London Bridge and the surrounding area are home to some of the capital’s most eye-catching landmarks and most popular tourist attractions. If you’re going to get the best from your visit to this part of the city, it’s important to do a little bit of forward planning – even if it’s only very rough. The fastest train ride from Greenwich to London Bridge takes just eight minutes: plenty of time to consider what’s on offer!
A view from the Tower Bridge
Just a few hundred metres upriver from London Bridge is Tower Bridge, from which you’ll be able to enjoy stellar views of the river and the city in general, thanks to a suspended walkway with a glass floor. This one isn’t ideal for those terrified of heights, naturally, but even if you don’t make it out onto the walkway itself, you’ll still be able to take in the spectacle of the bridge opening and closing.
The Shard
Another of London’s most famous structures is to be found nearby, in the form of the Shard. This three-hundred metre glass obelisk was constructed back in 2013, at enormous cost. The observatory is right at the top, so this is another opportunity to view the city from on-high. At Christmas time, the top of the building is illuminated at night-time, so you’ll be able to see it from miles around: but the best place to enjoy the display is from right close-up.
Borough Market
Borough Market is among the best-known food and drink markets in the country. Here, you’ll find a varied assortment of cutting-edge foodstuffs. The market is open every day except for Sundays and bank holidays, but you’ll need to be aware that Monday and Tuesday are limited produce days, during which only a few select stores are open. Thus, it’s best to plan your trip for later in the week.
Ride the Thames Clipper Boat
There are few better ways to see Tower Bridge, and central London in general, than from a boat on the Thames. A Thames clipper boat is the fastest way to get up and down the river, and you’ll be able to enjoy a sit-down, a drink, and on-board wi-fi throughout your trip. Just don’t spend the entire experience buried in your phone, as you’ll miss all of the spectacular sights on the riverside!
HMS Belfast
Visitors to London with an interest in naval history will want to make time for a visit to the HMS Belfast. This is the only surviving Second-World-War cruiser in Europe, and you’ll get the chance to clamber up and down all nine decks, just as the 950 sailors did more than sixty years ago.
