Queen's Walk

Following the wide pedestrianised Queen’s Walk promenade along the river between Lambeth and Blackfriars Bridges, you can take in some of the finest views in the city and marvel at several iconic London landmarks along the way. There are also all kinds of interesting pop-ups to visit,  riverside terraces to relax at, art installations and monuments to admire and buskers to entertain you along the route too!

A relaxed stroll from Lambeth Bridge to Blackfriars Bridge should take about 30 minutes (much longer if you choose to stop and enjoy the sights!).

You can also continue your walk onwards into neighbouring Bankside or cross the river and admire the South Bank skyline from the opposite side of the river. A romantic stroll at sunset is the perfect time to come as most of the Queen's Walk in South Bank looks west right onto the setting sun.

Prominent stops along the Queen’s Walk that are not to be missed include:

Oxo Tower Wharf 
A distinctive riverside landmark from the 1930s. Walk out onto one of the river piers for a different perspective on the river! The Oxo Tower has several places to grab a coffee to go while you enjoy the walk.

Observation Point and Ernie’s Beach 
Stop at this unique vantage point at the foot of a major bend in the river and marvel at one of the best riverside views of St Paul’s Cathedral. When the river tide is low you can also get down to the water and do a spot of mudlarking on Ernie’s Beach.

National Theatre and Waterloo Bridge
There are plenty of places in front of the iconic Brutalist landmark National Theatre to take a seat and soak up the scene. The theatre also has a great choice of street food, a coffee shop and bars if you want to stop for refreshments. Beneath Waterloo Bridge in front of the BFI cinema look out for the long-running South Bank Book Market (open during the daytime on dry days). Fars. For a different perspective on the river it’s also worth taking the stairs up onto the bridge itself to look at the view, immortalised in The Kinks' song Waterloo Sunset.

Southbank Centre
Another Brutalist landmark, there’s always something happening in and around the Southbank Centre. Look out for pop-ups, food trucks and art installations along the riverfront and take your pick from plenty of cafes and bars. On the way stop to watch the skaters at the South Bank Skate Park trying out some tricks.

Jubilee Gardens and the London Eye
One of London’s most-loved icons, the Queen’s Walk is a super spot from which to admire the view of the London Eye. Selfie spots abound, whether it’s from underneath the wheel or from the lush Jubilee Gardens.

Westminster Bridge 
Even more photo opportunities await at Westminster Bridge where you’ll find one of the best views of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. The Queen’s Walk is a super popular angle from which to get a photo, although you can also escape the crowds and capture a shot with a little extra elevation from the garden at the St Thomas Hospital (access the gardens from just off Westminster Bridge).

Covid Memorial Wall and the Albert Embankment
The stretch of the Queen’s Walk between Westminster Bridge and Lambeth Bridge is known as the Albert Embankment. In 2020 in response to the Covid pandemic, this stretch of the river became the Covid Memorial Wall when volunteers informally began to create a monument to those who died from Covid. There are now hundreds of thousands of hand-painted hearts spanning the length of the wall, representing all the many lives lost. There are several benches along this section of the walk to take a rest and enjoy the view, plus a café and coffee truck next to the Lambeth Bridge.