Family Budget Day Out in London: Tate Modern to Borough Market Walking Route

London does not have to mean expensive, granted it usually does though!! Some of our favourite family days out in the capital are actually the ones where we simply pick an area, walk it properly and enjoy all the little landmarks, views and hidden corners along the way rather than spending a fortune on attractions.

This particular route ended up being one of those unexpectedly brilliant London days. It combines free galleries, famous landmarks, riverside walks, market atmosphere and a budget family dinner stop, including a £5 glass of wine (unheard of in London usually).

The walk takes you from Blackfriars Station to Tate Modern, along the South Bank past Shakespeare’s Globe, the Millennium Bridge, Southwark Cathedral and Golden Hinde before finishing at Borough Market and London Bridge Station.

It feels touristy without actually costing much money, which is very much my kind of London day out.

Why This London Walking Route Works So Well

What I love about this route is that it works brilliantly for families, tourists and even Londoners who just want a slower day in the city. I discovered it initially on my way back from Grand Designs Live at the Excel. I’d been on a panel talking about my bespoke on a budget approach to interiors and then accidentally created a bespoke on a budget walking tour in one of my favourite cities!

You get:

• Free London attractions
• River views
• Iconic landmarks
• Lots of places to stop
• Cheap food options
• Step-free riverside walking in most sections
• Plenty of photo opportunities
• Easy train access at both ends
• A photo-bombing pigeon (well I certainly had one as you’ll see below !)

Start at Blackfriars Station

I started at Blackfriars Station because I was on the Thameslink back to London Bridge and decided impulsively to hop off and explore in the sunshine. It’s an easy station to reach and it drops you straight into the atmosphere of the South Bank so it’s a great place to start.

As soon as you step outside, you get those classic London views across the Thames and you can already spot parts of the skyline, including St Paul’s Cathedral.

From there, it is only a short walk to the Tate Modern in all its industrial glory. Fun fact: did you know it was once Bankside Power Station – designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott?

Explore Tate Modern for free

Tate Modern is one of those great free things to do in London. Read the admission info here… The queues were pretty huge so check the busiest times and days before you travel and it’s recommended to book exhibition entry in advance.

Even if modern art is not normally your thing, the building itself is worth visiting. The huge turbine hall always impresses children and there is usually something interesting or unexpected to look at. One of the best budget travel tips for London is to make use of the incredible free museums and galleries. You can easily spend a couple of hours here without paying anything. I’ll do a separate post about the Tate Modern specifically and show inside etc but for now let’s hot-foot it round to the Corner Bar for a quick pit stop!

I popped into the cafe/bar called the Corner Bar. I wouldn’t recommend it for a cocktail, though, as even for London it was very expensive. I had a (tiny) Aperol Spritz and a bag of crisps and it cost £16! Arghh

The interior was very stylish and I loved the concrete-style bar (very on brand for me!).

Spot St Paul’s Cathedral and the Millennium Bridge

Come out the Tate and turn right and continue along the pretty riverside path and you’ll soon meet the famous Millenium Bridge. I still remember it being opened and moving so much that it was dubbed the ‘wobbly bridge’! This is the second great free thing to do and gives you great views down the river.

As you continue walking, you get brilliant views across the river of the walkie-talkie building and the tip of the shard poking in the background. This is one of those routes where you constantly find yourself stopping to take pictures.

You can see the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral in the background. If you have time head over the bridge and have a wander around the perimeter of St Paul’s, or if you have room in the budget pop in for a nose. Adult tickets are £27 and children over 5 £10.50. Read more ticket info here. I scooted on by on my little trip looking out for signs of the Great Bard…

Walk Past Shakespeare’s Globe

Continue walking east along the river and you will soon reach Shakespeare’s Globe. Admiring this from outside and soaking up the local area is a great experience but I’m throwing this in as an added extra and not counting it as the official 3rd free thing to do!

Even from the outside it is such an iconic building and there is always lots happening around this area with street performers and people sitting by the river. There were poets for hire when I visited – sipping wine and waiting with their typewriters… very romantic if that’s your sort of thing.

This stretch of the South Bank is one of my favourite places to wander because there is always something to look at.

Pizza Express Bankside £5 After School Club Deal

Less than a minute later, you stumble upon Pizza Express Bankside. It’s got some of the best views of any Pizza Express I’ve been to and plenty of outdoor seating for optimal people watching!

I perched on a comfy bench seat in front of the open doors and enyoed the view from inside. I timed it so well as it was between 3 & 5pm on a weekday so my Pizza Express app told me that I could enjoy the £5 afterschool club deal.

If you are earlier, you can have the Power Lunch £10 deal on weekdays which is also great or just download the app and take advantage of the freebies they send you – I love it.

I had a salad and a glass of wine which would usually come to £27 – but I only paid £10 – amazing, especially along London’s South Bank. I’ve attached the screenshots from my app so you can see how the deal works but you can read my full review of this deal here:
Pizza Express £5 After School Club review

For a London family day out, it makes such a difference knowing you can stop for a proper hot meal without spending loads.

Under the Arches and Past the Golden Hind

Come out of PizzaExpress (use their free toilets while you’re there) then turn right and continue along the riverside path. The atmosphere changes slightly as you walk under the railway arches and through the older historic parts of Southwark. I loved the beautiful mural of Shakespeare on the wall…

Pass under the arches and you can grab a half-price coffee from Pret if you have their £5 monthly membership (definitely worth doing if you buy more than 2 coffees in Pret a month).

You pass Golden Hinde which always catches children’s attention because it feels like stumbling across a pirate ship in the middle of London. You can appreciate it for free (this is the official 3rd free thing to do) from the outside or pay the £6 to go inside.

Admire Southwark Cathedral

This is the fourth free thing to do in this round up of free things to do in London. If you read my post about visiting St Martins in the fields church and crypt the other week, then you’ll know that I’m partial to an interesting church and this one is perfectly placed on our little walking tour of the Southbank.

There are lots of little corners around here that feel hidden away despite being in such a busy part of the city. Notes below on the best times to visit Southwark Cathedral…

Wander Through Borough Market

Next comes Borough Market which is always busy but brilliant for atmosphere. This is our fifth free thing to do and you can spend some time wandering through the stalls and taking in the sights and sounds of this famous market.

If there’s room in the budget, there are always lots of treats on offer here, I spotted lots of hot takeaway foods and drinks to enjoy in the gorgeous London sunshine.

Even if you are trying to keep costs down, it is still fun to walk around and soak everything up. There are plenty of food smells, samples and interesting stalls to browse.

Head up the steps of Borough Market when you’ve finished exploring and turn right, cross over the road and head to London Bridge Station to finish.

Finish at London Bridge

The route ends conveniently at London Bridge Station where you can easily jump back on the train home.

I love days like this because they prove you do not need expensive tickets, attractions or packed itineraries to enjoy London as a family.

Sometimes the best days are simply built around walking, exploring and mixing a few free attractions with one or two clever money-saving food stops.

Top Tips for This London Budget Day Out

• Travel off-peak if possible for cheaper train fares and take advantage of the ‘Kids for a quid‘ promotion.
• Use railcard discounts where you can
• Bring drinks and snacks to avoid impulse buying
• Wear comfortable shoes because there is quite a bit of walking
• Visit Tate Modern first while everyone still has energy
• Time your walk to hit the Pizza Express offer window
• Borough Market is busiest at weekends so weekdays can feel calmer
• Check the weather because most of the route is outdoors

More London and Budget Family Day Out Ideas

If you enjoy this route, you might also like:

• St Martin-in-the-Fields and the Crypt review
• Melia White House Hotel London review
• Amazon travel essentials

Don’t forget to also check out my Rome travel on a budget posts too!