A local’s guide to walking the beautiful Thames Path in London, with Victorian industrial warehouses, views of Tower Bridge, and secret streets and alleys!
The Thames Path in London is a place I knew very little about, and for good reason.
While I love being by the River Thames near Tower Bridge, Southbank, or even Vauxhall, I have discovered very little on the North Bank, Wapping, and similar spots.
And yet, it is one of the only places where you can find beautiful mosaics in London.
It even seems to me that the stretch between Rotherhithe and Tower Bridge, with its magnificent free and full view of Tower Bridge, is one of the calmest places in London, perfect for overthinkers who need to clear their heads.
So today we will stop at a few important points along the Thames Path, this living timeline full of historic places to see, which are some of the most secret spots in London.
What to See Along the Thames Path: 5 Old Places to Tread
The Thames Path and a walk along the River Thames is a cool thing to do in London in the spring or summer.
It is a bit rougher from September or October because it starts to get very cold near the river, and it often rains during that season.
You can feel the different layers of London’s history there, starting from its Roman roots to its industrial peak in the Victorian era with its many warehouses.
London’s Thames Path: Rotherhithe Street and Mayflower Pub
Rotherhithe Street is one of the most historically important points in London.
You are not only in one of the most beautiful streets in the city, but also in what was once the beating heart of the shipbuilding industry.
You stroll through this little London village and come across one of the most beautiful pubs in London right in the middle of Rotherhithe Street – the Mayflower pub, which sits on the site where the Pilgrims’ ship left for America in 1620.
If you want to discover more about the Rotherhithe neighborhood, I recommend reading the guide I wrote about it, covering Rotherhithe Street, St Mary’s church with its secret cemetery, or the old charity school.
London’s Thames Path: Converted Warehouses
In the streets dotting the Thames Path, you find very aesthetic buildings like Hope Wharf in Rotherhithe, which are Victorian warehouses now converted into private residences and still feature heavy iron loading cranes.
This is the case whether you are near Shad Thames, Rotherhithe, or even Wapping (which is not featured in this guide but is still one of the beautiful London maritime districts).
London’s Thames Path: Reeds Wharf and Mill Street
At Reeds Wharf in Bermondsey, you can admire the facade very close to the River Thames.
It is a beautiful example of a former grain and spice warehouse where the buildings sit directly over the water.
It is a great place for a walk, although I always feel like I am thrown back into an ancient time when I follow the Thames Path and discover all the warehouses that used to be, like New Concordia Wharf.
Then, when you leave Mill Street and Bermondsey Wall West, you have to cross St Saviour’s Dock Footbridge, which leads to Tea Trade Wharf and further down to Shad Thames.
London’s Thames Path: St Saviour’s Dock
St Saviour’s Dock was famously known as the site of the Jacob’s Island slum in Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, and it is full of other maritime buildings.
You are definitely in maritime neighborhoods when taking the Thames Path, and it really shows.
You will specifically find metal boat pieces along the riverfront, which are industrial monuments that dot the path leading to Tower Bridge.
London’s Thames Path: St Katharine Docks and the Tower Bridge View
St Katharine Docks is one of the most hidden places in London, yet it is located just a few minutes on foot from Tower Bridge.
It is a calm marina where you will notably find the Dickens Inn, an 18th-century timber brewery that was literally moved on rollers to save it from demolition.
From St Katharine Docks, which opened in 1828 to handle luxury goods like ivory, silk, or spices, you have a very beautiful view of Tower Bridge as well as the Shard building.
You can have breakfast or lunch there, or simply take a romantic walk, or use it as a photo spot off the beaten path.
Thames Path London Photo Gallery
What to See Along the Thames Path: 5 Old Places to Tread
Once you have finished discovering the maritime history of London and the Thames Path in particular, you will find many other historical (and less historical) places to visit in London.
I love walking along the Thames Path to rediscover its beautiful old pubs and secret sculptures, and to feel history pierce through me while the noise of Covent Garden, Soho, and Oxford Street fades from my ears.
But when I am done, I like to wander and find beautiful ruins, stumble upon medieval spots, or unique boutiques and concept stores.
There is so much to do in London, whether you are fond of free museums, colorful places and neons, secret gardens, or beautiful churches, you will always find something to do here!
Some of my favorite places in London?
- St Dunstan in the East church ruins
- Christchurch Greyfriars church ruins
- Reflection Garden
- The Vaults Collective, Crystal Palace
- Colairo’s, Crystal Palace
Thames Path London
Website: TFL