The Thames Path London: London’s Best Walk

There’s no path like the Thames Path and no walk like the Thames Path London walk. Don’t quote us on this, and please correct us if we’re wrong. Still, the Thames Path National Trail between the Thames Barrier and Putney Bridge must have the most visitor attractions, things to see and do, points of interest and iconic locations and landmarks of any stretch of river or walking trail in the world. This alone makes this one of the best walks in London, if not the best. And yes, we’ve listed all of the points of interest. Scroll down to read said list.

We first saw the Thames Path London walk on ITV’s Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100. Hosted by Julia Bradbury and Ore Oduba, the show contained a list of Britain’s favourite walks as voted for by the British public. In the programme, Julia Bradbury says, “It’s basically like going for a walk across the opening titles of Eastenders…” And it is. Just check out our Strava recording below. Before we get into the Thames Path London to help you plan your walk, here’s some information about the Thames Path National Trail.

What Is the Thames Path National Trail?

The Thames Path National Trail is a whopping 185.2 miles (298 km) long walk along the River Thames, believe it or not. Where does the Thames Path start and finish, you ask? The Thames Path National Trail runs from its source at Thames Head, near Kemble in Gloucestershire, all the way to the Thames Barrier in Woolwich, London. The Thames Path runs along both the north and south banks, but we chose to stick to the south bank.

What Are National Trails?

The Thames Path National Trail is part of the National Trails network, a series of walks through some of the best landscapes the United Kingdom has to offer. They are notable routes, too, because National Trails have been designated by the Government and are managed by dedicated officers and volunteer teams to ensure they meet quality standards and stay in tip-top condition for your pleasure.

The River Thames

The River Thames is the second-longest river in the UK at 215 miles (346 km), after the River Severn, which runs through Ironbridge Gorge. Undoubtedly, the Thames is the most famous river in the UK because it runs through one of the world’s greatest cities.

The Thames Path is easy to reach by public transport, is friendly and gentle with no hills and is easy to break into sections, making it an enjoyable walk for anyone of any age and ability, whether you want to head out for a short wander or a bit more of an epic, as we did. The Thames Path is also easy to navigate. It’s way-marked the entire way. Just follow the signs with the acorn or the ones that read ‘Thames Path’.

The Thames Path also incorporates other walks, including The Queen’s Walk and The Riverside Walk, so keep your eyes peeled for their markers to help you navigate. The only point where you might find some difficulty navigating is where diversions are in place. But don’t worry, you won’t go far off course if you follow the roads and keep an eye on those signs.

But before we get into the sections of the Thames Path Walk, let’s talk about the toilet situation. It’s a long way to go without stopping for a wee.

Public Toilets

Public toilets are relatively scarce along the Thames Path between the Thames Barrier and Tower Bridge. You can always use cafes along the way and nip to the loo, but there’s also a bit of a lack of them on the first part of the walk. There are free toilets at the Thames Barrier Information Centre that are open even if the centre isn’t. We recommend you use them before you start. Below are some other toilets we found on, or very near, the route:

• Greenwich Tourist Information Centre
• Cutty Sark (paid)
• More London Riverside (paid)
• Oxo Tower
• Jubilee Park & Gardens (The Jubiloo, paid)
• Battersea Power Station (under the bridge on the route)
• Battersea Park

Thames Barrier to Putney Bridge

Approximate distance: 19.9 miles

Undoubtedly, this walk has to be one of the best walks in London because it incorporates so much. The question is – do you have the legs to walk the distance? Of course, you could break the route down and walk some of the sections below if you want something a little less strenuous or time-consuming. The choice is yours. The route on ITV suggested the walk was 19 miles. Although we wandered off course to get lunch, and there was the odd diversion, we don’t think this added more than an extra mile or so.

We ended up walking 25.5 miles, according to Strava. I (Joel) wasn’t on the best of terms with Stacey after we had to walk an extra distance. Ooops. And she did it all in Converse All Stars, would you believe? She even walked Ben Nevis in a pair of Jules wellibobs.

Thames Barrier to Tower Bridge

Section distance: 10.2 miles

This is the longest section of the three and, therefore, the best one to get out of the way first. The path starts with a tunnel before you head through an industrial part of the docklands. Don’t worry; this part will quickly be behind you before you get to some less industrial parts, and you’ll eventually end up at the magnificent Old Royal Naval College.

Highlights of this section include Old Royal Naval College and Cutty Sark in Greenwich and the wonderful historic Shad Thames before emerging at Tower Bridge.

Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge

Section distance: 2.6 miles

If we were to pick a segment of the Thames Path to walk in London, this would be it. We have walked it time and time again because it’s one of the best walks in the city. This section is our favourite because it contains so much of what makes London London: history, culture, world-famous landmarks, food, people, and a vibrant atmosphere.

If you walk the whole path from the Thames Barrier to Putney Bridge, you will notice this is the busiest section. It goes from reasonably quiet as you approach London Bridge to super busy until Westminster Bridge, where the foot traffic drops off again.

This section is suitable for a lunch stop, but if you’d rather miss the crowds, you’d best walk this stretch earlier in the morning or later in the day. We recommend stopping for some grub at Borough Market. You won’t be disappointed with the choice.

Highlights of this section include the Tower of London, Borough Market, Millennium Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral Dome, Tate Modern, Southbank Skate Space and the London Eye.

Westminster Bridge to Putney Bridge

Section Distance: 7.1

This part is terrific, even if your legs are starting to feel the pain. It’s wonderful because there are still some iconic London landmarks to see, as well as some gorgeous green spaces. You’ll also be glad to know that at the very end, there are a couple of pubs, including a Wetherspoons, so you can reward yourself with a refreshing pint at the end as you rest your legs.

Highlights of this section include the Houses of Parliament, Battersea Power Station, Battersea Park, and Wandsworth Park, where you will see the imposing trees lurking right over the path.

What You’ll See Along the Path

Everything you read below, you can either see from the Thames Path, or you’ll walk right by it. It’s a massive list. And this is what makes this walk one of the best in London: there’s so much to take in.

The Thames Barrier, London Cable Car, O2 Arena, Old Royal Naval College, Cutty Sark, Brunel Museum, Shad Thames, Tower Bridge, Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Borough Market, London Bridge, The Golden Hinde, The Clink, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Millenium Bridge, St Paul’s Cathedral Dome, Tate Modern, Oxo Tower, Southbank Skate Space, Southbank Centre, Jubilee Park & Garden, The London Eye, The London Dungeon, Shrek’s Adventure London, Sea Life Centre London Aquarium, Westminster Bridge, Houses of Parliament, The National Covid Memorial Wall, Battersea Power Station, Battersea Park, Alert Bridge, The London Peace Pagoda, Wandsworth Park…plus one or two other things we’ve probably missed…get them in the comments below. Now that is a comprehensive list.

How to Get to the Thames Barrier

The reason we chose to start at the Thames Barrier was purely logistical. It seemed like a better idea to start where the transport links aren’t as good, and there are more food options at the end. Regarding transport links, the Thames Barrier isn’t as accessible as Putney Bridge, but it’s still reasonably good. We used the DLR and buses to get to the start. There’s a short walk (10 minutes or so) from the nearest bus stop to the Visitor Centre at the Thames Barrier.

Get off at Greenwich Trust School and follow Eastmoor Street north. There’s a handy Google Maps route for you below.

Address: The Thames Barrier Information Centre, 1 Unity Way, London, SE18 5NJ

How to Get to Putney Bridge

If you choose to walk the other way, Putney Bridge is easily accessible. There are bus stops along the bridge itself or Putney railway station, just a 7-minute walk from the Thames Path.

If you’re interested, here’s the snippet of the ITV show Britain’s Favourite Walks: Top 100…

---

To keep up with our travels, please subscribe to our mailing list. We won’t spam you; we’ll only contact you with exciting news and new stuff! Enter your email in the box below and hit subscribe!