Greenwich to the Tower of London Walk: A Free Self-Guided Walking Route

This free self-guided walk from Greenwich to the Tower of London passes the Isle of Dogs, Canary Wharf, and the best historic riverside pubs in London. Here’s the full route with map and instructions.

Greenwich is one of London’s most historic corners, a UNESCO World Heritage Site sitting quietly on the south bank of the Thames, far enough from the centre to feel like its own world.

But cross under the river through the Victorian foot tunnel, and the city transforms completely.

Within a single walk, you move from a hilltop observatory that once set the time for the entire world, through a forest of glass skyscrapers, along cobbled riverside lanes and finally to the foot of one of the greatest Norman castles in Europe.

Along the way, you’ll pass pubs with views over the Thames that have been serving sailors since the 16th century. They are the perfect spot for a traditional pub lunch or a pint on the outdoor terrace.

Paul and I walked this route many times, and it’s become one of our favourites in London. Long enough to feel like a proper day out, varied enough that the miles pass quickly.

The walk is 7.6 miles (12.2km) and runs from Greenwich Station to Tower Hill, taking around three hours at a steady pace or a full day with stops.

The post includes a map, pub and restaurant recommendations, and tips on what to book in advance. Most of the walk is free, though some attractions charge an entry fee.

It’s one of the great walks in London, and a highlight of our London self-guided walks series.

Greenwich to Tower of London Walk Overview

• Start – Greenwich Mainline or DLR Station
• End – Tower Hill Tube Station
• Distance – 7.6 miles (12.2 kilometres)
• Walking Time – 3 hours 15 minutes (full day with stops)
• Best For: Naval history, towering skyscrapers, and medieval pubs

The walk begins at Greenwich Mainline or DLR Stations. It starts by exploring historic Greenwich, passing by the market, Royal Observatory, Old Royal Naval College and the Cutty Sark.

It then heads under the Thames on the Greenwich Foot Tunnel to the Isle of Dogs and Canary Wharf, where a surprisingly peaceful trail takes you into parks, along peaceful docks and into the heart of a forest of skyscrapers.

The next section follows the Thames footpath through Limehouse and Wapping, passing several excellent historic pubs – perfect for lunch or an afternoon pint.

The walk ends at St. Katherine Docks and the imposing Tower of London, where the nearby Tower Hill Tube Station makes it easy to get home.

You can complete the walk in either direction, but we recommend starting in Greenwich and ending at Tower Hill. This enables you to enjoy a very atmospheric lunch or an afternoon pint in the pubs overlooking the Thames.

If you walk without stopping, it will take just over 3 hours. But there are so many great sights to explore, plan for a full day.

The route can also be cut in half. You could just cover Greenwich to Canary Wharf, ending at Canary Wharf Station. Or you could start at Canary Wharf Station and cover the Canary Wharf to Tower of London stretch.

The walk is free, but if you want to go into some of the main attractions (such as the Painted Hall and the Tower of London), you should book in advance. We have included booking details in the instructions below.

Map: Greenwich to Tower of London Walk

Below is a map of the walk. We have marked the main attractions so you don’t miss any of the sights. If you have the map open on your phone as you walk around, you can follow your progress.

You can also use an OS Map of the route.

When to Do the Walk

This walk is great any time of year.

In early spring, Greenwich Park and the Maritime Museum are surrounded by daffodils. In summer, the long warm days are great for ambling along the docks and the River Thames. In winter, the medieval pubs have a warm and cosy atmosphere.

Start in the morning and try to time your walk so you can have lunch at the restaurant of your choice. If you are aiming for The Grapes, start about 10:00 to 10:30 am. Earlier, if you plan to visit some sights on the route.

If you want to include a visit to the Tower of London on the walk, then make sure to book the last time slot and start the walk fairly early.

The walk is entirely along paved paths, so there is no mud, and you can wear any comfortable shoes.

Where to Eat & Drink

This walk passes some of the best old pubs in London. Eating or drinking in them is a highlight of the hike

Here are your options, in the order you’ll reach them on the route.

15 grams Coffee House is just 7 minutes from Greenwich Station and is our regular caffeine fix before starting the walk. The cinnamon buns are excellent.

Greenwich Market is just around the corner from the coffee shop, and at the start of the walk, it’s got lots of street food stalls offering a variety of snacks.

Canary Wharf Restaurants are where the city crowd grab their lunch. There are some excellent options scattered around Middle and North Dock, including Caravan Canary Wharf and Brother Marcus. Personally, we prefer eating in the old pubs in Limehouse and Wapping.

Limehouse and Wapping have four excellent old pubs that all overlook the river. Each makes an excellent stop for lunch or an afternoon pint.

• The Grapes — Founded in 1583, with the current building dating from 1720, The Grapes is a Narrow Street institution and is part-owned by Sir Ian McKellen. Probably our favourite spot for lunch.
• The Prospect of Whitby — London’s oldest riverside tavern, with origins dating to around 1520 — has a few high seats out the back that overlook the river. At high tide, the wash from boats can splash onto your feet. Great place to sit with a beer.
• The Captain Kidd — Only established in 1991, it does not have the history of the other pubs, but it has a more expansive outdoor terrace overlooking the Thames.
• The Town of Ramsgate — One of Wapping’s oldest survivors, it is where the infamous Hanging Judge Jeffreys was captured in disguise during the Glorious Revolution.

St. Katherine’s Dock is a great place to end with a glass of wine or a coffee. Cafes and restaurants with outdoor tables overlook a marina of bobbing yachts and cobbled walkways that feel a world away from the nearby City.

Self-Guided Greenwich to Tower of London Walking Route

Greenwich Market

Take the train or DLR to Greenwich Train Station and follow the route on the map above. Exiting the station, turn left onto Greenwich High Road. After about 7 minutes, you reach St. Alfege Church.

The Archbishop of Canterbury was martyred here by Danish raiders in 1012. There has been a church on the site ever since. The striking baroque building you can see today was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor — his first complete church project — and built between 1712 and 1718.

Opposite is the 15 grams Coffee House. This is where we always stop for a caffeine fix before the walk. If you are walking with friends, it’s a better place to meet up than the station.

Round the corner is Greenwich Market. Greenwich Market traces its origins to a Royal Charter granted in 1700 to the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital for Seamen, and it first opened in 1737 with around 60 stallholders. Housed in a cobbled hall under a glazed roof it has been trading ever since.

Today, the stalls sell antiques, arts and crafts, collectables, and a range of street food from traditional jellied eels to Thai curries.

Leave the market and head up the King William Walk towards Greenwich Park.

Shortcut – If you want to skip the climb to the views from the Royal Observatory, go straight to the Old Royal Naval College (see map above).

Greenwich Park

Greenwich Park is the oldest enclosed Royal Park in London, and its hilltop setting is home to the Royal Observatory. Birthplace of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian Line, you can stand with one foot in each hemisphere.

It’s a steady half-mile climb uphill from Greenwich Market, but the effort is worth it. Sweeping across the Thames to the City, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Canary Wharf, the view from up here is one of my favourites in the city.

Now descend back through the park. If you fancy exploring England’s seafaring history, head to the National Maritime Museum (free entry); otherwise, continue on to the Old Royal Naval College.

Old Royal Naval College

Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1696 and 1712 as the Royal Hospital for Seamen, the Old Royal Naval College is the architectural centrepiece of Maritime Greenwich — a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is free to wander around the exterior of the buildings and the walking route takes you through the heart of the complex.

However, consider getting tickets to explore inside. The first time I ever visited, I was blown away by the Painted Hall. Its nickname is “Britain’s Sistine Chapel”, and it is easy to see why.

Designed by Sir James Thornhill and painted over 19 years, between 1707 and 1726, it covers more than 3,700 square metres of Baroque walls and ceilings, featuring over 200 figures, including kings, queens and mythological creatures.

It has appeared in productions including The Crown, Bridgerton and Les Misérables. Tickets are £19 for adults and free for children up to 16.

Cutty Sark

Exiting the ground of the Old Royal Naval College, you come face to face with Cutty Sark.

Built in 1869 on the Clyde in Dumbarton, the Cutty Sark is the sole surviving example of an extreme clipper of the late 19th-century tea trade and the only vessel in the UK to have been awarded Grade I listed status.

The ship has been in Greenwich since 1954 and was conserved between 2007 and 2012. It has since been raised three metres above the dock so you can walk beneath her hull.

It is free to look at the outside, but if you are interested in exploring inside, you need to purchase tickets (£22 for adults, £11 for children).

Greenwich Foot Tunnel

Next to the Cutty Sark is a circular building where the Greenwich Foot Tunnel begins. Opened on 4 August 1902, it was built to replace an expensive and unreliable ferry service, allowing workers living south of the Thames to reach the docks and shipyards on the Isle of Dogs.

Wind your way down the steps (there is also a lift) and head through the tunnel. When you get to the other end, make sure you turn around to get the “Canaletto view” of the Old Royal Naval College and the Queen’s House framed against the hill of Greenwich Park.

Isle of Dogs

You are now north of the River Thames in the Isle of Dogs.

Until the early 19th century, the Isle of Dogs was little more than flood-prone pastureland inhabited by millers, ferrymen and cowherds. In 1802, it was transformed with the opening of the West India Docks, heralding the area’s most successful period as a centre of global trade.

However, the closure of the docks in the 1960’s and 70’s left the peninsula in steady decline until the creation of the London Docklands Development Corporation in 1981 and the subsequent rise of Canary Wharf.

It has taken 20 to 30 years for this development to fully mature, but today it is a wonderful mix of green parks, towering skyscrapers, and peaceful docks. It has become one of my favourite parts of London to walk through.

Follow the map through the greenery of Mudchute Park, then past Millwall Dock and along South Dock. Take the footbridge over South Dock and through a building into the heart of Canary Wharf.

Canary Wharf

You are now in the heart of Canary Wharf, surrounded by skyscrapers.

Built from scratch in 1988, it has grown into one of the world’s leading financial districts, with around 105,000 people working across 16 million square feet of office and retail space.

It may feel professional with suited workers bustling about, but the docks have their own peacefulness, and wildlife often sit on the banks or paddle in the water.

In summer 2026, Sea Lanes plans to open a large open-air pool to be floated in the middle of Eden Dock. I am looking forward to swimming in this most dramatic of settings.

Follow the walking trail along Middle Dock, turn right into Cabot Square, and then head across the North Dock Footbridge. Here you’ll find numerous eateries for a snack, a Biergarten selling excellent German beer, and the London Museum Docklands.

Housed in a Grade I-listed Georgian sugar warehouse built in 1802, the London Museum Docklands traces the history of the Thames, the Port of London, and its people from Roman times through to the modern Docklands regeneration.

The exhibits are spread across 12 galleries and arranged chronologically over two floors. Best of all, entrance is free.

Limehouse

The next ten minutes of the walk are a bit awkward. You need to make a few quick turns to get over the Westferry Road, but once you’re on the other side, the rest of the walk, along the Thames Footpath, is wonderful.

It starts by heading down Narrow Street. The historic spine of Limehouse, Narrow Street, runs along the back of the Thames wharves and boasts one of the few surviving early Georgian terraces in London.

Its highlight is The Grapes pub. Rebuilt in 1720 and immortalised by Dickens as the Six Jolly Fellowship Porters in Our Mutual Friend, it is owned by Sir Ian McKellan and is our favourite spot for lunch on this walk.

Wapping

Keep following the Thames Footpath, which now swaps between riverfront views and Wapping High Street.

Wapping used to be inhabited by sailors, mastmakers, boatbuilders, blockmakers and all the trades that supported seafaring life. It was also the site of Execution Dock, where pirates and water-borne criminals were hanged from a gibbet at the low water mark, their bodies left until three tides had submerged them.

Today, it is characterised by quaint cobbled streets, converted old warehouses, historic pubs and gorgeous riverside properties. Make sure to look up at the old signs and the remnants of the warehouse loading and unloading bays.

There are three great pubs to grab an afternoon drink, but we’d pick the Prospect of Whitby. Grab a pint and sit on the stools out the back of the pub. At high tide, the wash of the boats can splash up onto your feet. For a more relaxed and larger terrace, head to The Captain Kidd.

St Katherine Docks

The walk leaves Wapping High Street and enters St. Katherine Docks.

St. Katherine Docks was a centre for high-value imports such as brandy, rum, wine, spices, perfumes, ivory and marble, though their relatively small size meant they struggled to compete with larger docks downriver and they closed in 1968.

Today, they are one of London’s most spectacular dining backdrops — a marina of bobbing yachts, cobbled walkways and flower-laden balconies that feels worlds away from the bustle of the City.

This is a great spot to grab an end-of-day coffee or a glass of wine from one of the many outdoor tables that line the docks.

Tower of London

Leaving the docks, head under Tower Bridge and do a loop of the Tower of London.

Founded in 1066, the castle was named for the white tower built by William the Conqueror in 1078.

It was expanded in the 12^th and 13^th centuries to occupy an imposing location by the river Thames, and the general layout has remained ever since.

It’s free to walk around the outer walls, but to see the Crown Jewels and explore the White Tower, Medieval Palace, and torture exhibition, you’ll have to head inside. It’s one of the best things to do in London, but be sure to book a time slot in advance.

This walk ends at Tower Hill Tube Station, where the Circle, District or DLR lines can whisk you home.

Extending the Walk

We have curated lots of walks like this. To explore the others, read our best Walks in London.

There are two that begin or end at the Tower of London, so if you have finished early and want to extend the walk, then consider continuing on the South Bank Walk or the City of London Walk.

If you fancy a day hike in the countryside surrounding London, pick one of our Country Walks near London.

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• Explore the heart of historic London on our City of London walking tour.
• Take a historic stroll along the Queen’s Walk in London.
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