London Destinations:
South Bank
Right beside the River Thames, the South Bank is a dynamic area at
the heart of London's cultural scene. The Southbank Centre,
National Theatre and BFI film theatre are all world-class arts venues.
The tree-lined riverside walkway, lined with restaurants and historic
pubs, stages frequent fairs and events. Sightseers admire iconic
landmarks like Big Ben and St. Paul's Cathedral from the London
Eye Ferris wheel.
The South Bank is where you'll encounter the intriguing London Eye, which provides an unparalleled view of London. You'll also stumble upon the old stomping grounds of Shakespeare and his crew at the Globe Theatre. If you're looking for a historically inauthentic scare, then a visit to the London Dungeon is a must, where the staff gets almost too much joy out re-enacting the macabre events in London's history. Be aware that the queues at the London Dungeon can be extremely long and the site is very touristy. The South Bank is also home to the Tate Modern. Housed in a stunning art deco former power plant, it is a must see for architecture buffs, and the core collection is world class (and free). They also have a regularly changing program of paid exhibitions (and a very nice view from the restaurant on the top floor). This area is very much up and coming and there is a cluster of interesting restaurants developing on The Cut and Lower Marsh streets, a short walk from the river. Don't miss a walk across the Millennium footbridge which connects the Tate Modern and St. Paul's cathedral.
There is nothing more pleasant in London on a nice evening that a stroll along the South Bank of the Thames - the views of the city are incomparable. The South Bank is also the unofficial home to London's skaters and BMX bike riders. They hang out and show off under the arches near the Royal festival Hall/London Eye. If gastronomy is your thing then visit Borough Market - open Thursday - Saturday (though busiest on Saturday). Situated just 2 minutes from London Bridge, this food market is a firm favourite among locals and tourists alike. From home grown organic produce to specialist foodstuffs, you'll find it all here. Borough Market was recently voted one of the top sights in a Visit London poll.
Online Walks
Things To See and Do
Lambeth
Not one, but two, bridges connect Lambeth to its across-the-Thames
counterparts. This central London neighbourhood blends high culture and
pub culture with ease—Lambeth boasts its own palace to rival
Westminster’s, as well as gold-gilded taverns that supply modern
libations in old-world watering holes. Unpretentious and readily
accessible, this brick and stucco neighbourhood puts you in the middle
of London without having to bear the crowds. Lambeth Palace is the
official London residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. For more
culture the Old Vic and Imperial War Museum are also nearby. Lambeth's
riverbank perch provides stunning views of The Houses of Parliament and
Big Ben.
Elephant and Castle
The Elephant and Castle is an area around a major road junction in South London. The name also informally refers to the areas of Walworth and Newington, the proximity of the London Underground station of the same name has led to the area being more commonly called "Elephant and Castle". The name is derived from a local coaching inn. 'Newington' is one of the most common place names in England, and from 1750 the area became more important and the informal name, from the pub at this junction, was adopted. In the middle of the former northern roundabout, now Elephant Square, is the Michael Faraday Memorial, a large stainless steel box built in honour of Michael Faraday, who was born nearby. It contains an electrical substation for the Northern line of the London Underground. Famous former residents include actors Charlie Chaplin and Michael Caine, and and actress and television presenter Lisa Maxwell, who were born and grew up locally, as well as renowned Particular Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon and poet and playwright Robert Browning.
Waterloo
Waterloo is a relatively small district in Central London, situated 1 mile (1.6 km) east of Charing Cross. The area is part of a business improvement district which includes The Cut and the Old Vic and Young Vic theatres. Waterloo is connected to Westminster on the north bank of the River Thames by Westminster Bridge and the Strand area by Waterloo Bridge. That bridge was named to commemorate the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Waterloo Road also dates from this time, built on land belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The area was originally marshland towards the northern tip of the ancient parish of Lambeth. It was known as Lambeth Marshe, but was drained in the 18th century and is remembered in the Lower Marsh street name. After the opening of Waterloo railway station in 1848 via the Nine Elms to Waterloo Viaduct the locality around the station and Lower Marsh became known as Waterloo.
Waterloo is the busiest railway station in the UK, handling 41 million passengers in the year to March 2022. It is also the UK's largest station in terms of floor space and has the greatest number of platforms. The station is connected to a London Underground station of the same name and is adjacent to Waterloo East station on the South Eastern Main Line. The station is the terminus of the South West Main Line to Weymouth via Southampton, the West of England main line to Exeter via Salisbury, the Portsmouth Direct line to Portsmouth Harbour which connects with ferry services to the Isle of Wight, and several commuter services around west and south-west London, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. Waterloo and Southwark are known for their many bridges and viaducts which carry numerous railway lines through the area, dominating the landscape. One of the reasons the Waterloo Station and its track are supported by so many arches is to stop the enormous site falling into the marshland on the banks of the Thames throughout the years.
A single track link used to exist between Waterloo and the line out of Charing Cross. The link was constructed in 1864 though was never heavily used. At that time it carried a short-lived Cannon Street – Kensington (Addison Road) service, and then was later used for a Willesden Junction – Waterloo service run by the LNWR. When the main station was completely rebuilt in stages from south to north between 1900 and 1922, the spur disappeared in 1911 as part of this process.
HG Wells made reference to this link in his book "War of the Worlds" published in 1897. The Martians had arrived at Horsell Common near Woking and were starting to emerge from their pit. Train services were beginning to get disrupted by the advance of the aliens and fighting was breaking out. The relevant paragraph reads: "About five o'clock the gathering crowd at Waterloo station was immensely excited by the opening of the line of communication, which is almost invariably closed, between the South-Eastern and South-Western stations, and the passage of carriage-trucks bearing huge guns , and carriages crammed with soldiers. These were the guns that were brought up from Woolwich and Chatham to cover Kingston...." etc.
The Vaults of Leeke Street behind Waterloo Station were creted to store bodies waiting to vbe transferred by train via the Mecropolis railway to Rookwood Cemetery. Today the walls of the vaults are used as a canvas by steet artists. Atvthe end of the tunnel is Lower Marsh, named because the area was originally marsh land. Immediately opposite the tunnel entrance is the site of the Canterbury Music Hall (next to the railway bridge). Known as the Father of Music Halls, it was destroyed in a World War II bombing raid in 1942.
Westminster Bridge House on Westminster Bridge Road was the entrance to London's Mecropolis Rilway Station. The bodies of the dead were brought up in lifts to the pltform level, from where mourners and coffins began their journey to Rookwood Cemetery where the funerals were held.
Naval officer, explorer, commander of HMS Bountry and Governor of NSW, Willim Bligh (1754-1817) lived at 100 Lambeth Road, Lambeth. Governor of New South Wales, 1806-08, he was laid to rest in a family plot at St. Mary's, Lambeth (this church is now the Garden Museum). The Garden Museum, formerly known as the Museum of Garden History, is based in the deconsecrated parish church of St Mary-at-Lambeth in Lambeth, adjacent to Lambeth Palace on the south bank of the River Thames in London, located on Lambeth Road.
Grave of William Bligh
Oppopite Lambeth North Station is Lincoln Tower. Built in 1876, it commemorates US President Abraham Lincoln. Stars and strpes have been incorporated into the brickwork of the spire. Once part of a complex of nineteenth-century philanthropic institutions sited alongside Christ Church Congregational chapel, it is all that now remains of the original design. Much of the Christ Church complex was destroyed in the Second World War, although the Lincoln Tower survived. The tower was opened on 4 July 1876, the centenary of American independence.
Southwark
History and modernity collide in this central London neighbourhood. Its
varied architectural styles tell stories of London's past and hint at
its future. Southwark's tunnels serve grander purposes than simple
passers-by passageways. Old brick warehouses line the Thames,
indicative of London's industrial past. Some have been remodelled into
ultra-modern marvels.
Like the perfect pot of afternoon tea, Southwark has been culturally
steeping for centuries. The neighbourhood is home to many of the
city’s iconic landmarks—London’s most famous bridges,
buildings, and museums are located in Southwark. Crisscross the Thames
via the Tower, Millennium, or London bridges and be rewarded with
panoramic views of history abutting modernity—Southwark boasts
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Tate Modern museum,
London's famous Borough market, and myriad pubs and restaurants.
Blackfriars Bridge
Blackfriars Bridge spans the River Thames between Waterloo Bridge
and Blackfriars Railway Bridge, carrying the A201 road. The north end
is near the Inns of Court and Temple Church, along with Blackfriars
station. The south end is near the Tate Modern art gallery and the Oxo
Tower. The present bridge - the second to be built on the site - was
opened by Queen Victoria on 6 October 1869. The bridge consists of five
wrought iron arches built to a design by Joseph Cubitt. On the piers of
the bridge are stone carvings of water birds by sculptor John Birnie
Philip. On the East (downstream) side, the carvings show marine life
and seabirds; those on the West (upstream) side show freshwater birds
– reflecting the role of Blackfriars as the tidal turning point.
The ends of the bridge are shaped like a pulpit in a reference to Black
Friars. The name was first used in 1317 (as Black Freres from the
French 'frere' meaning 'brother') and derives from the black cappa worn
by the Dominican Friars who moved their priory from Holborn to the area
between the River Thames and Ludgate Hill in 1276.
Melbourne's Princes Bridge
Anyone who has been to Melbourne, Victoria, will notice Blackfriars
Bridge's similarity to Melbourne's Princes Bridge. The latter bridge
(opened in 1888) was designed by John Grainger (1855–1917), the
father of the Australian composer Percy Grainger, and modelled on
Blackfriars Bridge. Both bridges are painted red and white, but with
the colours inverted.
The original Blackfriars Railway Bridge, also designed by Joseph
Cubitt, was opened in 1864 for the London, Chatham and Dover Railway.
It was a condition that the spans and piers of the two bridges be
aligned. Massive abutments at each end carried the railway's insignia,
preserved and restored on the south side. The bridge eventually became
too weak to support modern trains, and was therefore removed in 1985 -
all that remains is a series of columns crossing the Thames and the
southern abutment, which is a Grade II listed structure.
Bankside
Bankside is one of the oldest settlements in Britain, dating back
over 6000 years. When the Romans founded Londinium on the north bank of
the Thames, a bridge was built near the present day London Bridge, and
the surrounding area has been inhabited ever since. The main
entertainments that drew crowds to Bankside were the 'stewhouses'
(brothels), animal-baiting pits and public theatres, sometimes all at
once. The Rose, the Swan, the Globe and the Hope were the four Bankside
playhouses of the Tudor era, and some of the first ever in London. Some
of England's greatest writers and players, including William
Shakespeare, lived and worked here.
Theatres aside, the area of the Thames between Blackfriars Bridge and
London Bridge was also known to freeze over in exceptionally cold
winters and Londoners used to take to the ice for all manner of
activities in what were known as Frost Fairs. During the late 18th
century Bankside quickly developed into an industrial environment, with
docks, warehouses and wharves. Following industrial decline after the
Second World War it remained largely undiscovered, until its recent
renaissance as one of the capital's prime visitor destinations.
Bankside's great feat of planning has been to join up individual
attractions to make one exciting coherent destination, accessible from
the City via the Millennium Bridge and forming a natural riverside
extension to the east of the South Bank. The area is refreshingly
pedestrian friendly and every time you turn a corner another cultural
highlight reveals itself.
Oxo Tower
The Oxo Tower is a building with a prominent tower on the south bank
of the River Thames to the west of Blackfriars Bridge. The building is
flanked to the west by Bernie Spain Gardens and Gabriel's Wharf, and to
the east by Sea Containers House. The building has mixed use as Oxo
Tower Wharf containing a set of design, arts and crafts shops on the
ground and first floors with two galleries, Bargehouse and gallery@oxo.
Upstairs there's the Tamesa Brasserie and Bincho Yakitori (Japanese
tapas). Also contains a restaurant and bar on the top floor, giving you
a great view over the Thames. You pay for the privilege through the
food bill, though you can go up the tower and have access to a separate
balcony for free. Interesting views of the surrounding South London
area and great views of the Embankment.
The building was originally constructed as a power station to supply
electricity to the Royal Mail post office, built towards the end of the
19th century (official date unknown). It was subsequently acquired by
the Liebig Extract of Meat Company in the 1920s (official date unknown)
manufacturers of Oxo beef stock cubes, for conversion into a cold
store.
The building was largely rebuilt to an Art Deco design by company
architect Albert Moore between 1928 and 1929. Much of the original
power station was demolished, but the river facing facade was retained
and extended. Liebig wanted to include a tower featuring illuminated
signs advertising the name of their product. When permission for the
advertisements was refused, the tower was built with four sets of three
vertically-aligned windows, each of which "coincidentally" happened to
be in the shapes of a circle, a cross and a circle. This was
significant because Skyline advertising at the time was banned along
Southbank.
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