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, near the Tower of London, for registration 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.

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

Just a short walk from Waterloo Bridge, past the flowers and statues of Victoria Embankment Gardens, we reach the Golden Jubilee foot bridges, completed in 2002, and named for the 50th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Continuing the Jubilee theme, we will then pass the Jubilee Gardens on the far side of the river, and walk under the iconic obeservation wheel that is the London Eye. 

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

Leaving Westminster behind us we cross Lambeth Bridge, with it's pine-cone-topped obelisks (said to be part of a Masonic mystery) and its red-painted sides (the red in recognition of the seat colour of the House of Lords). We then follow the path along Albert Embankment (named for Queen Victoria's consort Prince Albert).

10) Vauxhall Bridge

We will reach the tenth bridge in our journey after passing the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service (as seen in James Bond!). Vauxhall Bridge itself 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.

11) Chelsea Bridge

As we approach Chelsea Bridge, keep an eye out for the new Unisted States Embassy and the converted Battersea Power Station on the opposite bank. We then cross Chelsea Bridge, built during the Great Depression to help the economy, with all materials sourced from within the British Empire - including steel from Scotland and asphalt from Trinidad. We then walk along the north side of Battersea Park, which we will come back to a short while later...

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 short stroll from our final destination.

The Finish!

Your final mile brings you into the beautiful surroundings of Battersea Park, the brand‑new home of our 13 Bridges Challenge finish line! Set against leafy avenues and riverside views, this iconic London location offers an incredible new space for celebration, connection, and post‑challenge fun.

As you cross the finish, you’ll be welcomed into our expanded event zone packed with lots of fun activates!

We’ll have drinks, food, entertainment, and lots of surprises waiting for every one of our amazing 13 Bridges Challengers.

Congratulations on completing the challenge — we hope you’ve had a fantastic day!