Waterloo Station — London Bridge Station
Watlon four
Verified Slow Way
Verified by 100.00% of reviewers

Verified Slow Way
Verified by 100.00% of reviewers
By Daisy C on 18 Dec 2023
Description
WatLon 2 is a pretty amazing route but I think there's room for an alternative. This is lively with lots to see but you'll make much faster progress without the intense tourist crowds of the South Bank. Also it's shorter and even easier to follow. Instead of the National Theatre and the Festival Hall you'll go past the Old Vic, the Young Vic and half a dozen or more smaller theatres. Swap Tate Modern for independent galleries and arts centres; the Oxo building for the Old Guys Hospital Quad and Colonades; the Globe for the Science Gallery; the Clink for the Crossbones Graveyard. There are dozens of places to eat: pubs, cafes, restaurants and several pop-up food markets. Interesting buildings all the way along hint at how the area's focus and prosperity has shifted over time
WatLon 2 is a pretty amazing route but I think there's room for an alternative. This is lively with lots to see but you'll make much faster progress without the intense tourist crowds of the South Bank. Also it's shorter and even easier to follow. Instead of the National Theatre and the Festival Hall you'll go past the Old Vic, the Young Vic and half a dozen or more smaller theatres. Swap Tate Modern for independent galleries and arts centres; the Oxo building for the Old Guys Hospital Quad and Colonades; the Globe for the Science Gallery; the Clink for the Crossbones Graveyard. There are dozens of places to eat: pubs, cafes, restaurants and several pop-up food markets. Interesting buildings all the way along hint at how the area's focus and prosperity has shifted over time
Status
This route has been reviewed by 3 people.
There are no issues flagged.
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Information
Route status - Live
Reviews - 3
Average rating -
Is this route good enough? - Yes (3)
There are currently no problems reported with this route.
Downloads - 3
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Geography information system (GIS) data
Total length
Maximum elevation
Minimum elevation
Start and end points
Waterloo Station
Grid Ref
TQ3100480012
Lat / Lon
51.50387° / -0.11387°
Easting / Northing
531,004E / 180,012N
What3Words
army.dusty.below
London Bridge Station
Grid Ref
TQ3290080170
Lat / Lon
51.50485° / -0.08651°
Easting / Northing
532,900E / 180,170N
What3Words
fires.spun.sprint
Waterloo Station | |
---|---|
Grid Ref | TQ3100480012 |
Lat / Lon | 51.50387° / -0.11387° |
Easting / Northing | 531,004E / 180,012N |
What3Words | army.dusty.below |
London Bridge Station | |
---|---|
Grid Ref | TQ3290080170 |
Lat / Lon | 51.50485° / -0.08651° |
Easting / Northing | 532,900E / 180,170N |
What3Words | fires.spun.sprint |
Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.
reviews
J M
03 Dec 2024I walked this route from Waterloo to London Bridge
The first challenge is to decide what exit you’re going to use to get out of Waterloo station itself. It’s a fairly sprawling station so it is easy to come out, away from where you want - but no worries on that. It’s one of those things in life.
Once you turn left into The Cut, it’s more or less a straight line heading towards London Bridge station with the Shard providing a shining beacon all the way.
It’s actually surprising how quiet this route is from Waterloo to London Bridge is… and it is very nice and pleasant overall.
The final stretch of the walk is through the grounds of Kings College and Guys hospital; with a wonderful mural to overseas nurses that work in the NHS.
KSM
03 Dec 2024Out of Waterloo Station, you cross the road and shortly turn into The Cut in front of the Old Vic. The street is lined with some lovely shops, including plenty of cafes.
You pass the Young Vic – why do I want to call it the New Vic?
It’s now basically a straight line to London Bridge, with The Shard shining like a navigation beacon at the end.
In Union Street, the cityscape changes to brick Corporation of London housing on one side, and lots of balconied new apartments and tech companies offices on the other. This is a land of coffee carts, and quirky takeaways.
Turn left past a glorious mural celebrating African woman in healthcare into the grounds of Kings College London. A nice courtyard with lots of benches for a rest, and a couple of places to have coffee. Check out the many statues dotted around the buildings here, all with an interesting story.
You pop out at the base of The Shard, another place with a plethora of places to eat and drink.
Good walk, easy to follow with a tempting range of places to stop for food or drink.
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Daisy C
19 Dec 2023A great little route. Doesn't have the views along the Thames or the big name attractions of Watlon 2 but still lively and interesting and crucially avoids the crowds. Flat land with no flights of stairs except going through the Old Guys Hospital near London Bridge, where there are very obvious ramps. There is a slope up to the meeting point at Waterloo Station.
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