Shakespeare Walking Tour London: Bankside to the West End
From riverside playhouses to statues in buzzing squares, London is the city where William Shakespeare wrote, acted and thrived. This walking tour packs the best Bard-related spots into an easy half-day adventure — plus a Tube-friendly option if little legs get tired.
Phone snatching and pickpocketing can happen in busy parts of London. Keep your belongings secure and be mindful when using your phone in public.
At a glance
3–4 hours (half-day with breaks)
~3.5 miles / 5.5 km
Southwark Cathedral, Bankside
Leicester Square, West End
Free (optional Globe tour ~£17)
Mostly step-free. Tube alternative provided for each leg. Some cobbled paths near Bankside.
Route map
Self-guided walking route
Southwark Cathedral
Montague Close
Inside this Gothic church find Shakespeare's alabaster memorial and a stained-glass window packed with his characters.
More detail
The memorial, carved by Henry McCarthy in 1912, shows a reclining Shakespeare holding a quill beneath a colourful window depicting Juliet, Hamlet, Falstaff and more. A floor ledger commemorates Edmund Shakespeare, the playwright's younger brother, buried here in 1607.
Nearby pubs: The Market Porter · The Wheatsheaf · The George Inn
Borough Market
Southwark Street
Borough Market is a convenience break, not a Shakespeare stop. Skip it if you're short on time.
A world-famous covered food market — perfect for a mid-walk break. Grab street food, coffee, or fresh pastries before continuing.
More detail
Borough Market has traded in some form since the 13th century, though the current covered market dates from the 1850s. It is not a Shakespeare site, but its location next to Southwark Cathedral makes it a natural detour. Open Wed–Sat (full market), with limited stalls Mon–Tue.
Nearby pubs: The Market Porter · The Globe Tavern · The Mudlark
The Rose Playhouse Ruins
Park Street
The Rose (built 1587) was the Globe's elder rival. Pop into the visitor centre on an open day to see the excavated stage floor lit in ghostly red.
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Founded by Philip Henslowe, the Rose became the first theatre on Bankside. Archaeologists rediscovered its remains in 1989 beneath an office block. Shakespeare likely honed his craft here in the 1590s. Saturday open-days (12–4pm, free) allow visitors to view the preserved foundations.
Nearby pubs: Anchor Bankside · The Market Porter · The George Inn
Shakespeare's Globe
Bankside
Kick off at the faithful 1599-style Shakespeare's Globe. Book a guided tour or stand as a groundling beneath the thatched roof where Hamlet once echoed.
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This open-air, timber-framed playhouse opened in 1997 as the realisation of actor-director Sam Wanamaker's vision. It precisely mirrors the 1599 Globe where many of Shakespeare's works premiered. Guides explain how the original Globe burned down during a performance of Henry VIII in 1613.
Nearby pubs: Swan at the Globe · Anchor Bankside · Founder's Arms
South Bank Riverside Walk
South Bank
Stroll westward along the Thames Path past the Tate Modern and Millennium Bridge — panoramic views of St Paul's Cathedral across the river.
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This stretch of the South Bank links Bankside's theatres to the West End. Street performers, bookstalls under Waterloo Bridge, and riverside cafés make it one of London's most enjoyable walks.
Nearby pubs: Founder's Arms · The Anchor & Hope
Trafalgar Square
Westminster
Cross the river and head to London's grandest square — home to Nelson's Column, the famous lions, and a gateway to the National Gallery.
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Trafalgar Square has been London's civic heart since the 1840s. Its fountains, statues, and steps make it a natural gathering point. From here, the National Portrait Gallery and Leicester Square are just minutes away.
Nearby pubs: The Chandos · The Harp
National Portrait Gallery
Trafalgar Square
See the iconic Chandos Portrait, possibly painted from life around 1600. Free entry, world-class art.
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The Chandos Portrait was the first piece the Gallery acquired in 1856 and remains catalogued as 'NPG 1.' It is one of only two portraits with a credible claim to depict Shakespeare from life.
Nearby pubs: The Chandos · The Sherlock Holmes Pub
Leicester Square
West End
End at the white-marble Shakespeare statue standing centre-stage in the gardens. Snap a photo beside his scroll.
More detail
The statue and fountain were installed in 1874, copying Shakespeare's monument in Westminster Abbey's Poets' Corner. It shows the Bard leaning on a stack of books while four dolphins spray water at the base. The scroll quotes Twelfth Night: 'No darkness but ignorance.'
Nearby pubs: Lamb & Flag · The Harp
Tube-friendly route
- • London Bridge → Bankside sights: Walk about 10 minutes to the Cathedral, Rose and Globe.
- • London Bridge → Trafalgar Square: Northern line southbound to Embankment, walk 5 minutes.
- • Leicester Square → National Portrait Gallery: Walk 5 minutes down Charing Cross Road.
- • Optional shortcut: Tube from Southwark to Westminster, then walk to Trafalgar Square.
Quick tips
- • River views — Stroll the South Bank between the Globe and Millennium Bridge for panoramic views.
- • Borough Market — Street-food paradise (grab fresh pastries or fish-finger sandwiches).
- • Trafalgar Square — Admire the lions, say hi to Admiral Nelson or visit the National Gallery.
In just a few hours you'll tread the same streets that inspired Romeo and Juliet, gaze at the Bard's own likeness and feel the thrill of live theatre history — all within Zone 1.