge. There is a boat in the middle of the river, and two boats lining the other side.

That building on the other side used to be a prison, and it was known for sending inmates to Australia.

Pick your side – I picked north

When you reach Westminster Bridge, if you stay on this side you will walk along the Southbank. The first things you pass are the tourist things like Sea Life and London Eye. It’s a very busy area, and as a Londoner, unless I’m specifically going there, I avoid it at all costs. The better views are on the other side of the river so I crossed. If you want to go to Southbank, I would still cross here anyway, as you can get back onto Southbank a bit further along.

Looking along the bridge leading to Big Ben on the other side, with lots of people walking along it.

Across the bridge you can go an see Parliament Square, and Buckingham Palace is also walking distance from here. Westminster underground station is here too, if you want to finish for the day.

It’s along the north side where you get the good view of the London Eye.

Looking across the river to the London eye, partway through the walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge. Its a grey day.

At the time of writing, the pavement walkway is closed off a bit further along, but if you cross the road, you can walk in some lovely gardens.

Golden Jubilee and Waterloo Bridge

The next bridge is Golden Jubilee (there are two of them). They are cool bridges, and you can cross them to get onto the Southbank.

Looking along the golden Jubilee bridge with people walking ahead.

I recommend holding off though. Waterloo bridge is soon, and it’s the best one. I mean, it’s pretty bland to look at, but the views up there are the best in London. Due to its position and the river bends, you can literally see every major London Landmark from there.

When crossing over Waterloo Bridge, you need to pick which side as there is a barrier stopping you from switching when on the bridge. This is a newer addition. I wonder if it’s because people would cross back and forth to see the different views. Along the bridge is an information board telling you about which landmarks you can see.

A view over the Waterloo bridge wall to the skyscrapers of the city of London in the distance, partway through the walk between Battersea and Tower Bridge. Its a grey rainy misty day.

Looking along the river from Waterloo bridge to the golden jubilee bridge, the London eye, and Big Ben ahead.

By this point, I had decided I would end the walk here at Waterloo station. It was raining pretty bad by now, and I was fed up.

Although, once I got across, I checked google maps and it told me it was just 40min walk to reach Tower Bridge. Before I knew it, my legs were taking me back along the river

Southbank

Across the bridge, when back onto the riverside, you can have an explore along the Southbank. There are usually various stalls, restaurants, and sometimes markets which can be fun. They will be in the opposite direction of the route.

To continue on to Tower Bridge, walk now with the river to your left.

Walking along Southbank with railings and river to the left and trees and benches to the right.

A big building with 'National Theatre' written across it. There is a sculpture of two women in front, and a man walking past with an umbrella.

Further along you will get a good view to the city of London with it’s tall skyscrapers. Also the ‘beach’.

Looking along the river bank at low tide, with a view to the city of London skyscrapers in the distance.

Walk past the city and Bankside

The next stretch can be quite chaotic. There is a sheltered walkway (which was a nice moment out of the rain), a mini tunnel (another brief moment out of the rain) with London History mural type things on the walls, Blackfriars Bridge (and train station), then the second Tate of the day. The Tate Modern.

A sheltered walkway with lots of people, and shops to the right.

A walkway tunnel under the bridge with a few people walking along it. There is a man on the right with a guitar case on his back.

Looking under the bridge arch to the river and the city of London skyscrapers on the other side of the river, on the walk between Battersea and Tower Bridge.

Looking up pass the green leafy trees to a big brown brick building with glass top saying 'Tate Modern'.

The bridge you will come to next is Millennium Bridge, I do recommend staying on this side of the river for the rest of the walk to Tower Bridge, but at the very least, you must walk on to Millennium Bridge for a breathtaking view of St Pauls Cathedral.

If you would like properly see the city of London (the financial district), you can cross over this bridge to explore. It’s a pretty cool mix of old London with new. You can see a bit more of that area on my Jubilee walkway city guide here.

To continue the Thames Path trail, stay on this side though.

Next you will have the Shakespeare Globe theatre, then an alleyway passing by more old London things to reach the Golden Hind.

An old brick building next to a white stone building. There is a red door and orange door.

the Shakespeare globe theatre behind a brick wall with advertisements on it. There are a few people walking with umbrellas.

Looking along an alley with people walking ahead.

A small patch of gardens surrounded by old stone walls.

A big ship with walking path on the left. Its a wet day.

It’s a replica of the first English Vessel to circumnavigate the globe.

You need to navigate away from the river for a bit now.

The final stretch of the walk to Tower Bridge

Follow the path around the ship, and follow the road as it curves left (if you turn right this will lead you to Borough Market which nice to explore). London Bridge station is around here to. This is where you come back to after Tower Bridge

Looking up to a tall church building. — Keep to the left of this

Further along the road, take a left though the tunnel walkway thing to get back onto the river.

A tunnel under the apartments. The outside of the tunnel is painted yellow with purple writing saying 'Summer by the river'.

A sheltered walkway with the river to the left.

A big battle ship in the river, at the end of the walk from Battersea to Tower Bridge.

After passing by Hay’s Galleria with fancy food and shop establishments, you will enter a large walkway with Tower Bridge ahead. I didn’t walk all the way up to it, as I realised I would just have to walk back this way to get to the station. But if you want to explore, then over the bridge is the Tower of London.

The Hayes Garden shopping market area, with colourful bunting outside. There are lots of people walking about.

Looking along the river to Tower Bridge at the end of the walk from Battersea. Its a grey day.