The Millennium Mile: Thames River Walk

Tie those shoes and head out the door: you're going for a walk today. The Millennium Mile along the Thames River is the perfect place to go for a stroll and observe London culture. There are bars, museums, historical buildings, and even a skateboarding park. In reality, you can walk along the Thames River path through London for forty miles; but everything you'll want to see is within a one mile stretch. Easy, breezy, sight seeing. There are three must see stops along the Mile that you will not want to miss: the Old Globe Theater, Southbank Center, and the London Eye. Although you can begin at either end, start at the Globe and make your way to the Eye. This is the best way to make the most of your time. The Globe Theater is a reconstruction of the theater associated with William Shakespeare that now operates as both a theater and a museum. The cost of the museum tour is minimal and you will have an opportunity to explore different exhibits before starting the tour. You can even buy tickets to attend the production of a play. Helpful tip: if your tour starts and you haven't finished going through the exhibit, you can use your ticket to regain entry and explore the museum until you have seen everything. After the Globe why not walk down the Millennium Mile for lunch and a round of drinks at the Southbank Center? The center is a little far from the Globe but there's nothing like a long walk along the Thames to work up your appetite and give you a great view of London; including Saint Paul’s Cathedral and the tallest building in Europe known as the Shard. And if you feel yourself getting a little too hungry as you sight see, buy yourself a bag of roasted chestnuts from a street vendor. They smell amazing and taste even better. The Southbank Center is a hubbub of culture and the opportune place to rest your feet for a bit and people watch. There are numerous restaurants to choose from and even a skate park if you would like some entertainment with your food. But don't get too distracted by the skaters, be sure to head to the second level of the Center and sit out on the deck with a pint. From here you will have a perfect view of the Big Ben and the House of Parliament from across the Thames. The best part about Southbank Center is its convenient location near the London Eye. Continue down the Millennium Mile for a short distance until you reach the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe known as the London Eye. The ride takes about thirty minutes and you will have the unique experience of an almost birds eye view of London. This is a great opportunity for taking photos and you will even have a view of the London Bridge. Helpful tip: buy your tickets in advance online for a ten percent discount. Date idea: splurge a little and purchase tickets for the champagne ride. For the most romantic effect go at night when the Eye is lit up. Sip on champagne with your date and enjoy the city lights. If you're in the area at night be sure to stop by the London Eye and see if there is a carnival going on. This is the perfect place to take your kids for a carousel ride and pose for photos with their favorite cartoon characters. The Millennium Mile is a beautiful walk along the Thames River that you will not want to miss. The Globe Theater, Southbank Center, and London Eye provide a great opportunity to get a taste for London culture. If none of these are up your alley, the Millennium Mile is still a recommended spot for restaurants and a great view of the city. What you will see as you journey down the Thames is well worth the walk.

British culture is becoming frequently more ambiguous as the decades roll by; with different traditions and beliefs openly welcomed, British-ness has claimed new and exciting facets. London signifies this best as the all-inclusive melting pot, but for the visiting purist who only has stories and TV takes to work off of, the Millennium Mile along the Southbank offers the quintessential insight into the pomp, famous industrial past and burgeoning industrial future of the UK’s capital. The Millennium Mile proves that even though you’re travelling to possibly the most expensive city in the world, doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it cheaply. The walk – which spans the Southbank along the iconic River Thames - is of course free (as long as you choose to flout entry into any of the landmarks) and will provide you with an eye-opening experience of the beautiful historical architecture and grandeur of London. The short journey puts you face to face with many of the landmarks witnessed in films and on postcards – Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament and the London Eye - but there is also something for the domestic contingent with its lively pathway serving as a highway for pleasant faces during the day, then transforming into a romantic relaxing halogen-lit setting come nightfall. And if you find yourself becoming hungry or just tired after spending so much time on your feet, there are plenty of rest stops and restaurants offering an international range of cuisine from specially-cooked Japanese noodles to authentic Italian pizza. The walk may only be a relatively short one, but you can easily make a day of it.

My girlfriend loves this walk. Seriously don’t know how many times I’ve done it with her. Went to the Christmas market here a few days ago which was a bit of a bust. Not as many stalls as I had hoped for, and expensive bratwurst. There are also several firework shows during the year. Its a bit old since I've lived in London a while but i understand how its big for tourists.

I’ve been in London a bit too long to still be a tourist, but when I’m in the center, this is the walk I gravitate towards. The Thames isn’t the prettiest of rivers—all right, it’s downright disgusting at times and is always grey—but this walk makes the Thames, and London, somehow beautiful. It’s like walking through hundreds of years of London's history, from Westminster to the Eye to the recreation of Shakespeare’s globe. Keep going right past Tower Bridge if you get a chance, or cross to St. Katherine’s Docks and grab a boat all the way back.

Strolling the Millenium Mile truly relaxed me and was so much more fun than sitting on top a double decker bus inhaling fumes for my London orientation. I felt like I stumbled onto Shakespear's Globe theatre, and thoroughly enjoyed the new Tate with the Millenium Bridge!   Great time seeing the  Tower of London for the first time!