I went to London’s ‘hidden beach’ with incredible views of Tower Bridge & the Shard – and it was completely empty

LONDON has plenty of parks for when the sun shines, but when a weekend heatwave is on the way – only a beach will do. 

At first glance, the capital has absolutely no beaches to its name but after a bit of digging, I found one called ‘The Hidden Beach’ on Google Maps and decided to investigate. 

On the south side of the River Thames, a 30-minute walk from London Bridge and a 5-minute walk from Bermondsey tube station, I found the quiet Bermondsey beach. 

On the left side of the beach there’s a pebbly stretch, peacefully concealed behind the river wall and cryptically named ‘Hidden Beach’

One visitor described the spot as a ‘little piece of heaven’ and I completely agree.

Despite its central location, it felt a long way from the busy city streets, making it the perfect place for anyone looking to enjoy the sun, iconic views and the pleasure of being by the water. 

It was easy to get down onto the shore with the option of two sets of stairs, but it’s important to check the tide times as the beach is only exposed at low tides. 

It’s easy to find this out with a quick Google search for the Thames tide times – I went an hour after low tide and enjoyed lots of space.

Down on the bank you can see amazing views of London’s skyline, to the left there’s Tower Bridge and famous buildings like the Walkie Talkie and the Shard, and to the right you can even see Canary Wharf in the distance. 

It’s hard to believe that such an amazing spot isn’t more well known.

The ‘Hidden’ name is fitting, I was the only one on the beach and it was totally quiet, with no noise besides the sound of the waves. 

The peace paired with the sun shining on the Thames made the spot feel incredibly relaxing. 

According to reviews from previous visitors online, two visitors enjoyed the quiet atmosphere so much they ‘even took a short nap’ and I can’t say I blame them. 

The unassuming location has a history, with Cherry Garden Pier on the right side of the beach built in the late 19th century as part of London’s old docks. 

The pier was used to communicate with Tower Bridge, as workers would phone to staff there to warn them of incoming ships.

If you fancy a drink while you’re enjoying this hidden gem, there’s a newly reopened Tudor-style pub right behind it called The Old Justice, which featured in Paul McCartney’s music video for ‘No More Lonely Nights.’

Whilst it’s not by the sea, Southwark’s beautiful stone Hidden Beach is a great answer to beach cravings and probably more relaxing than England’s busy coastal hotspots in a heatwave.

Here’s another quiet beach in the UK that has been compared to Thailand.

And a beach in Scotland with white sands has even been likened to The Maldives.