With its unique blend of history, culture, and modern attractions, London Bridge is an essential stop on any visit to this dynamic city. Whether it’s visiting the gorgeous Tower Bridge just down the road or strolls along the picturesque Thames Path, there’s so much to do.
Get hands-on with the sensational history at the London Bridge Experience. Afterwards, enjoy a quick walk to experience the lively spirit of Borough Market! The area is perfect for grabbing a bite with plenty of pubs and restaurants offering local and international flavors.
Whether you’re a culture vulture, a foodie, or both, this buzzing corner of London offers a truly diverse experience. This guide covers the top things to do to help you get the most out of your visit exploring the area surrounding London Bridge.
1. Visit the Tower Bridge Exhibition
This unique exhibition experience is the best way to discover one of London’s most famous landmarks. Walking across the glass-floored walkway, 138 feet above the River Thames, provides an unparalleled bird’s eye view of the city. As you stare down, boats sail smoothly underfoot. Further on, the skyline opens up with notable sights including Southwark Cathedral and The Shard. It’s a fantastic location for sweeping pictures that show off the beauty of the London skyline.
Enter the magnificent Victorian engine rooms, and you are transported back in time. Admire the original Victorian machinery that powered the bridge. Reading about how it used 20 tons of coal a week to operate just adds to that experience and makes it all the more fascinating.
To solve the problem, in the 1970s, they restored the control cab by replacing the diesel engines with electric equipment. The exhibit covers the history of the bridge’s engineering advances. It’s a unique opportunity to engage with the spirit of industrial innovation that built the city’s future, especially in areas like Southwark.
Interactive displays help recreate the bridge’s construction and evolution over time. You’ll discover how the bridge was engineered to lift high enough for tall ships to pass below. It’s a really interesting process and it probably happens 20 to 30 times each day in the London Bridge area.
The bridge lift, which takes seven minutes, is not to be missed. With a little effort, the exhibits bring the scale and importance of this engineering marvel to life.
The panoramic observation deck is essential for taking those iconic Tower Bridge photos. With stunning landscape views and the ideal vantage point to see London’s skyline, it’s a photographer’s paradise. The exhibition is fully accessible too, with lifts to all floors, so everyone can share this unique experience.
2. Explore Borough Market’s Culinary Delights
Borough Market is the place to go for fresh produce and prepared street food from every corner of the globe. Vendors serve up everything from Singaporean and Malaysian specialties to Israeli and Iraqi street food, so there’s a ton to sample. You’ll be biting into sustainably sourced ingredients across countless dishes, making this spot an eco-friendly choice as well.
If you’ve never had Malaysian clay pot cuisine, here’s your opportunity. That coconut flavoring found its way into other Malaysian staples here, helping to establish a deep, rich, one-of-a-kind taste. Vegetarians are well catered for, too, with Pajeri salads or fattoush, each loaded with fresh, vibrant ingredients.
A visit fits perfectly into a leisurely afternoon, with the market open Wednesday through Saturday. Spending 1 to 2 hours here lets you explore its historic charm while indulging in delicious offerings. Renowned restaurants and food stalls line the market, satisfying every craving.
Whether you’re in the mood for a quick bite or a complete meal, there’s something to suit your appetite. For fans of artisanal products, you’ll find cheeses, bread, and other handmade goods that highlight quality and flavor.
Here’s a quick list of must-try dishes:
- Artisanal cheeses – creamy, sharp, and everything in between
- Gourmet sandwiches – fresh bread piled high with unique fillings
- Malaysian clay pot rice – packed with coconut-infused goodness
- Fattoush salads – a vegetarian favorite bursting with crisp veggies
- Pajeri salads – hearty, traditional, and meat-free
The market’s vast culinary variety blends Indonesian, Singaporean, and Malaysian flavors, guaranteeing a fantastic new discovery with each trip. From street food to sit-down meals, every bite is a worldly adventure.
3. Stroll Along the Thames Path
Walking the Thames Path will give you the chance to see London’s greatest highlights from a completely different perspective. Following the riverside, you’ll catch picturesque scenes like Tower Bridge, the Shard, and even the modern skyline blending with historic architecture. The path is an excellent option for anyone who wants to experience the city from the ground level at a more leisurely pace.
One of the best routes to experience is the stretch between London Bridge and Tower Bridge. It’s an easy stroll under one mile in length with plenty to see along the way. Along the way, you’ll see the site of the original London Bridge, once lined with houses before historic fires reshaped the city.
Further on, the view opens up to the iconic Tower Bridge, one of the most unmissable highlights of the Thames Path. The Thames Path provides a very useful, convenient route through the heart of central London. It curves tightly next to the river and offers quick access to other West End attractions.
Historical landmarks and hidden gems are plentiful along this route. Continuing on, the path takes you in front of the Blackfriars Railway Bridge. This remarkable work of Victorian engineering still holds its head up high today. The SIS Building, more commonly known as MI6 headquarters, will be on your right, too.
Of all of England’s National Trails, the Thames Path is unique. It has much less diversions and focuses more on urban exploration rather than rural landscape.
Here are a few notable ones:
- A historic pub with outdoor seating by the water.
- Perfect for a snack with views of St. Paul’s.
- One of London’s oldest riverside pubs.
4. Discover the Shard’s Observation Deck
Climb to the top of the UK’s tallest building, The Shard, for stunning 360-degree views that extend far beyond London. From the open-air skydeck, on the 72nd floor, you’ll experience jaw-dropping 360-degree views all day and night long. Standing at almost 800 feet, this multi-floor observatory provides a unique, all-encompassing view throughout the city.
Iconic global landmarks such as the Tower of London continue to dazzle tourists. The curvy shape of the Thames River contributes to this area’s amazing beauty. The View from The Shard is more than an amazing view.
It’s not just a great value ticket, it’s your chance to experience London’s skyline from a new perspective you can’t get anywhere else. The Shard looms over the city at more than 1,000 feet tall. The building is impressive, soaring higher than almost any other building around it, nearly double their height.
The Shard’s observation deck is open, and we want you on it! Tickets are only $34.00 per person and children under three are admitted free. Whether you visit during the day or in the evening when the rest of the city twinkles below, the view is beyond memorable.
Dining at one of The Shard’s high-end restaurants makes your visit even more memorable. Aqua Shard and Oblix, on the 31st floor, bring fine dining to the table with breathtaking views. Dining at any of these restaurants turns any meal into a celebratory experience.
Picture yourself savoring hand-made, locally sourced dishes, all the while with a view of the city spread out below you. For an especially sky-high experience, reserve a table around sunset so you can enjoy your meal alongside some magical golden-hour views.
Photography lovers will find sunset a great time to visit. The combination of colourful sunsets and London twinkling at night makes it a fantastic place to shoot some iconic images. Whether you’re taking photos from the skydeck or just enjoying the experience, it’s a magical evening.
5. Experience the London Bridge Experience
Be warned though, the London Bridge Experience is history at its most thrilling, with a touch of the macabre. It’s an unmissable treat if you’re looking to discover more about London’s fascinating history! The immersive, guided tour starts with an incredible, multi-story trip through time.
It begins in 53 A.D. With the Romans building the first known bridge over the Thames. Roman soldiers and townsfolk recreate their time with dramatic representations of sights, smells and rituals that make the period come alive. In the process, you’ll listen to hair-raising ghost accounts and blood-chilling stories linked to the bridge’s grim past. This first section of the experience is a queue like no other, and it really prepares you for what’s in store.
Following the history tour, you’ll go down into the London Tombs, a haunted maze underneath London Bridge station. This section raises the thrill factor with live actors and jaw-dropping special effects. It plunges you into a dramatic narrative with notorious rogues and macabre happenings.
The Clink Prison Museum really brings it all to life. It gives a glimpse into the daily lives of some of history’s most notorious characters from hundreds of years ago. Inside, you can visit exhibits featuring devices used for punishment, as well as listen to disturbing stories about life inside prison walls.
Thanks to museum-quality interactive exhibits, the whole visit is informative, entertaining, and downright spooky. There are live-action elements that allow you to take part in activities that recreate some of the bridge’s most harrowing moments. You’ll be treated to an exciting interpretation of history.
Or, test your nerve while you walk the terrifying haunted house. There’s a lot to thrill and chill you!
Highlights:
- Guided tour bringing to life the unique history of London Bridge from the Romans to today
- London Tombs haunted maze with live actors and effects
- Clink Prison Museum showcasing London’s crime-ridden past
- Family-friendly fun for ages 4 and above
- No advance reservations required with the London Pass, saving you up to 50%.
Conclusion
London Bridge’s attractions, from must-see monuments to off the beaten path treasures. From immersing yourself in history, to enjoying international flavors, to enjoying amazing views – you can do it all in one neighborhood! Check out the Tower Bridge Exhibition and grab a tasty morsel from Borough Market. See the most stunning city view from the London Eye and Shard, and turn every second into something extraordinary. Adding a walk along the Thames Path or a visit to the London Bridge Experience makes for an even fuller day.
Whatever you’re looking to do from a short stay or a long visit, there’s something for everyone here. Enjoy every second and experience this beautiful collision of culture, history and modern day bustle. Let the adventure begin and may you discover some of the wonderful treasures that London Bridge has to offer!