Start: Waterloo Train Station, Station Approach, London, Greater London. (SE1 8SW) Grid Ref. TQ 3097 7969
(S) We start our walk at Waterloo Station. Exit the station by the main entrance gate with the stairs on Cab Road. When you get to the bottom of the stairs, turn left on Cab Road and go down the road (North West) until you reach the A3200 (York Road). Continue straight (North West) and cross York Street. Walk under the bridge.
(1) Once on the other side of the tunnel, take left (North West) on Concert Hall Approach. Walk straight down (North West) Concert Hall Approach until the end. Then between the Ping Pong restaurant and the Concert Hall, you see a couple of stairs. Walk up the stairs and you arrive at the South Bank.
Once at the top of the stairs, turn right (North East) on the South Bank. At the Skate Park, walk towards the River Thames and you are on the Thames Path. The path heads towards the North East and then bends towards the East. Stay on it for 1.77 Km or so with the River Thame on your left-hand side.
(2) The path comes to an end as you arrive at the Anchor Pub, easily recognisable with its red window frames. Deviate from the edge of the River Thames and walk alongside the Anchor Pub. Turn right (South) in front of the Nandos and Wagamama restaurants and then take the tunnel on your left (East) just before the Vinopolis restaurant. Walk under the tunnel.
On the other side, continue straight (East) on Clink Street. You pass in front of the Clink Museum and the remains of the Great Hall. At the end of the street, you arrive at the reconstitution of the Golden Hinde ship.
After the ship, turn left (North East) and then right (East) onto Montague Close. Once you pass London Bridge, the street changes name and becomes Tooley Street. Keep walking on Tooley Street until it merges with Duke Street Hill (A200). Then take left (South East) onto Tooley Street (the street keeps the same name after it merges with Tooley Street).
(3) Then, a little bit further down, turn left (North East) on Hay's Lane. The Thames Path is at the end of this street. Walk towards it. When you are at the end of the street facing the river, turn right (South East) onto the Thames Path and continue in this direction.
You pass in front of the HMS Belfast, Hay's Galleria and Tower Bridge. After 1.14 Km you arrive at the Saviour's Docks. Walk across the suspension bridge. On the other side, you come face to face with the New Concordia Wharf building and you can see the Harpy Boathouse on your left (North East). Pass the entrance of the boathouse and turn right (South West) to take the little passage between the buildings. You come out of the passage on a car park between 2 buildings.
(4) Take Bermondsey Wall West in front of you (South East). At the end of the street, turn right (South) onto East Lane and then left (South East) onto Chambers Street. When you arrive at the crossroad with Loftie Street, turn left (North East) onto Loftie Street. As the street comes to an end, turn right (South East) onto Bermondsey Wall East.
(5) You arrive at a green area on your left (North) with a fountain in the middle. Cross the green area and you are back on the River Thames bank. Take right (East) on the Thames Path. Walk on this part of the Thames Path for 220 m or so.
The path diverts from the river bank onto Bermondsey Wall East. Take left (East) onto Bermondsey Wall East and walk on this street for 120 m. You pass in front of the Ada Salter Statue. Just after the statue, you find a pub called the Angel. Continue straight (East) onto the pedestrian path between the Angel and a car park.
At the end of this path, you arrive at the King's Stairs Gardens. Continue on the same path for 80 m. Just before the path bends on the right (South East) turn left (North) and walk back to the river bank. When you get to the River Thames, turn right (North East) onto the Thames Path. You walk under the arcades of a residential building, then you get to a basin and need to walk around. You then walk again under the arcade of the residential building. After, you arrive at a white facade building called Prince's Tower. The path stops there.
(6) Turn right (South East) onto the alleyway before Prince's Tower. In the end, you arrive at the crossroad between Elephant Lane and Rotherhithe Street, a pedestrian road. Take left (North East) onto the pedestrian road. Stay on Rotherhithe Rod for 290 m until you reach the crossroad with Swan Road.
Opposite Swan Road, just on the side of the Charles Hay & Son Ltd Building, easily recognisable thanks to its blue doors, you find an alleyway leading back to the river bank.
(7) Turn left (North West) onto this alleyway then right (North East) onto the river Thames towpath. Continue on the Thames Path for 1.74 Km. The path first heads towards the North East and then bends towards the South East as you walk past Limehouse on the opposite bank. From time to time, you would need to walk around basins and buildings as they block the way. The Thames Path is very well signed all the way.
(8) When you arrive at Cickold's Point, the path stops. Turn right (South West) to get onto Rotherhithe Street and then left (South) onto Rotherhithe Street. Walk down (South) the street for 180 m and just after the Double Tree Hotel terrace, you find a flight of stairs on your left (East). Walk up the stairs and walk straight (East) on the alleyway between the buildings leading back to the Thames. Once you are facing the river, turn right (South) on the towpath. Stay on the Thames Path in this direction (South) for 680 m. On this stretch of the walk, you pass by the Surrey Docks Farm which is an ideal spot for a break.
(9) The Thames Path then deviates again from the river bank. Turn right (West) onto an alleyway between 2 buildings to get to Odessa Street. Turn left (South) onto Odessa Street and walk down (South) this street for 160 m.
(10) At the crossroad with Gulliver Street, take the alleyway in front of you (South). Do not turn right onto Gulliver Street. At the end of the alleyway, turn left (East) and you can see the Thames on your left (East). Once you get to the river, turn right (South) on the towpath. Continue straight (South) on the towpath for 1.1 Km. This leg of the walk is quite sinuous as you are walking past the Greenland Locks and the South Docks, where you need to cross over bridges.
(11) You then arrive at the sculpture of two cannons facing the river and the towpath comes to an end. Turn right (South West) on the footpath going across the park behind the cannons. Walk across the park, called Pepys Park, then cross Millard Road and enter the park on the opposite side of the road, called Lower Pepys.
Walk across the park in the same direction (South West). You then arrive at Grove Street (B206). Take left (Sout East) onto Grove Street. After 270 m you find the entrance gate of Sayes Court Park on your left (East). Enter the park and walk straight and then right (South East) to get to the Mulberry Tree, the landmark of the park. When you are in front of the Mulberry Tree, exit the park via the gate situated behind you (South), aligned with the tree. After you exit the park, walk down (South) Sayes Court Street.
(12) When you arrive at the crossroad with Prince Street, turn left (East) onto Prince Street. Continue straight (East) on Prince Street for 330 m until you reach the crossing with Watergate Street. Then, turn left (North) onto Watergate Street and right (East) onto Borthwick Street. Continue on this street (South East) for 230 m.
At the crossing with Deptford Green, you find an alleyway aligned with Borthwick Street (South East) on the right of the depot. Take this alleyway and then turn left (North East). You can see the Thames at the end of the passage. Once you get to the river, turn right (South East) on the towpath. Stay on the Thames Path in this direction (South East) for 270 m.
When you arrive at Peter the Great Statue, follow the towpath heading to the right (South). A little further down the path, you find a bridge on your left (East). Cross the bridge. On the opposite bank, turn left (North) to get closer to the river bank and then right (East). Continue straight (East) on the towpath for 600 m.
(13) You then arrive at the Cutty Sark. Turn right (South) in front of the ship and walk down (South) towards the Gipsy Moth Pub. Take Greenwich Church Street on the right (West) of the Gipsy Moth pub. Walk down (South West) the street for 110 m before you find Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich Station entrance on your right (West). We end the walk at the Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich Station, London SE10 9EJ (Grif. Ref. TQ 3821 7773). (E)
