London Bridge is one of the capital's best areas for a day out — centuries of history, world-class food, riverside views and, of course, the start of the Bermondsey Beer Mile. Whether you're visiting for the first time or rediscovering it, here are the best things to do near London Bridge, and how a local would put them together into a brilliant day.
Borough Market
Start at London's most famous food market. Borough Market is a feast for the senses — coffee, pastries, cheese, charcuterie, street food and produce from across the country and beyond. It's also the historic heart of Southwark's brewing and trading past, the story we tell on our heritage walk. Go hungry and graze your way around.
The Shard and the View
Western Europe's tallest building rises straight out of London Bridge station. Head up to The View from The Shard for a jaw-dropping panorama, book a table at one of its sky-high restaurants and bars, or simply admire the architecture from street level.
Bankside and the riverside walk
Walk west along the Thames Path and you'll pass Southwark Cathedral, the Golden Hinde, the Clink Prison Museum, Shakespeare's Globe, Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge — one of the best free walks in London, packed with history and views across to St Paul's.
Historic pubs
The area is rich in historic boozers. Don't miss The George Inn on Borough High Street — the last galleried coaching inn in London, owned by the National Trust and mentioned by Dickens. There are plenty more characterful pubs tucked down the side streets, perfect for a proper pint.
Maltby Street Market
A smaller, buzzier weekend food market in the railway arches towards Bermondsey. Maltby Street is superb for street food and a great lunch stop — and it sits right on the route of the Beer Mile, making it the natural midpoint of a food-and-beer day.
The Bermondsey Beer Mile
Just south of the station, the railway arches hide the UK's densest run of craft breweries — the famous Bermondsey Beer Mile. It's the perfect afternoon for beer lovers, and our guided tour takes the planning off your hands with six taprooms and beer included. See the route & opening times if you'd rather go it alone.
Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast
A short riverside stroll east brings you to the iconic Tower Bridge, with its glass-floored walkway and engine-room exhibition, and the moored warship HMS Belfast — both great for families and history fans alike.
Bermondsey Street
One of London's most charming streets, lined with independent shops, restaurants and galleries including White Cube Bermondsey and the Fashion and Textile Museum. It's a lovely, less-touristy contrast to the bustle around the station.
A suggested day around London Bridge
- Morning: coffee and a graze at Borough Market, then the Bankside riverside walk.
- Midday: up The Shard for the view, or explore Bermondsey Street's galleries.
- Lunch: street food at Maltby Street Market.
- Afternoon: the Bermondsey Beer Mile — guided or self-led.
- Evening: dinner and a pint in a historic pub.
Getting around
London Bridge is superbly connected — Underground (Jubilee and Northern lines), National Rail and buses all converge here, and almost everything above is within easy walking distance. It's also a short hop from Tower Bridge, Borough and Bermondsey, so you can easily combine areas in a day.
Make it a beer day
If your group loves beer, the area is hard to beat — combine the sights with a brewery tour, a cheese, meat & beer tasting or a private group tour for a celebration. For more inspiration, see our guide to the best brewery tours in London.
Things to do near London Bridge with kids
It's a surprisingly family-friendly area by day. Borough Market is a hit with young foodies, HMS Belfast and the Tower Bridge engine rooms are brilliant for curious kids, and the riverside walk has plenty of space to roam, plus the Golden Hinde and the London Dungeon nearby. Many Beer Mile taprooms are relaxed and welcoming earlier in the day, though the area becomes more adult-oriented in the evening.
London Bridge at night
As the sun sets, the area shifts gear. Borough Market's restaurants, the bars beneath the arches and the rooftop venues around the Shard come alive, and a craft beer or a riverside dinner with Tower Bridge lit up is hard to beat. It's a lovely spot to round off a day that started with sightseeing and rolled into the Beer Mile.
A rainy-day plan
Don't let the weather stop you. Much of the best of London Bridge is under cover — Borough Market's halls, the museums, The Shard, and crucially the railway-arch taprooms of the Bermondsey Beer Mile, which are designed for exactly this. A guided beer tour is a brilliant rainy-day activity: you're indoors at every stop, with only short hops between arches.
Where to stay near London Bridge
If you're making a weekend of it, London Bridge and Bermondsey are a superb base. You're within walking distance of Borough Market, the river, the Shard and the Beer Mile, with fast links across the rest of the city when you want them. The area offers everything from smart hotels around the station to boutique stays along Bermondsey Street, so you can roll out of bed and straight into a day of food, history and beer.
The verdict
Few parts of London reward a day on foot like London Bridge. You can breakfast at Borough Market, walk the river past Tate Modern, take in centuries of history, eat your way around Maltby Street and finish on the Bermondsey Beer Mile — all without needing the Tube. Add a guided brewery tour or a beer and cheese tasting and you've got one of the best-value, most memorable days out in the capital.
Plan your visit
However you spend it, London Bridge is best taken at a wander — leave time to follow your nose, duck into a historic pub and let the day unfold. And if beer is on the agenda, let us handle that part: our guided Beer Mile tour turns the area's best breweries into one easy, memorable afternoon.