London’s South Bank

The Houses of Parliament, as seen from the South Bank

The first instinct of many tourists staying in central London hotels is often to head straight for the city’s Underground network when setting out to explore the capital. But while the colourful tangle of ‘tube’ lines and exotic station names (Swiss Cottage, Elephant and Castle, Seven Sisters) is undoubtedly a good way of getting around, it’s easy to forget just how much of the city can also be seen on foot.

Of the many great walks in and around central London, perhaps one of the best, in terms of the sheer number of sights that can be seen in one go, is the South Bank trail.

The South Bank of the River Thames was historically outside the boundaries of the City of London, which meant that lots of activities that were heavily-regulated within the city walls – gambling, drinking, theatre-going and fun-fairs, to name but a few – flourished here. Today the South Bank retains something of that air of artistry and merriment, with some of the biggest and best theatres, cinemas, music venues and art galleries in the country clustered together along the river front.