Sometimes the best days out are the ones you haven’t planned. I found out a friend and her son were visiting London, so Evie and I decided to head up and meet them. We took the number 53 bus, bagged the front seats upstairs (obviously), and enjoyed watching London go by.
We’d hoped to join them at Shrek’s Adventure!, but we didn’t arrive in time for their session. My friend and her son went inside; Evie and I didn’t. Once they’d finished, we met up and made an afternoon of wandering along the South Bank instead.
Number 53 bus into London · South Bank riverside stroll · Jubilee Oracle sculpture · Giant bubbles · Golden Carousel · Candy floss and Nutella crêpe · Thames Clipper to North Greenwich
The adventure started on the number 53
There’s something about sitting right at the front upstairs on a London bus. We didn’t need a sightseeing tour; the journey itself was part of the fun. It was a spontaneous trip, not an itinerary we’d spent weeks planning.
Missing Shrek’s Adventure — and making our own fun
We’d intended to meet our friends for Shrek’s Adventure!, but timing wasn’t on our side. They went ahead with their experience, and we met them afterwards. This isn’t a review of the attraction because we didn’t go inside; it’s about what we did instead.
If Shrek’s Adventure! is the main reason for your visit, check your booking and arrival instructions in advance. Timed attractions aren’t always flexible if you’re running late.
Little discoveries along the South Bank
What is the Jubilee Oracle?
That unusual bronze sculpture beside Jubilee Gardens is called the Jubilee Oracle. It was created in 1980 by an artist known simply as Alexander, and was commissioned to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. You’ll find it on Queen’s Walk, between the Royal Festival Hall and County Hall, near the London Eye.
Its two curved, abstract forms surround an open space, inviting you to look through it rather than search for a recognisable figure. Alexander wanted his sculpture to communicate something beyond ordinary everyday experience, a little like music can. The words engraved on the dark plinth explain his thinking — which is why I love having Evie and the full inscription together in our photo.
It’s an easy bit of public art to spot on a riverside wander, and you don’t need an attraction ticket to stop and have a look. Read more about the sculpture on the artist’s website.
We explored the riverside, watched enormous colourful bubbles floating into the sky and stopped at the Jubilee Oracle sculpture. Evie climbed into its opening, which made for one of my favourite photographs of the day.
Carousel rides, candy floss and a Nutella crêpe
Once we’d met up with our friends, we enjoyed the Golden Carousel. Evie was delighted with her tickets, and we even managed a photograph together on the ride. She had candy floss; I had a Nutella crêpe. Some London traditions are non-negotiable!
Home by Thames Clipper to North Greenwich
For the journey home, Evie and I swapped the bus for a Thames Clipper riverboat to North Greenwich. The weather was grey and rainy, but watching London slide past through the windows was a lovely way to finish our impromptu day. We passed landmarks along the river, including the Shard, before seeing the familiar yellow masts of The O2 as we approached home.
A little family throwback
This wasn’t our first family adventure around the South Bank. On another occasion, I brought the kids and my mum into London for her birthday, and we went on the London Eye together. We ended up over in Greenwich afterwards, where — would you believe it — there were more giant bubbles to enjoy! Read our London Eye birthday and Greenwich family adventure.
Planning your own low-pressure South Bank afternoon
You don’t have to buy tickets for a big attraction to enjoy this stretch of London. Walking beside the Thames, spotting landmarks and watching street entertainment can all be part of the day for free. We chose to spend on a carousel ride and treats; the riverboat was our transport home rather than a separate sightseeing cruise.
Things to bear in mind: Street entertainment varies and isn’t guaranteed; carousel prices and operating times may change; and the riverboat costs more than a regular London bus, so check fares before travelling. The riverside is generally easy to follow, but it can get crowded, and some parts are exposed to the weather.
For up-to-date journey planning and fares, see Transport for London and Uber Boat by Thames Clippers. For timed entry and availability at Shrek’s Adventure!, see the official attraction website.
Money-saving tip: does a bus day ticket get you a cheaper Clipper fare?
Not a bus-only ticket. Uber Boat by Thames Clippers offers a discount to holders of a qualifying TfL-issued Travelcard (on paper or loaded onto Oyster), but a London Bus & Tram Pass season ticket or simply reaching the daily bus cap does not qualify. A qualifying Travelcard can give one-third off standard riverboat fares; it isn’t free river travel, and the usual TfL daily fare cap doesn’t cover the Clipper. For an occasional journey, compare the discounted Travelcard fare against booking directly online or in the operator’s app, as the cheapest option depends on your ticket and route.
Children aged 5–15 can qualify for child fares, and the operator has specific Oyster/photocard rules. The boat journey to North Greenwich crosses river fare zones, so check the right ticket for your boarding pier. Check the current discounts and fares before you travel. Prices and offers can change.
Make a day of it: attractions close to the South Bank
We didn’t go into any of these on this particular visit, but if you want to build a bigger day around the riverside, here are some handy nearby options. Always compare a single ticket with the official Merlin multi-attraction bundles before paying; a bundle only saves money if you’ll actually use the extra attractions.
Interactive, timed-entry family attraction in County Hall. Our friends visited; we arrived too late to join them.
Big skyline views beside the river, with timed tickets and combinations available.
Indoor option at County Hall, handy if the weather turns.
Actor-led darker London history; check age guidance and sensory effects before booking.
Compare bundles: Official Merlin multi-attraction tickets. You may need to reserve an individual timeslot for each experience, even with a combined ticket.
Prefer a free afternoon? Enjoy Jubilee Gardens, the riverside, public art, landmark spotting and whatever street entertainment happens to be on. Those are the parts of the day that don’t need a ticket.
Some booking links are affiliate links, which means Clarissa’s Corner may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We still recommend comparing the total price with official booking and current offers.
More ideas for making a day of it
Want to explore more? Our South Bank guide for mixed-age children has extra free and low-cost ideas, while our North Greenwich and The O2 transport guide can help you plan the journey home.
Would we do it again?
Absolutely. We set off to meet friends, missed the attraction we’d hoped to join, and still ended up with a really memorable afternoon. Between the front-row bus seats, giant bubbles, carousel, sweet treats and boat ride home, it turned out to be a little London adventure all of its own.
