Enjoy a walk from Strand Campus along Waterloo Bridge, finishing at Florence Nightingale Museum. 

This will last approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

Start at Strand main reception. Turn left out of the Strand Campus entrance, and next to King’s College is the Courtauld Institute of Art. The Courtauld Institute is also part of the University of London. The Institute houses the Courtauld Gallery, which displays Impressionist works from Van Gogh to Monet, as well as drawings and prints by Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, and cultures by Edgar Degas and Auguste Rodin.  

Turn right out of the Courtauld Gallery and you will find yourself in Somerset House. Somerset House was built as a Tudor Palace for the Duke of Somerset, Lord Edward Seymore, in 1547. It was rebuilt in 1775 to house public offices. Today the East Wing contains The Dickson Poon School of Law. The Edmond J Safra Foundation Court now is used for a variety of events and exhibitions are staged in Somerset House itself.  

Exiting Somerset House courtyard, walk through the archway on the left, through the corridor, turn left, and you’ll find yourself at the start of Waterloo Bridge. Looking to the East, the view encompasses the buildings of the Strand Campus, as well as St Paul’s Cathedral, the Gherkin, the Shard and the OXO Tower, among others. To the West, you can see the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall and many more major buildings. 

Towards the end of the bridge, you will find a set of stone stairs heading down, leading to the Southbank of the Thames. Here you have the National Theatre on your right and the British Film Institute on your left.

Head West and underneath Waterloo Bridge; look out for a regular book sale that takes place here. 

Take a moment to glance right and across the river, and you’ll see an Obelisk called Cleopatra’s Needle.

Continue along the Southbank and past the unmistakable skate park on your left. A popular campaign as recently won the right for it to remain.  

Above the skate park is a roof top garden called Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, which was created for the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Festival of Britain in 2011. 

Next on your left is a collection of restaurants and bars, if you are in need of refreshment. Pass under Hungerford Rail Bridge and spot the Golden Jubilee Footbridges on either side, which take you straight into Charing Cross Station or Trafalgar Square.  

Pass the London Eye on your right, Europe’s largest Ferris wheel and one of the most popular attractions in London.

Next on your left is County Hall, opened in 1922. It served as the Greater London Council’s headquarters for many years. Today it serves as a home of business and leisure, housing attractions such as the London Dungeon and the London Aquarium.

Look across the river to see the impressive Elizabeth Tower, named for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, housing the more popularly known bell, Big Ben. This stands next to Westminster Palace which is home to the House of Lords and the House of Commons, the UK’s two Houses of Parliament.  

Head up the stairs and onto Westminster Bridge where you’ll spot a friendly lion. Turn left and head down the crossing where you’ll be able to cross the busy bridge and straight into St Thomas’ Campus. If you arrive early, explore the garden on your right with signs directing you to the Florence Nightingale museum on your left.