Shakespeare's Way - Day 9 - The end of the road

Day 9. Kew Bridge to The Globe Theatre (16 miles / 26 km)

The last leg of the journey follows the Thames Path along the south bank of the River from Kew Bridge to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre at Bankside in Southwark. On the day I walked, it was rather a cold and damp February day and both the river and sky were grey, and although enjoyable and full of interest on a sunny day with blue skies the walk would be fabulous.

Hammersmith Bridge

Wandsworth Park

Over this section of Shakespeare's Way, the River Thames is wide and tidal and the route passes many of its famous bridges; from Kew in the west to Chiswick, Barnes, Hammersmith, Putney, Wandsworth, Battersea, Albert, Chelsea, Grosvenor, Vauxhall, Lambeth, Westminster, Hungerford, Waterloo and finally Blackfriars before reaching The Globe, with Southwark and London bridges visible just beyond.

Blackfriars Bridge with St Pauls and the Gerkin on the horizon

(it was a grey day and getting dark!)

And it also passes many famous London landmarks; the beginning and end of the University Boat Race at Putney and Mortlake, Fulham Football Stadium, the Houses of Parliament, Battersea Power Station, Tate Britain and Tate Modern, the London Eye, Saint Pauls to name but a few of the most well known.

The Globe Theatre

at the end of the Shakespeare's Way

And then there’s The Globe Theatre, the destination so longingly anticipated on the long walk over 146 miles of varied landscapes through central England. The round, black and white modern reconstruction with its dark thatched stands out from the rest, almost out of place amongst the stone and concrete buildings of the Thames embankment. A great place for a celebratory cup of tea, hunk of piece of cake (actually a pint of beer and plate of chips at The Anchor pub along the river!) and after a little rest, a tour of the extensive Shakespeare Exhibition.

Why not join us on the guided walk along Shakespeare's Way from 22nd April to 1st May, in the springtime when the beech woods are at their most beautiful; when the majestic trees will be unfurling their fresh yellow-green leaves and the ground will be covered with a deep blue carpet of bluebells and spring flowers.

Or self-guide the Shakespeare's Way and we'll book your accommodation and luggage transfer.

I hope you decide to come along.