Panorama view of river thames and south bank at low tide, on the left blackfriars bridge, in the middle sea containers hotel and on the right oxo tower

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Travel & Stay

Travel & Stay

From budget to boutique, Business Class facilities and 5-star luxury, South Bank has a hotel for every traveller. A wide choice of tube, train, bus and boat connections also mean South Bank is connected to everywhere you need to be.

Getting to South Bank

We’re easily reached by tube, train, cycle, boat or taxi, but the best way to discover all that South Bank has to offer is on foot.

The South Bank is predominantly pedestrianised, allowing you to walk freely and safely, all the way along the edge of the river, as well as off the beaten track into the side roads, wharfs, gardens and tunnels to encounter its hidden gems.

On Foot

The Queen's Walk is a pedestrianised riverside promenade that forms part of the Thames Path walking route. From the London Eye, you can walk along this scenic route to London Bridge station in the east or Vauxhaull in the west in approximately 30-40 minutes.

Visitors arriving on foot from north of the river can reach South Bank via several bridges - all of them offering some of London's finest views, including:

Waterloo Bridge (next to Somerset House),
Golden Jubilee pedestrian bridge (leading to Charing Cross station and Covent Garden)
Westminster Bridge (next to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament)

To find out the best route for you, visit Google Maps.

Waterloo Station concourse on a busy day

By Train

South Bank is brilliantly connected to three major rail stations:

Waterloo Station – A hub for commuter services to south-west London and beyond into south-west England and the South Coast. One of the UK's busiest stations there are dozens of shops, cafes, bars and takeaway fast food options. There is a Left Luggage service near platforms 20–24 (next to the Victory Arch), open 7am–11pm.
Waterloo East Station – Serving commuter services to south-east London and destinations in Kent. Step-free access to this station is via the balcony in Waterloo Station.
Blackfriars Station – primarily serving high-speed Thameslink routes to Bedford, Peterborough, Brighton, Cambridge, Luton and Gatwick, and destinations in south-east London.

To plan your journey, visit National Rail Enquiries.

By London Underground

The most central Tube station in South Bank is Waterloo, located just a 5-minute walk from the London Eye. Alternatively, you can walk across one of the bridges crossing the river to South Bank from Westminster, Blackfriars or Embankment tube stations. Southwark station on The Cut in Waterloo is also a short walk from the river.

Waterloo Station tube services: Bakerloo Line, Jubilee Line, Northern Line via Charing Cross, Waterloo & City Line*
Embankment Station tube services: District and Circle Lines
Westminster Station tube services: Jubilee Line, District and Circle Lines
Southwark Station tube services: Jubilee Line

Use tfl.gov.uk to plan your journey. * Note that Waterloo & City Line only operates Mon-Fri.

By bus

South Bank is very well connected to a wide variety of TfL bus routes, most of them cross north-south, stopping at Westminster Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, Waterloo Station and Blackfriars Bridge.

Many night buses and 24hr services can be joined from next to Waterloo Station (from stops along Waterloo Road), including:

Heading south: N68 East Croydon, 176 Penge, N343 New Cross Gate, N171 Hither Green, N381 Peckham, N1 Thamesmead
Heading north: 139 Golders Green, 341 Meridian Water, 76 Tottenham Hale, 243 Wood Green
To Tottenham Court Road (for connections to other night bus services): 176, 188, N171, N68, N1

South Bank is a stop on all major hop-on hop-off sightseeing bus routes including TootBus, Golden Tours and City Sightseeing. Most buses have stops next to Jubilee Gardens (behind the London Eye) or one street behind this on York Road.

By Bike

BIKE PARKING: There are hundreds of bicycle parking stands located across the area, including a huge bicycle park with space for 500+ bikes in front of Waterloo Station (follow the ramp up the side of the station from the Victory Arch entrance).

BIKE & E-BIKE RENTAL: You can find Santander bike docking stations outside Waterloo Station (Victory Arch entrance), behind the BFI Southbank and behind the London Eye. You can end your trip on Lime, Forest or other e-bike rentals at one of the designated parking "e-bays" – locations include behind National Theatre and next to St John's Waterloo Church (opposite Waterloo Station).

CYCLEWAYS: Note that it is not allowed to cycle along the pedestrianised riverfront Queen's Walk (nor is it even practical given the large amounts of slow-moving pedestrians!). Cyclists following the river are recommended to cycle along Upper Ground / Belvedere Road which runs parallel to the Queen's Walk.

Check out TfL's cycling route map here for the safest and most cyclist-friendly routes in South Bank.

By River

One of the most picturesque ways to get across London is by boat. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers operates from the London Eye (Waterloo) Pier with boats running east out to North Greenwich via stops including London Bridge, Tower of London and Canary Wharf, and west to Battersea Power Station.

You can also join Uber Boat services from the Westminster Pier on the opposite side of the river.

Departures depend on the time of day and not all boats stop at every pier, so pay close attention to the timetables to plan your journey. During peak seasons (such as in the summer or during school holidays), it is worth arriving at the pier early as queues for departures in central London can be quite long.

For more information and to view timetables, visit thamesclippers.com

How to get from South Bank to the airport

Allow at least one hour to or from South Bank and Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton or City airports – and at least 1.5 hours for Stansted. Check for the latest transport updates before departing on your journey.

There is a LEFT LUGGAGE office inside Waterloo Station, open daily from 7am–11pm.

GATWICK AIRPORT: Serviced by Thameslink trains from Blackfriars Station or via Thameslink and Southern services from London Bridge Station (2 Tube stops from Waterloo). Alternatively, get a Gatwick Express train from Victoria Station (20 minutes by Tube or bus from Waterloo).
HEATHROW AIRPORT: The quickest way to get to Heathrow from South Bank is via the Elizabeth Line. Take the Northern Line from Waterloo to Tottenham Court Road (4 stops) and change to the Elizabeth Line. Alternatively, take the Bakerloo Line to Paddington station (9 stops) and catch a Heathrow Express train.
LUTON AIRPORT: There are regular Thameslink trains to Luton Airport Parkway departing from Blackfriars Station.
LONDON CITY AIRPORT: Take the Jubilee line from Waterloo to Canning Town and change to the DLR.
STANSTED AIRPORT: Stansted Express trains take 48 minutes to reach the airport, departing from Liverpool Street station (the station is about 25 minutes by Tube from Waterloo).

Access and accessibility in South Bank

Collectively, venues and attractions across South Bank are working hard to ensure this is one of London's most accessible destinations for visitors of all abilities.

You can explore a comprehensive accessibility guide created by Accessable to South Bank's cultural venues, attractions, venues, bars, restaurants and transportation options – including full details on step-free access across the area – HERE.

Staying in South Bank

Sitting in the heart of London’s cultural district and surrounded by iconic landmarks like Big Ben and the London Eye, South Bank is perfectly located for visitors to London planning an overnight stay.

From mid-range to luxury and conferencing to holidaying, South Bank has a broad range of hotel options with several international hotels located here.

Whether you're staying for business or pleasure, for two nights or two weeks, here’s our guide to where to stay in South Bank.

Bankside Hotel

Chic boutique hotel with an impressive contemporary art collection

London Marriott Hotel County Hall

History, heritage and quintessential British charm.

Park Plaza County Hall

Classy 4-star hotel in a prime central location.

Park Plaza Westminster Bridge

A major conferencing hotel with a great spa and several restaurants

Premier Inn County Hall

Reliable and centrally-located budget-friendly hotel.

Premier Inn Waterloo (Westminster Bridge)

14-floor budget hotel right next to Waterloo Station.

Sea Containers London

A luxury designer hotel right on the river.

The Mad Hatter Hotel

30-room hotel and pub located just a stone's throw from Blackfriars Station.

What's On

Film, theatre, music, art and more – there’s always something happening in South Bank! Browse what’s on and grab your tickets to see a world-class show, experience an international festival or catch an exciting debut by an emerging artist.

Tourists walk through Jubilee Gardens in the summer with the Lonon Eye and Big Ben in the background

Get Inspired

Whether you’re planning a date night or a family day trip, in need of some brunch ideas or looking for some sightseeing suggestions that will keep you out of the rain, check out our South Bank guides for inspiration.