Timeline
14:23
Grab a pint at The Hole In The Wall. It is close to the station and has an excellent range of beers. The pub is open until 23:00 on weekdays, so you have plenty of time to settle in before the light starts to shift.
14:38
Walk south to The Ship. This Nicolson’s pub was rebuilt after the Great Fire and sits just off the main flow. It is open from noon to 10 PM. Use this time to rest your legs and watch the river traffic before the golden hour hits.
15:23
National Theatre Rehearsal Studio
Stand at the National Theatre Rehearsal Studio. This spot is only a ten-minute walk from the anchor and faces SSE. As the golden light begins at 15:23, the low sun will wash over the river and the southern banks, creating a warm glow on the concrete and water. The studio windows offer a framed view of this transition.
15:53
Head to the main National Theatre complex. The Olivier auditorium’s open stage and the Lyttelton’s traditional proscenium arc are silhouetted against the fading light. The architecture looks stark and dramatic as the sun dips toward the SW. Use the remaining light to appreciate the scale of the Olivier, the largest of the three.
16:23
End the evening at The Rake. This tiny pub is attached to Borough Market and shares the gents' toilets with the market beer shop. It specializes in bottled craft beers. Open until 23:00 on weekdays, it is the perfect quiet place to digest the day’s walk and watch the city lights come on.
Local tip
The walk from The Hole In The Wall to The Ship is short, but the path along the South Bank can get crowded. If you want a quieter route to the Rehearsal Studio, stick to the inner paths away from the main promenade.
Check before you go
- The Rake is open Mo-Fr 12:00-23:00. If you are visiting on a weekend, it opens at 11:00 and closes at 23:00.
- The Ship is closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Plan your visit on a weekday.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to London (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).