Cruise Down the Thames

The Thames is London’s great thoroughfare. The best sights are along its banks and the river takes you from door to door, minus the stress and the Tube changes. The very best way to ‘do’ the tourist trail is to catch a City Cruises boat from Greenwich or Tower Bridge pier. The best deal is a River Red Rover, letting you hop on and off as often as you like. Buy a Rail River Rover and you can combine it with DLR travel.

Sights around Tower Pier

• Tower of London looks a cheerful place from the water, although the grisly goings on of its history are relayed in gory detail once you get inside. Students and families get a discount, and although this is a pricey day out, activities such as jousting and re-enactments keep the crowds amused. It also has one of the most discreet branches of McDonald’s you’ll ever see close by its entrance.
• Tower Bridge is a London icon and the best views of the river are from the Tower Bridge Experience. This takes you inside the bridge, showing off the superb Victorian engineering that powers the bridge-raising bascules. Worth the entry price for the views of the Thames you get from the high-level walkways.

Sights around Waterloo Pier

• London Eye was an instant hit when it opened and has become the UK’s biggest visitor attraction. Book ahead and choose your time carefully - early morning or sunset flights are the most memorable.
• The Sea Life London Aquarium is worth a side trip for the sharks and rays - especially if you have children with you. Feeding time is when the animals are at their most lively.
  You can grab a good-value bite to eat in one of the small cafes in Gabriel’s Wharf before crossing over the no longer wobbling Millennium Bridge and taking in the area around St Paul’s.

Find out more about Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe.

Sights to see – Westminster Pier

• At its most splendid from the water, the Houses of Parliament is open to the public during the long summer recess.
• Westminster Abbey is the last resting place of monarchs, poets and the Unknown Warrior. Children get in free and students get a concession – there’s no charge for visiting the gardens or St Margaret’s Church next door.

For more about the South Bank.

3 Places to drink in the view

1. Hay’s Galleria, just across the water from the Tower of London, has coffee shops and brasseries alongside the higher-end restaurants – and the views are free.
2. Butlers Wharf Chop House is one of a host of restaurants along this stretch of the Thames, and the views from the terrace to Tower Bridge are photo-perfect. Hearty breakfasts (at lunchtime prices) are served until noon, after that you can select from the bar menu.
3. The Garden Museum, close to Lambeth Bridge, is an idyllic and rather secret oasis by the Thames with a good cafe. Its Thames-side location has created a microclimate and you can sip tea in the garden in the company of banana plants, oleander and olive trees. Full-time students get in free.

Parks and Picnic Spots

Our pick of East London’s green spaces – for picnics, sport, live music or simply lounging.

North Woolwich

Thames Barrier Park on the river by Pontoon Dock DLR is a newish oasis and there’s some pretty cutting-edge garden design here – notably the undulating hedges and the ‘green dock’ planting, designed to replicate water.
There’s a basketball and five-a-side court and a 32-jet fountain which you can splash around in. Best picnic spot is anywhere that overlooks the mighty Thames Barrier.

West Ham

West Ham Park is close to Upton Park and Stratford Tube stations. A Grade-II English Heritage listing preserves its elegant Victorian design, and careful upkeep by the City of London ensures the rose, iris and ornamental gardens remain pristine.

Sporting facilities include cricket square and nets, 12 tennis courts, rounders area and two football pitches, plus a summer running track. There’s a dedicated picnic area close to the bandstand – handy if you catch one of the regular summer concerts.

Bethnal Green

Victoria Park is close to Bethnal Green and Mile End Tube stations. Its 218 acres include lakes, deer enclosures, tree-lined avenues and good children’s play areas.
Open air concerts and festivals, including Lovebox Weekender are a feature, usually taking place near the Chinese Pagoda. If you fancy some activity, the tennis courts, cricket pitch and running track are close to the St Mark’s Gate entrance. Best picnic spot is the fishing lake close to Crown Gates.

Docklands

Mudchute Park & Farm, by Mudchute DLR, is one of the largest city farms in Europe, set in 32 acres. It has an interesting array of animals, including rare breed Tamworth pigs, giant rabbits, donkeys and llamas.
There’s an equestrian centre, but the real pleasure of this place is the open countryside. Choose a picnic spot with views to Canary Wharf – and feel smug about being down on the farm.

Greenwich

Greenwich Park is close to Cutty Sark DLR and is one of the capital’s great Royal Parks. With fabulous views down to the Thames and Docklands and easy access to the delights of the National Maritime Museum, it’s a perfect place to while away a sunny day. Summer activities include children’s workshops and concerts at the bandstand.
With cycle paths round the park, rugby, cricket, tennis and a putting green, there’s plenty of activity on offer. No shortage of good spots for a quiet picnic either - the lake close to Blackheath gate is idyllic.

If you’re planning a big day out, see Great Escapes.

Great Escapes

Want to get far from the madding crowds? Here’s our guide to 5 great escapes within easy reach of campus.

1. Epping Forest

Glorious ancient woodland containing oak, beech, hornbeam and silver birch make Epping. a giant green lung for this corner of London. It’s surprisingly accessible – try Wanstead or Epping Tube or Chingford rail station.

2. Lee Valley

With 26 miles to explore, Lee Valley offers endless opportunities for picnics and nature trails, as well as more active pursuits, including running, cycling, golf, riding, watersports and camping. You can access the southern end of the park from East London, but take the short train ride up to Hertfordshire or Essex for a proper adventure. You’ll find a journey planner and activity guide on the Lee Valley Park website.

3. Richmond Park

One of London’s great historic sites, Richmond is a spectacular 2,500-acre park on the western fringes of London. Too many stops on the Tube to count but there’s a direct (if slow) train from Stratford Station. Once there you can watch the deer, stroll through the Isabella Plantation and take in stunning views to St Paul’s 12-miles away. It’s also a good day trip in combination with Kew Gardens.

4. Southend-on-Sea

Who doesn’t like to be beside the seaside – and good old Southend is under an hour’s train ride from Limehouse, or you can travel from London Liverpool Street. A chance to kick off your shoes and enjoy bucket-and-spade activities on its seven miles of beaches, or immerse yourself in the steamy club scene.

5. Leeds Castle, Kent

Just over an hour from Cannon Street or London Victoria (or you can take the coach door to door), Leeds Castle is Hollywood perfect, with its moat, maze, grotto and lavish antiques. Tickets aren’t cheap, but you do get a student concession and the summer entertainment includes heraldry, falconry and jousting. It’s also a chance to tour one of the world’s weirdest museums - dedicated to dog collars.