The South Bank

Modern London is a city that never stops changing, never stops developing. Every year a new iconic building or newly regenerated area seems to spring up, giving anyone who is lucky enough to be in this great city a whole new place to discover.

The South Bank is one of these areas. During the 1980’s it was a run down and slightly depressing part of town, known to most Londoners as ‘cardboard city’ because of the hundreds of homeless people who slept under cardboard boxes along the brutal concrete tunnels around Waterloo Station.

In 2008 The South Bank is a symbol of London’s cultural and financial wealth, a place of galleries, theatres, cafes and restaurants; nothing says more about London’s new-found confidence than the vibrant regeneration of this part of town.

The South Bank runs along the River Thames from Westminster Bridge in the west to London Bridge in the east. It is approximately 2 miles (5 kilometres) long is divided into two separate parts: South Bank in the West and Bankside in the East.

South Bank – nearest tube: Westminster (District & Circle Line)
The South Bank begins here, on the opposite side of the river to the Houses of Parliament. Cross Westminster Bridge and turn left onto the pedestrian walkway, in front of the river, where you will see the London Eye, Britain’s most popular tourist attraction.

London Eye

This enormous 135 metre Ferris wheel was only supposed to be a temporary structure to celebrate the millennium, but it is so popular with visitors that it has now become a permanent London landmark.

Opposite the London Eye is a beautiful old building called County Hall, once the seat of local government now a Marriot hotel and the home of the London Aquarium and the Saatchi & Saatchi Gallery.

This whole section of the South Bank is incredibly busy. For those of you more interested in walking than queuing, head east past the London Eye, enjoying the spectacular river views to your left and the tranquil jubilee gardens to you right, as you make your way towards the Southbank Centre.

The Southbank Centre

This great big concrete structure is actually three separate buildings; the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Hayward art gallery.

Between them these venues are responsible for putting on over 1000 music, literature or dance shows each year, some of which are free. The Hayward Gallery stages major art exhibitions throughout the year.

The buildings have always been controversial. The cubist concrete structure is one that you’ll either love or hate, Prince Charles actually said it looked like somebody had built a nuclear power station in central London, but despite this they are considered important examples of the post-war architectural style known as ‘brutalism’ and are protected by the National Trust.

Below the Southbank Centre the concrete maze of ramps, steps and ledges provide excellent skateboarding facilities for London’s adrenalin junkies.

Film on the Southbank – The British Film Institute (BFI)
In keeping with the areas visual arts theme, you can also visit BFI Southbank and BFI Imax nearby. Cinema fans will enjoy BFI Southbank’s dedication to showing seasons of alternative film, old black & white movies and the best of foreign language cinema. If you prefer the spectacular Hollywood blockbuster, but delivered in a more adrenalin fuelled fashion, head to BFI Imax where you can watch the latest releases in spectacular 3D.

The National Theatre

Just after you pass underneath Waterloo Bridge you will find Britain’s Nation Theatre, 3 theatres’s dedicated to showcasing the best from around the world.

The three separate theatre’s are called the Olivier, the Lyttelton and the Cottesloe, each named after one of the major figures involved in the National Theatre’s conception.

Productions are staged throughout the year, showing a wide and varied range of plays from Shakespeare to contemporary to modern classics, they change throughout the year so check the listings before you go.

Oxo Tower Wharf

You’ll find this place just to the east of the National Theatre, before you reach Blackfriars Bridge. 
The most striking feature about this building is the tower itself, built by art deco architect Albert Moore in 1929. Originally he wanted to display electric advertising signs on the tower, but when the architect was refused permission he built the tower with windows in the shape of his client’s product, Oxo Beef Stock Cubes, hence its name, "the Oxo Tower".

The whole building is now used as a design and exhibition space, hosting art and fashion shows from around the world, as-well as being home to the Oxo Tower Restaurant, one of London’s well known fine-dining restaurants where you can have dinner while looking out across the river and the fantastic London skyline. You will also find a whole range of shops and cafe’s selling high quality produce from around the world.

Bankside

This is the name given to the part of the South Bank to the east of Blackfriars Bridge; you can access it by crossing over the road at the bridge and heading back onto the river front by Jubilee Walkway.

This area between Blackfriars Bridge and Southwark Bridge is home to three of London’s finest attractions: Tate Modern, the Millennium Bridge and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.

Tate Modern

Opened in 2000 this enormous art gallery is one of London’s most popular attractions. The building is actually an old power station that stood empty for 20 years before being reclaimed by the art community.

The majority of exhibitions are free but many people find that just wondering around the building is awe inspiring enough. If by this point you need a rest head up onto the top floor of the exhibition centre where large leather sofas await for you to recline into and look out across the river Thames towards Christopher Wren’s St. Pauls Cathedral.

The focus of the work exhibited here reflects the major styles of the modernist movement; Cubism, Abstract, Surrealism, Dada, Futurism and Pop Art are all found here in abundance.

Millennium Bridge

This was opened in 2000 to celebrate the millennium (obviously?) and is London’s only pedestrian-only bridge across the River Thames.

This suspension bridge has earned the nicknamed ‘the wobbly bridge’, if you want to find out why take a walk across it, you’ll soon find out...

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

Built just 230 metres from the site of Shakespeare’s original Globe theatre, which burnt to the ground in 1613 and was rebuilt in 1614, only to be closed down and demolished by the far-right Puritan government in 1644.

Fortunately it was rebuilt in the 1990s and has been staging plays to crowds of happy theatre-goers, between the months of May and October, ever since.

Thirsty? Try the George...

For some authentic Elizabethan refreshment, head up past Southwark Bridge and over to Borough High Street, where you will find this ancient pub.

Local rumour has it that this is where Shakespeare would actually spend his evenings, although this cannot be verified. However, this is one of London’s most charming pubs and should be visited by all Shakespeare and English beer fans.

Borough Market

On your way here you will find yourself walking past Borough Market, a fantastic place to visit for fresh meats, vegetables, breads, cheeses and seafood all sold by fiercely independent small  producers. Anyone who considers themselves a food lover will probably enjoy this place more than any other in London. The market is mainly active on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays. There are some stalls on other days and the shops around the market are great, too - but the life of the market has to be experienced on one of its "fully open" days. Its also great for proper home-made burgers, roast pork sandwiches, fantastic cakes, excellent cheese... mouthwateringly good - and pretty expensive, but well worth a look around to soak up the atmosphere.

Around London Bridge and Tower Bridge

As well as Borough Market, this area is where you’ll find the London Dungeon Exhibition, a truly gruesome spectacle and not for the young or easily frightened.

For a more authentic look at a real London prison, head to Clink Street behind Borough Market, where you can visit the original ‘Clink’, home to crooks and vagrants for hundreds of years.

There are lots of great pubs around here to explore and discover, as-well as some great local restaurants. After office hours the streets usually fill with people enjoying a few drinks before heading home.

By now you will probably be ready to rest your feet, so catch the tube back home from London Bridge Station, giving you access to the Northern and Jubilee lines.