The South Bank is a beating heart of the London cultural scene with creative venues and features connected by the 4-mile (6km) riverside Queen’s Walk. Near Westminster Bridge ride the London Eye for a birdseye view of the city and beyond. Beneath Nearby Waterloo Station find the Leake Arches – a must-see for street art aficionados – you can join in with your own statement (some rules apply!).
Further along beside the Thames, find famed London venues at The Southbank Centre including the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Hayward Gallery, plus eateries. Nearby are the National Theatre, and BFI film theatre. Keep walking to the Tate Modern gallery and then the sustainably-conscious Borough Market with overflowing trader stalls as well as eateries and bars. The tree-lined riverside walkway passes many restaurants and historic pubs and hosts many events.
The Black Penny, Casson Square, London, UK
GAIL's Bakery Southbank, York Road, London, UK
London Eye, London, UK
Leake Street Arches, Leake Street, London, UK
Passyunk Avenue (Waterloo), Leake Street, London, UK
Tate Modern, Bankside, London, UK
Borough Market, London, UK
Southbank Centre, London, UK
Oxo Tower, Barge House Street, London, UK
National Theatre, London, UK
BFI Southbank, Belvedere Road, London, UK
Doggett's Coat And Badge, Blackfriars Bridge, London, UK
NOX Waterloo, Lower Marsh, London, UK
Premier Inn London County Hall hotel, Belvedere Road, London, UK
Best Places for Breakfast in London
The Black Penny
Tapping the origins of coffee houses in England, The Black Penny delivers coffee with classics, hashes, oats, all-day breakfast buns. The decor tells the story as do menu faves including “Ozdemir Pasha”, grilled halloumi, fried eggs, butterbean hummus, sumac, fresh tomato, onion and parsley salad with sourdough. I’m loving the hashes –salt beef with spinach, wild mushroom or crispy duck.
Gail's Southbank
Passionate about baking, sourcing the right ingredients and with a low-waste policy, Gail’s hand-make bread, pastries and cakes throughout the day in their bakeries, served with hand-roasted house blend coffee. Stop by for baked eggs with sourdough soldiers, ham and cheese croissants or freshly-made sandwiches and savouries.
Best Things To Do in the Morning in London
London Eye
An inspired idea that changed London’s skyline forever, the 135m high London Eye is the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel. Near Westminster Bridge on the South bank of the Thames, a ride on the Eye is a spectacular way to appreciate London with 360 degree views. On clear days it’s possible to see as far as Windsor Castle outside London.
Leake Street Arches
Eight former railway arches beneath Waterloo station, adjoining London’s longest legal graffiti wall, have been brought to life to provide a community of independent restaurants, bars and entertainment spaces united by their approach to creativity and urban culture. Join in to add your own creativity to the space, or just admire the street art that’s created a central London experience of its own.
Best Places for Lunch in London
Passyunk Avenue
Bringing Philadelphia to the world. Passyunk Avenue invites you to experience the Philly culture in London. Find American-style wings, cheesesteak nachos, hot Philly sandwiches, hot dogs and salads on the menu. Or how about an American Hoogie, a sandwich packed with ham, turkey, cheese and mayo? Beer, wine and cocktails, too.
Southbank Centre
The Southbank Centre is not only the home of fine performance, it also has a market, shops and dining. The choice of restaurants and bars includes Mexican street food at Wahaca, on the Queen Elizabeth Hall Terrace. Arranged on two overhanging levels, it’s built from eight recycled shipping containers. Two more are Honest Burgers, and Giraffe, which serves freshly-prepared food to cool global sounds.
Best Things To Do in the Afternoon in London
Tate Modern
Tate Modern proudly houses art from 1900’s modernism to the present day, and presents dynamic exhibitions. Works includes paintings, sculptures and more by artists from all over the world such as Pablo Picasso, Emily Kame Kngwarreye, and Jenny Holzer. Entry to the gallery is free, but there’s a charge for certain exhibitions and booking ahead usually necessary.
Borough Market
These markets began 1,000 years ago at the foot of London Bridge, later moving further along South Bank in 1756. Now Borough Market is run by a charitable trust on behalf of the community with a mission is to show that food can be made and sold in ways that are better for people, for the planet and for the pleasure of eating.
Best Places for Dinner in London
OXO Tower Brasserie
The OXO Tower is a London landmark rejuvenated with bars and restaurants. OXO Tower Brasserie is very “London”, a grand space with a casual atmosphere and an open kitchen. The seasonal menu suits casual and pre-theatre dining with small plates like charred squid, softshell crab, grilled aubergine or burrata. Or choose from the Earth, Sea and Land selections – seared, spiced swordfish, asparagus tortelloni, grilled tiger prawns. OXO is speaking my language here.
Doggett's Coat & Badge
Right beside the Thames by Blackfriar’s Bridge, this historic London pub serves English classics and award-winning pies such as steak and Nicolson’s Pale Ale Pie, hand-pulled lamb shank shepherd’s pie, and slow-cooked beef rib, shin and pulled brisket pie. Also steaks, burgers, schnitzel, fish and chips, ham, eggs and chips, sausage and mash. Pub grub indeed.
Best Places to Stay in London
Premier Inn London County Hall
This well-priced hotel is located in the historic County Hall building on the South Bank of the River Thames, beside the London Eye. Close to Waterloo Station, and with London landmarks like the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben in view, this a great base for exploring the South Bank and central London.