Lady’s 3 Best Walks Along the Thames in London

Today I want to share A Lady in London’s guide to the best walks along the Thames in London with you. These routes will lead you beside the UK capital’s most famous waterway as they show off the iconic attractions and landmarks that grace its banks. They’re some of the best Thames walks in London if you love being by the river and exploring the city on foot. I’ve included maps, too.

Best Walks Along the Thames in London

The River Thames is London’s best-known waterway. At 215 miles (346 kilometers) long, the river originates at Thames Head in Gloucestershire and cuts through southern England until it reaches the North Sea.

En route, the Thames passes through places like Oxford, Henley-on-Thames, Marlow, Windsor, and London.

The longest river entirely in England and the second-longest in the United Kingdom, the Thames runs right through the center of London.

It passes Kingston upon Thames and Richmond in the west, the South Bank and St Katharine Docks in the middle, and Canary Wharf and Greenwich in the east.

As such, there’s no shortage of places for walks along the Thames in London. Today I’m going to show you the best of them.

1. Thames Walk in Central London

Since the city center is the most popular place for Thames walks in London, I’ll start with my self-guided river walk in the heart of the UK capital.

This Thames river walk starts in Chelsea. After walking down to the water from Sloane Square, you’ll head along Chelsea Embankment, cross Albert Bridge, and cut through Battersea Park.

You’ll then continue along the north bank of the Thames in places like Pimlico and Westminster. After taking in sights like Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament, you’ll cross Westminster Bridge and walk along the South Bank all the way to Rotherhithe.

This walk starts at the end point of my Chelsea walk, so you can do both in one go if you want to. It also goes by the starting points of my Westminster walk, London Bridge walk, and City of London walk, so you can do those, too.

Whatever you decide, you’ll walk by plenty of eye-catching sights. If you like London river walks, you’ll love this one. You can find the full route and map on my Thames walk in London blog post.

2. Thames Walk on the South Bank

Next on my list of the best walks along the Thames in London is one that will take you along the South Bank. This one is great if you want a shorter route than the previous walk and you’d like to see some of the most iconic places on the river in London.

My South Bank walk starts on Westminster Bridge, where the views of the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben set the stage for an exciting journey.

This walk along the Thames continues past London landmarks and attractions like the London Eye, Southbank Centre, Tate Modern, Millennium Bridge, and Shakespeare’s Globe.

It ends in Borough Market, one of the most famous food markets in London. You can reward yourself with a treat here if you want to.

This walk is for you if you love being in the heart of the city and seeing the most beloved sights as you go. You can see the full route and map on my blog post about the best walks in London.

3. Thames Path from Hammersmith to Chiswick

Third on my list of the best walks along the Thames in London is a Thames Path walk from Hammersmith to Chiswick.

This walk starts at Hammersmith Bridge and continues along the river to Dukes Meadow. As it guides you from Hammersmith to Chiswick, you’ll pass famous riverside pubs like The Dove and beautiful houses along Chiswick Mall.

This is one of the best Thames walks in London if you enjoy riverfront scenery, great pubs, pretty houses, and getting off the beaten path in equal measure.

You can find the full route and photos from this self-guided London walk on my blog post about the Thames Path from Hammersmith to Chiswick.

Best Walks Along the Thames in London

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the best walks along the Thames in London.

I’ve published a lot of other London walks and compiled them in my London walking tours blog post, too. It’s a helpful resource if you want to see all my routes and maps in one place.

There are other walks to be discovered in London’s Hidden Walks, too. You can get it on Amazon here. There are more ideas in my London walking books post as well.

If you want to see additional walks along waterways in London, I’ve written about canal walks in London that will take you along Regent’s Canal. They’re a great compliment to a walk along the Thames. Happy exploring!

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