From the classic The View from The Shard and Borough Market, to lesser-known spots worth adding to your trip.
1★ 4.6 · 8,174 reviews
Discover The View from The Shard, perched on floors 68 to 72 of Western Europe's tallest building. Take in floor-to-ceiling windows and an open-air deck stretching over the Thames and City skyline, with clear days revealing views well beyond London.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
45 min
Best time
morning, lunchtime, afternoon, early evening or evening
Walking intensity
Easy pace
2★ 4.6 · 129,478 reviews
Discover Borough Market, London's legendary food hub near London Bridge. Graze your way past stalls of fresh oysters, paella, artisan cheese, and baked goods, arriving early to beat the lunchtime crowds.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h15
Best time
morning, lunchtime or afternoon
Walking intensity
Easy pace
3★ 4.7 · 12,375 reviews
Discover Padella near Borough Market, where the queue is half the fun. Join locals for handmade pasta like tagliarini with Dorset crab, plus starters such as burrata with peas, at wallet-friendly prices.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h
Best time
morning, lunchtime, afternoon, early evening, evening or late night
Walking intensity
Easy pace
4★ 4.9 · 1,553 reviews
Escape London for the day on a rail journey to the South Downs. Walk along the chalk white cliffs of the south coast, taking in one of England's most photographed views, with train tickets already sorted for you.
Typical visit
10h
Best time
early morning or morning
Walking intensity
Active — lots of walking
5★ 4.7 · 2,494 reviews
Discover OMA, a lively Borough Market spot built around live-fire Greek cooking. Gather friends or a date over sharing plates of grilled fish and vegetables in a warm, celebratory atmosphere.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h30
Best time
lunchtime, afternoon, early evening, evening or late night
Walking intensity
Easy pace
6★ 4.8 · 5,231 reviews
Discover Berenjak Borough, a Persian grill near London Bridge from the team behind Hoppers and Gymkhana. Dig into richly spiced, well-balanced dishes over a lively lunch or dinner with friends.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h15
Best time
lunchtime, afternoon, early evening, evening or late night
Walking intensity
Easy pace
7★ 4.8 · 1,207 reviews
Discover Plaza Khao Gaeng in Borough Yards, a canteen-style counter dishing out Southern Thai curries over rice. Pick your dish, sit back for warm, unfussy service, and taste bold, punchy flavours that far outdo their humble looks.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h
Best time
lunchtime, afternoon, early evening, evening or late night
Walking intensity
Easy pace
8★ 4.6 · 2,726 reviews
Start your London trip the way locals actually do, at Terry's Cafe on Great Suffolk Street. Settle into the bustling, no-frills caff for a proper full English breakfast, then stick around for a hearty lunch if the queue's worth it.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h
Best time
early morning, morning, lunchtime or afternoon
Walking intensity
Easy pace
9★ 4.4 · 4,421 reviews
Discover Where The Pancakes Are, tucked under a railway arch near Borough Market. Settle into the warm, industrial-chic setting and work your way through the varied pancake menu before wandering over to the market stalls.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h
Best time
early morning, morning, lunchtime or afternoon
Walking intensity
Easy pace
10★ 4.4 · 287 reviews
Discover Camille, the small plates spot near Borough Market that some diners rank as London's best. Share a table of maximalist, savoury dishes with a friend or partner, guided by warm staff happy to accommodate walk-ins.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h45
Best time
lunchtime, afternoon, early evening or evening
Walking intensity
Easy pace
11★ 4.5 · 1,510 reviews
Discover Roasting Plant Coffee just steps from London Bridge. Settle into the clean, spacious seating with your laptop and enjoy a well-brewed coffee, whether you're stopping briefly or staying to work.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
25 min
Best time
early morning, morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening
Walking intensity
Easy pace
12★ 4.3 · 7,446 reviews
Step into George, a centuries-old galleried pub tucked near Borough Market. Settle in for a pint or a lunchtime meal across its historic multiple floors, soaking up a genuine slice of old London.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h30
Best time
morning, lunchtime, afternoon, early evening, evening or late night
Walking intensity
Easy pace
13★ 4.7 · 4,210 reviews
Step into Southwark Cathedral, a Gothic riverside gem tucked beside London Bridge. Wander its quiet, uncrowded interior to find the Shakespeare memorial before grabbing a bite at nearby Borough Market.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
35 min
Best time
morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening
Walking intensity
Moderate walking
14★ 4.5 · 2,167 reviews
Discover Lantana London Bridge, an Australian-style café tucked near Borough Market. Tuck into the fried chicken and French toast plate that draws the most praise, alongside a broader brunch and lunch menu in a relaxed, functional setting.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h
Best time
early morning, morning, lunchtime, afternoon, early evening or evening
Walking intensity
Easy pace
15★ 4.4 · 1,738 reviews
Step aboard the Golden Hinde, a full-size replica of Sir Francis Drake's Tudor galleon docked on the Bankside. Explore its decks, cannons, and cramped quarters for a hands-on, budget-friendly stop between London Bridge and the Globe.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
25 min
Best time
morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening
Walking intensity
Easy pace
16★ 4.7 · 22,500 reviews
Step into the real streets of central London that inspired the Harry Potter films. Join a small guided group on a two-hour walk past filming locations and landmarks, hearing film trivia woven with the city's genuine history.
Typical visit
2h
Best time
morning, lunchtime or afternoon
Walking intensity
Moderate walking
17★ 3.9 · 475 reviews
Grab a seat at Maria's Market Cafe, tucked right inside the bustle of Borough Market. Tuck into a classic full English or opt for smoked salmon and eggs, served by accommodating staff before you head back out to explore the stalls.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
1h
Best time
early morning, morning, lunchtime or afternoon
Walking intensity
Easy pace
18★ 4.6 · 1,477 reviews
Climb the narrow spiral staircase to Europe's oldest surviving operating theatre, hidden in a church garret near London Bridge. See the surgical tools and herb-drying racks that reveal what surgery looked like before anaesthesia and antiseptics.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
45 min
Best time
morning, lunchtime or afternoon
Walking intensity
Easy pace
19★ 4.9 · 131 reviews
Discover Dairy Dairy Coffee, a tucked-away favorite inside Borough's John Harvard Library. Sip specialty beans and try the banana cake while owner Jamie turns a quick stop into the neighbourhood's best-loved coffee ritual.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
25 min
Best time
early morning, morning, lunchtime or afternoon
Walking intensity
Easy pace
20★ 4.6 · 333 reviews
Step off the busy streets near Borough Market into Crossbones Graveyard, a small memorial garden with a poignant story. Read the ribbons and handwritten tributes covering its gates, and if timing allows, join one of the regular vigils honoring the forgotten poor and sex workers buried here.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
20 min
Best time
lunchtime
Walking intensity
Easy pace
21★ 4.1 · 405 reviews
Step into the Fashion and Textile Museum near Bermondsey Street. Explore a single, focused exhibition centered on a specific designer, era, or theme, ideal for a quick 40-minute deep dive into costume and textile history.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
40 min
Best time
morning, lunchtime, afternoon or early evening
Walking intensity
Easy pace
22★ 4.7 · 289 reviews
Discover Red Cross Garden, a pocket-sized Victorian retreat tucked near Borough Market. Wander past its maypole, cottages, and community hall while soaking in the quiet corners of Octavia Hill's pioneering social-reform project.
Reasons to go
Typical visit
20 min
Best time
early morning, morning, lunchtime or afternoon
Walking intensity
Easy pace
