Route itinerary

We've broken the route down into 14 stages, with details of what you will see along the way!

The Start

Participants will meet at Trinity Square Gardens for registrtaion and to recieve their participation pack, which will include the route map, emergency contact information and details of our photography competition and other fun actitivites you can take part in.

1) Tower Bridge

The first bridge we will cross is Tower Bridge - built in 1894 - an iconic piece of Victorian engineering, that uses hydraulic power to open up, allowing tall ships access to the Pool of London docks. Participants will then head along the south bank, past the Old London City Hall, designed by world-famous architect Norman Foster, and the World War 2-era Crusier, and now museum ship, HMS Belfast.

2) London Bridge

Our second bridge is the famous London Bridge. Though now a 1970's concrete structure, it stands on the spot first bridged by the Romans in 40AD. Many bridges have stood here over the centuries, connecting the City of London with the town and borough of Southwark. On the south side you will pass under the shadow of the Shard, Britain's tallest building, whilst on the north bank you will be able to see the Monument that was erected to commemorate the 1666 Great Fire of London.

3) Southwark Bridge

Southwark Bridge is next on our route, and is over 100 years old, construction having started in 1913, but the project was delayed by the outbreak of World War 1, only completed in 1921. On the north side of the bridge is Vinter's Hall, home of one of the great Livery Companies that dominated Medieval London's economy. South of the bridge is the Globe Theatre, an oak and thatch replica of the original home of Shakespeare's plays.

4) Millennium Bridge

Millennium Bridge is the first pedestrian-only bridge that we'll cross, that takes us from the gardens of the Tate Modern art museum on the south bank towards a fantastic view of St Paul's Cathedral, a classic part of the London skyline, completed in 1710, and which became a symbol of London's resistance during "the Blitz" when London withstood heavy German bombing during the Second World War.

Snack Stop #1:There will be an opportunity on the north bank to stop for a snack at the City of London School.

5) Blackfriars Bridge

Blackfriars is named after the Dominican Friars who once had a priory on the north side of the river, and was where the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V stayed when he came to visit London in 1522. The Bridge itself was completed in 1869, and opened by Queen Victoria. The pillars of the bridge were designed to look like a church's pulpits, in recognition of the now-gone Dominican priory. 

6) Waterloo Bridge

Our sixth bridge is Waterloo Bridge, named after the famous battle in Belgium which saw the final defeat of the French Emperor Napoleon. Before reaching the bridge we will walk along the first part of the Southbank, a renowned entertainment district of London, that includes the National Theatre, where we will be able to get a water re-fill should we need one. When we cross the bridge look out downstream to see HMS Wellington, a Second World War convoy escort sloop.

7) Golden Jubilee Bridges

Two bridges for the price of one! At the Golden Jubilee foot bridges we will cross both ways, "south" then back "north". At this point the Thames itself has turned south, meaning the bridge actually crosses from the Embankment in the west, to the Royal Festival Hall in the east. Once we have made the double crossing, we will follow the Embankment past the Ministry of Defence headquarters, and the Royal Air Force Memorial, and towards the City of Westminster.

8) Westminster Bridge

Westminster Bridge is the oldest of the bridges we will cross, connecting Westminster Palace - the Houses of Parliament and the world famous 'Big Ben' clock tower - with the Borough of Lambeth. Westminster Bridge is painted in green, in recognition of the heart of British democracy, the House of Commons (whose leather seats are also in green).

9) Lambeth Bridge

Once we have crossed into Lambeth we will follow the river south, past the National Covid Memorial and Lambeth Palace - the historic seat of power of the Archbishop of Canterbury. We will then cross over on Lambeth Bridge, with it's pine-cone-topped obelisks (perhaps a Masonic mystery, or an ancient symbol of hospitality) and its red-painted sides (the red in recognition of the seat colour of the House of Lords).

10) Vauxhall Bridge

We will reach the tenth bridge in our journey after passing the Millbank Tower skyscraper - home to many political organisations over the years - and the Tate Britain art musum. Vauxhall Bridge is adorned with eight statues dedicated to enlightenment ideas including Art, Engineering and Science - however you will need to see these statues from the banks of the river as they are difficult for bridge users to see. At the far end of the bridge we will pass the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service (as see in James Bond!).

11) Chelsea Bridge

We now get to the longest section of the 13 Bridges Challenge without a bridge! Just over a mile upstream from Vauxhall Bridge, passing both the new United States Embassy and the converted Battersea Power Station, we get to Chelsea Bridge, built during the Great Depression, with all materials sourced from within the British Empire - including steel from Scotland and asphalt from Tinidad. On the north side of the river we will walk past the grounds of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, home of the famous red-coated army veterans, the Chelsea Pensioners.

Snack Stop #2: The Chelsea Physic Garden will feature our second snack pit stop.

12) Albert Bridge

Arguably one of the more picturesque bridges of the day, Albert Bridge was built in 1873, and named after Queen Victoria's consort Prince Albert. The bridge is the only one to still have its tollbooths (though fortunately no longer operated) - and nearby you should look out for signs asking marching soldiers to break step when on the bridge - for fear that the resonance of their marching would shake the bridge apart!

13) Battersea Bridge

And then we've made it to our final, thirteenth, bridge! Lucky for some! Battersea Bridge is London's narrowest road bridge, and also, thanks to its awkward placement before the river turns, has been the site of many river-traffic collisions. Hopefully we won't see any on the day! Once we get to the far side we will only be a short mile to our final destination.

The Finish!

Our final mile takes us along the old King's Road - once a private Royal road used by Charles II, becoming a symbolic part of the Mod culture in the 1960s and now an important commercial hub of shops and eateries. Our destination is Eel Brook Common, once home of Fulham football club, but now, far more importantly, the finishing line for the 13 Bridges Challenge that we've just completed! Congratulations!

At our finishing point we will have drinks, food and entertainment waiting for all of our 13 Bridge Challengers. We hope you've had a fantastic day!