See Two of London’s Greatest Skylines from Waterloo Bridge

In terms of London’s bridge scene, Waterloo Bridge isn’t the most attractive bridge in Central London. It looks more like a grey lump of concrete with the word ‘Waterloo Bridge’ engraved in the middle of it. I’d probably describe this bridge as being similar to the Brutalist architecture by the South Bank.

Waterloo Bridge almost acts as a border, dividing the City of London’s and the South Bank’s skyline. So, if you’ve got a long checklist of famous buildings you want to see in London, then you can tick off the majority of them simply by standing on this bridge! On one side, you can see the South Bank’s skyline. Then on the other side, you can see the City skyline. Both of which are very different sights, especially at night.

The City of London and South Bank skylines

The east of Waterloo Bridge faces towards the City of London, where you can see some incredible views of the skyscrapers. St Pauls Cathedral, Blackfriars Bridge, and skyscrapers such as The Walkie Talkie form the centrepiece of the scene in front of you. Towards the right, you can see The National Theatre, IBM and OXO buildings. And don’t forget Western Europe’s tallest skyscraper too- The Shard. If you look beyond the skyscrapers, then you can even see the Canary Wharf skyline too…

From the south- west of Waterloo Bridge, the first landmark you’ll see is the ‘Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges’. Then beyond that, you can see the London Eye on the left, with the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben on the right. And Westminster Bridge forms the centrepiece.

What’s the best time of day to see the skylines?  

It’s a good idea to visit the bridge at different times in the day to take photos and compare them. If you’re looking for spots in Central London to see an incredible sunset, then Waterloo Bridge has to be one of the ideal spots… Kill two birds with one stone by seeing a sunset over the City of London skyline, then turn to the other side to see the sun setting over the London Eye too. The best photos can be captured just as the buildings begin to light up.

At night, The Thames comes to life as a hue of lights from the buildings are reflected onto the water. The London Eye lights up pink, and the Hungerford Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridge lights up blue. On the other hand, the City’s skyscrapers light up in white and green, giving off a strong professional vibe. The word ‘OXO’ lights up in red too. Both very different sights, making it very difficult to choose my favourite.

I’d be interested to hear your thoughts in the comments below about your favourite time to visit.

The location of Waterloo Bridge

Waterloo Bridge is located within walking distance of Waterloo Station and Charing Cross (both served by the Tube and National Rail), and Embankment Tube Station. From Waterloo Bridge, you have the choice of going towards Westminster Bridge or Trafalgar Square, both of which are less than 10 minutes- walk away. Or you could head east, towards the City which is a 20- minute walk away…If you choose the latter, don’t forget to try these 6 activities, which don’t cost anything!

Verdict

If you’re looking for spots in London to see incredible views of the skyline, make sure you add Waterloo Bridge to your list! Though it isn’t the most attractive bridge, the views make up for this. As both skylines are so different, I found it very tricky to choose which one was my favourite, so I’d be interested to hear which one is yours. Don’t forget to visit some of the other nearby places too such as Charing Cross and Tate Modern. Both of which are in walking distance…