Bankside is a strange, wonderful pocket of London: a full-size wooden Shakespearean theatre, a genuine pirate ship, a medieval prison museum, and one of the best food markets in the country, all within a five-minute walk of each other. It is, without much competition, the single best square kilometre in the city for a family that likes its history with a bit of theatre in it — literally.

This is a short one. No epic distances, no need for a full day of stamina — just a focused afternoon loop from Mayfair down to the river and back, with plenty of stopping and pointing along the way.

Before you roll

• Distance: roughly 6–8km round trip, flat throughout.
• Timing: a half-day works well. Arrive late morning to beat the lunchtime crowds at Borough Market.
• Booking: Shakespeare’s Globe exhibition tours, the Golden Hinde, and the Clink Prison Museum are all paid attractions — check current opening times and whether tours need pre-booking on their own websites before you set off, as hours shift seasonally.
• The bridge: the Millennium Bridge is pedestrian-only. If your route takes you across it, you’ll need to walk the bike.
• Borough Market: the full market is at its best Wednesday to Saturday; some traders scale back on Mondays and Tuesdays, so check before building a whole day around it.

Crossing the river

From Mayfair, head south to the river and cross at Blackfriars or Southwark Bridge — both flat, both give you a proper first look at St Paul’s Cathedral’s dome across the water before you drop down onto Bankside itself.

Shakespeare’s Globe: the theatre with no roof

~20 minutes from Mayfair

This is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air theatre where Shakespeare’s own company performed, a short walk from where the original stood. You don’t need to catch a performance to enjoy it — the exhibition underneath the theatre is built for curious kids, with costumes, props, and hands-on displays about how Elizabethan theatre actually worked (yes, including the standing “groundlings” who paid a penny to watch from the yard, rain or shine).

If you can time a visit around an actual matinee, even better — but check the season, since the Globe’s main stage only runs performances for part of the year.

The Golden Hinde: a genuine (replica) pirate ship

~2 minutes from the Globe

Moored in a tiny dock just around the corner, the Golden Hinde is a full-size, walkable replica of Sir Francis Drake’s ship — the one that circumnavigated the globe in the 1570s. It’s compact, creaky, and exactly the kind of thing a seven-year-old imagines when you say the word “pirate.” Family-friendly tours run regularly; check ahead, as the ship occasionally closes for private events.

The Clink Prison Museum: London’s original nick

~2 minutes from the Golden Hinde

Built on the site of one of England’s oldest prisons — the one that gave us the phrase “in the clink” — this museum leans into the grim history with genuine enthusiasm: shackles, torture devices, and stories of the rough Bankside neighbourhood that once surrounded it. Best for kids who like their history a little macabre; younger or more sensitive children might find some of it intense.

Borough Market: lunch, sorted

~5 minutes from the Clink

One of London’s oldest food markets, tucked under Victorian railway arches next to the railway itself. This is the easiest lunch stop on any of our loops — bakeries, cheesemongers, hot food stalls from every corner of the world, and enough noise and colour to keep everyone entertained while you queue. Go hungry.

Tate Modern and the Millennium Bridge

If there’s energy left, the walk along the river past Tate Modern (free general entry, and the Turbine Hall alone is worth a look for its sheer scale) brings you to the Millennium Bridge — the wobbly one, now fixed, with a clean view straight down the river to St Paul’s. Remember to walk the bike across.

The loop at a glance

Stop	Highlight	Notes
Shakespeare’s Globe	Exhibition and (seasonal) performances	Check season for main-stage shows
Golden Hinde	Walkable replica Tudor ship	Family tours — check ahead
Clink Prison Museum	London’s original prison, and its name	Best for kids who like it grim
Borough Market	Food, food, and more food	Best Wed–Sat
Tate Modern & Millennium Bridge	Free art, riverside walk	Bike must be walked across the bridge

Total distance: 6–8km. Flat throughout. A half-day loop.

Frequently asked questions

Is Shakespeare’s Globe suitable for young kids?

The exhibition underneath the theatre is designed to be hands-on and works well for most ages. The main-stage performances themselves are better suited to children old enough to sit through a couple of hours of theatre — check the current programme before booking tickets for a show.

Is Borough Market open every day?

Borough Market trades most days, but the full spread of stalls is at its best from Wednesday to Saturday. Some traders reduce hours or close on Mondays and Tuesdays, so check the current schedule if you’re planning a visit around it.

Can you cycle across the Millennium Bridge?

No — the Millennium Bridge is pedestrian-only. You’ll need to dismount and walk the bike across if your route takes you over it.

Is Tate Modern free to visit?

General admission to Tate Modern’s collection displays is free. Major temporary exhibitions are usually ticketed separately.

Photo: The Globe Theatre, Bankside by Christine Matthews — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.

Fancy trying it yourself?

We hire electric family cargo bikes from Mayfair — Bankside is one of our shortest, easiest loops, and one of the most rewarding. Book your ride on gozoom.uk and we’ll get you rolling.

If the Clink gives someone nightmares, that’s between you and them.