London area of Bankside guide
What to do and where to stay in London's Bankside neighbourhood
Five hundred years ago, Bankside was like Soho is today, a bustling, bawdy place, full of taverns, theatres, and seedier pursuits. Though it has cleaned up its act considerably since then, one of those theatres has risen from the grave, and now the timber and plaster of Shakespeare’s Globe again fills with eager theatregoers with a few hotels nearby for a convenient weekend jaunt. Just to the north, another ancient feature has found a new lease of life. One of the best views in London can be had from the middle of the Millennium Bridge, with the giant dome of St. Paul’s forming a perfect counterpoint to the 99-metre chimney of Tate Modern, Britain’s best modern art gallery.
See our recommended nearby Bankside Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.
Bankside Hotels
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
20 Lavington S, SE1
From comfy king sized beds and an international plug system to free movies and complimentary WiFi, the citizen London Bankside hotel promises to offer its guests ... More
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
2-8 Great Suffolk Street, SE1
The Hilton London Bankside is a purpose built hotel with a four-storey glass atrium, 292 rooms and fitness centre, complete with swimming pool, and an opulent ... More
London > Hotels > Budget Chain Hotel
103-109 Southwark Street, SE1
Located in the bustling heart of London's arts scene, with the capital's finest theatres, concert halls and cinemas just a short stroll away, this is a ... More
Bankside Entertainment

London > Entertainment > Theatres
56 Park Street, Bankside, London SE1
The Rose Theatre was built in 1587 but was only discovered in 1989 during excavations for new office buildings. Two-thirds of the original site were discovered, ... More

London > Entertainment > Live Music
Glaziers Hall, 9 Montague Close Bridge, Bankside, London SE1
100 people in a room, all armed with a large African drum, banging in unison, until reaching a deafening crescendo - that's the premise of Drum ... More

London > Entertainment > Theatres
53 Southwark Street, Bankside, London SE1
Housed in a former chocolate factory, this innovative theatre has rapidly established itself as one of London's best. Since opening in 2004, it has had half-a-dozen ... More
Bankside Sights and Attractions

London > Attractions > Boats and Bridges
St Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral Street, Bankside, London SE1
Sir Francis Drake completed the second-ever circumnavigation of the world between 1577-80 in a galleon ship called The Golden Hinde. The ship has been re-created and ... More

London > Attractions > Museums
1 Clink Street, Bankside, Bankside, London SE1
Located on what was once the London estate of the Bishops of Winchester (known as the 'Liberty of the Clink'), the Clink Prison Museum unlocks the ... More

London > Attractions > Historic Buildings
London Bridge, Bankside, London SE1
Dating back to around 1220 Southwark Cathedral is the oldest Gothic church in London. It has a varied and lively history and houses interesting memorials connected ... More
Bankside Shopping

London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
10 Stoney Street, Bankside, London SE1
Konditor & Cook specialise in the creation of amazingly tasty cakes which are also sold on to some of the finest restaurants in the city. This ... More

London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
1 Stoney Street, Bankside, London SE1
The only wine shop in the world selling nothing but English wine, The Wine Pantry in Borough Market offers customers something quite unique. It may come ... More

Bankside Restaurants

London > Restaurants > Japanese restaurants
13 Stoney Street, Bankside, London SE1
This chain of inexpensive sushi restaurants is never going to win any accolades for service - in the main it’s slow and not particularly helpful. Nevertheless, ... More

London > Restaurants > Brasseries
Brew Wharf Yard, Stoney Street, Bankside, London SE1
... More

London > Restaurants > Fish and Seafood
11 Stoney Street, Bankside, London SE1
Perfectly located for a seafood stop-off while taking in the bustling atmosphere of food lovers' Borough Market, the small dining room at The Wright Brothers Oyster ... More
Bankside Pubs


Bankside Nightlife



Bankside Leisure

London > Leisure > Floor 52, Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard, Bankside, London SE1
High up on the 52nd floor of the highest hotel in Western Europe sits the highest pool in Western Europe. The 11 by 4 metre ... More

London > Leisure > Health and Beauty
41 Snowsfields, Bankside, London SE1
It's a relief to step into Snowsfields Wellness, with its shelves of carefully selected healthy and organic products. Unlike plenty of other places, each of the ... More

London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
City Hall, 110 The Queens Walk, Bankside, London SE1
Potters Fields Park occupies a prime spot between City Hall (from where the Mayor runs London) and Tower Bridge. The pedestrianised, grassy area on the south ... More
Bankside Education
London > Education > English Language Courses
101 Finsbury Pavement, Bankside, London EC1A
Over £1000pw. One-to-one business English courses.... More
London > Education > Evening Classes
Mermaid Court, 165a Borough High Street, Bankside, London SE11HR
Art classes encompassing glass, metal, moulding and casting, life drawing and loads more.... More
London > Education > Professional Training
23 Magdalen Street, Bankside, London SE1
... More
Bankside Meeting Venues


London > Business > Venue Hire
Bankside, Bankside, London SE1
Located along the banks of the River Thames in the former Bankside Power Station, originally designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott in 1947, the architect of ... More

London > Business > Venue Hire
Old Billingsgate Market, 1 Old Billingsgate Walk, Bankside, London EC3R
A magnificent 19th-century market building designed by Sir Horace Jones and entirely renovated in 1988 by acclaimed architect Richard Rogers. At the foot of the City, ... More
![]() ![]()
London Hotels
From cheap budget hotels to luxury 5 star suites see our discounts for hotels, including Holiday Inn London Regent's Park from 64% off. |
![]() |