When you reach the end of the bridge, at the South Bank Lion, there is a flight of steps, on your LEFT, heading down onto “The Queen’s Walk” (the River Thames Walkway in central London).

Those who can manage steps, should take these steps, and continue towards the London Eye;

If you use a wheelchair though, continue following the road (now with the County Hall building on your LEFT), until you reach the very first road junction (the junction of Westminster Bridge Road and Belvedere Road). Turn LEFT here (the County Hall building will be on your LEFT again). At the end of the County Hall Building, turn LEFT again – and you will see the London Eye directly ahead of you (the London Eye ticket office and accessible toilet are within the County Hall building on your LEFT);

In my opinion, the first bridge that you come to (BEFORE you actually pass under the bridge) is by far the best, as it offers amazing views of both the London Eye (on this bank), and of Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament (on the other) [PIC].

Wheelchair access to the bridge is available via a lift (which is located under the glass-walled steps).

Once up on the bridge, walk/roll to around midway, where you’ll have an amazing view. Before retracing your steps, and continuing along the river Thames walkway;

Southbank Centre [MAP]:

You will see the Southbank Centre on your RIGHT next. There are wheelchair accessible toilets and eating/drinking options here;

Viewpoint [MAP]:

Just before Gabriel’s Wharf, there is an excellent Observation Point, which has great views across the River Thames, and overlooks Thames Beach;

Soon after the Millennium Bridge, you will see Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre on your RIGHT (wheelchair accessible too);

Minerva Square [MAP]:

There is a great view of the river from the Southwark View Point at the riverside end of Minerva Square (which is on your LEFT);

As you continue your stroll by the River Thames, the next notable place you will come to is Hay’s Galleria (it’s unavoidable, you actually pass through the riverside part of this indoor shopping area as you walk by);

Hay’s Galleria [MAP]:

Many of the shops in Hay’s Galleria are cafes, restaurants & bars – so there are numerous eating & drinking options here. Plus, many of these places also have accessible toilets (as does the Horniman at Hays bar at the entrance/on the Thames walkway).

There is also an accessible toilet in the nearby Southwark Crown Court;

HMS Belfast [MAP]:

You can visit this former working warship on the Thames. However, being a working warship, means that there are steps and narrow passageways in many places. Some parts of HMS Belfast are wheelchair accessible, but wheelchair users might be better just viewing it from the walkway as you pass by;

After visiting (or passing) HMS Belfast, walkers who can easily manage steps should continue walking straight ahead to Tower Bridge. Just BEFORE the tunnel under the bridge, you should climb the steps, on your LEFT, up onto the public pavement which runs across Tower Bridge itself (at street level);

For wheelchair users though, and for those who have difficulty climbing steps, the distinctive former City Hall building on your right, is the start of Detour 2;

Step-Free Detour 2 [MAP]:

We now leave The Queen’s Walk for the final time (although we will be crossing the River Thames again in a few minutes, via Tower Bridge).

After passing the glass and steel building of the former City Hall, turn RIGHT (heading AWAY from the river) towards Potters Fields Park. Always keep the rounded City Hall building on your right as you pass around it. You will see Potters Fields Park behind the building.

Potters Fields Park [MAP]:

The park leads AWAY from the river. However, the park is not huge – so you don’t end up too far from the Thames;

Potters Field Park – Exit [MAP]:

At the exit of Potters Fields Park, turn LEFT onto Tooley Street (again). Almost immediately cross over the side street (confusingly named just Potters Fields). There are lowered kerbs on both sides of the road here.

IMPORTANT:

Once you reach the pavement on the other side of the side-road, continue along the main Tooley Street – but NEVER CROSS TARMAC AGAIN (as, after a few metres, Tooley Street splits in two, and you want to keep on the pavement/keep LEFT).

When the road splits, the main Tooley Street veers off to the RIGHT. But it is the smaller Queen Elizabeth Street that branches off to the LEFT, that you want to follow.

Continue along Queen Elizabeth Street to the very first junction (with Tower Bridge Road);

Tower Bridge Road [MAP]:

At this corner, turn LEFT into Tower Bridge Road. You will now see Tower Bridge directly in front of you;

Step-Free Detour 2 Ends [MAP]:

Just before you reach Tower Bridge, you will notice the top of the steps (the steps that were the cause of this wee detour). Continue walking along the same pavement as you cross Tower Bridge. If you actually wish to visit Tower Bridge (which is also wheelchair accessible), then the visitor entrance is at the base of the North Tower (on the opposite side of the River Thames, but on this same side of the road);

Tower of London (STEPS!) [MAP]:

This is the quick way down to the entrance to the Tower of London. But is only an option if you can manage the steps down*.

* I DON’T recommend an actual visit to the Tower of London for wheelchair users in any case though. Being a really old building, there are cobbles everywhere.

Instead, wheelchair users should continue along this same stretch of Tower Bridge Road, turning LEFT at the junction, and continuing until you reach the statue of the Building Worker (at the front of the Tower of London).

YOUR LONDON DIY WALK NOW ENDS