Trafalgar Square to Greenwich Route: London’s Best Budget Sightseeing Hack (2026)

If you want to see London on your own terms - away from the £40 tour buses and the stuffy Underground tunnels - this is the route for you. It’s a journey of contrasts: you’ll start in the historic heart of the West End, fly through the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf, and finish in a quiet hilltop observatory with the best view in London.

The best part? If you do this before May 26, 2026, the final leg of the journey is completely free.

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Stage 1: Starting Strong - The Famous Route 15

Start:  Trafalgar Square

Finish: Tower of London

Board the Bus 15 at Trafalgar Square. This is arguably the most beautiful standard bus route in Central London.

Head straight for the top deck. You’ll glide past the Royal Courts of Justice, down Fleet Street, and get a stunning, face-to-face view of St. Paul’s Cathedral as the bus turns the corner.

Hop off at Tower Hill. Grab your photos or even visit the Tower of London and the bridge, but don’t follow the crowds onto the river cruises yet. We have a better way.

Stage 2: The Elevated "Driverless" Flight (DLR)

Start:  Tower Gateway DLR

Finish: Canary Warf

Instead of staying on the bus, switch to the DLR (a 2-minute walk from the bus stop) Why? Because the DLR is elevated. It snakes above the rooftops of the old docklands.

Since these trains are driverless, snag the very front seat. It feels like you’re flying through the city.

Take it toward Canary Wharf / Lewisham and just enjoy it - the moment when the skyscrapers appear around you is unreal.

Stage 3: The Superloop Sprint (Route SL4)

Start:  Canary Warf

Finish: Blackheath

After walking around Canary Wharf (worth 30 mins - 1hr), find the SL4 Superloop.

This is where it gets interesting. Until May 26, 2026 → this ride is FREE

You still tap your card… but it charges £0.00.

Get off at Blackheath Station. You’ll emerge in a leafy, quiet village that feels like the English countryside. Grab an ice cream and walk across the open pastures of The Heath directly into Greenwich Park until you reach the Royal Observatory.

The Grand Finale: Royal Observatory & The River

Once you arrive at the Greenwich Observatory, you’ll notice it was all worth it.

This is my favorite sunset spot in London. If you’re lucky enough to find yourself here at that time, you’ll understand why - the views are absolutely stunning.

Once you’re done, take a few minutes to walk down the hill to the Cutty Sark - one of the coolest old ships I've ever seen. Definitely worth visiting if it’s still open.

The Scenic Return

You’ve got two ways to head back to the city centre.

The quick option: jump on the train and you’ll be back in around 15 minutes.

But if you want to finish the trip properly, do it in style - take the Uber Boat or a City Cruises back along the Thames.

Final Thoughts

Hope you enjoyed this route, it’s genuinely one of my favourites, and I use it almost every time I’ve got friends visiting London.

It’s cheap, it’s fun, and most importantly… it gets you away from the insane crowds while still seeing some of the best parts of the city.

If you want London without the stress, this is it.