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, Events, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, Nightlife, Leisure, Education, and Meeting Venues.

Novotel London City South
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
53 61 Southwark Bridge Road, SE1
... More

 

 

Holiday Inn Express London Southwark
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

 

 

Grange St Paul's Hotel London
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
10 Godliman Street, EC4V
Perfectly located in the heart of London's financial district, yet moments away from the delights of the West End, the Grange St Paul's mixes contemporary style ... More

 

 

Hotels in Bankside

 

Henry VIII
London > Events > Theatre
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, Bankside, London SE1
The Madrid-based Rakata theatre company present a re-imagined, Spanish Golden Age-styled tragedy, with William Shakespeare's play set within a Spanish perspective. Performed in Spanish.... More

 

 

The Comedy Of Errors
London > Events > Theatre
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, Bankside, London SE1
The Afghan collective Roy-e-Sabs, made up of both male and female performers, presents William Shakespeare's farcical, short comedy. Performed in Dari Persian.... More

 

 

Shakespeare's Globe Multi-Lingual Shakespeare Festival 2012
London > Events > Theatre
Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, Bankside, London SE1
A theatrical feast as Shakespeare's Globe presents all of the Bard's plays, in a different language, each by a different international company.... More

 

 

Events in Bankside

 

Drum Cafe
London > Entertainment > Live Music
Glaziers Hall, 9 Montague Close, London 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

 

 

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
21 New Globe Walk, Bankside, London, Bankside, London SE1
This replica of the Shakespeare's 16th century theatre, reconstructed just 200 yards from its original site, is the brainchild of American actor and director Sam Wanamaker. ... More

 

 

Rose Theatre
London > Entertainment > Theatres
21 New Globe Walk, London, 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

 

 

Entertainment in Bankside

 

Golden Hinde
London > Attractions > Boats and Bridges
Pickfords Wharf, Clink Street, London, 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

 

 

The Clink Prison Museum
London > Attractions > Museums
1 Clink Street, Bankside, London, 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

 

 

Southwark Cathedral
London > Attractions > Historic Buildings
London Bridge, London, 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

 

 

Sights and Attractions in Bankside

 

Konditor & Cook
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
10 Stoney Street, London, 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

 

 

Borough Market
London > Shopping > Markets
Southwark Street, London, Bankside, London SE1
Nestled in-between Borough High Street, Bedale Street, Stoney Street and Winchester Walk lives "London's Larder", more formally known as Borough Market. This gourmand's delight is London's ... More

 

 

Ginger Pig
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
8 Borough Market, Southwark Street, London, Bankside, London SE1
The original Ginger Pig was first established in the late '90s with this butcher's shop for cooks at Borough Market. Since then their farm has won ... More

 

 

Shopping in Bankside

 

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

 

 

Wright Brothers Oyster & Porter House
London > Restaurants > Fish and Seafood
11 Stoney Street, Southwark, , London, Bankside, London SE1
Wright Brothers supply oysters to some of the finest chefs at London’s top hotels and restaurants and have an extensive range from the Pacific Northwest as ... More

 

 

Elliot's Cafe
London > Restaurants > British restaurants
12 Stoney Street, Borough Market, London, Bankside, London SE1
Elliot's Cafe makes the most of being in the heart of Borough Market, creating dishes from ingredients sourced from the market - so if there's no ... More

 

 

Restaurants in Bankside

 

National Trust: George Inn, The George Inn Yard
London > Nightlife > Pubs
77 Borough High Street, Southwark, London, Bankside, London SE1
Dating back to 1676 this is the only original galleried inn left in London. Borough High Street was once crammed full of old coaching inns, providing accommodation ... More

 

 

The Anchor Tap
London > Nightlife > Pubs
23 Horsleydown Road, Bermondsey, London, Bankside, London SE1
Situated on the south side of the Thames in the Tower Bridge Conservation Area, this historic Southwark pub offers a truly traditional English experience. From the ... More

 

 

The Market Porter
London > Nightlife > Pubs
9 Stoney Street, London, Bankside, London SE1
Pub ... More

 

 

Pubs in Bankside

 

The Rake
London > Nightlife > Bars
14 Winchester Walk, Borough, London, Bankside, London SE1
Beer is the draw here, over 100 different bottled kinds from all over the world squeezed into the compact space (said to be the smallest bar ... More

 

 

Vinopolis Wine Wharf
London > Nightlife > Wine Bars
Stoney Street, London, Bankside, London SE1
Their extensive wine list is a veritable treat for connoisseurs and aspiring novices alike; there are 100 wines available by the glass and over 300 wines, ... More

 

 

Vinopolis
London > Nightlife > Wine Bars
1 Bank End, London, Bankside, London SE1
If you like wine, an afternoon spent exploring the alcoholic delights of Vinopolis is an ideal pursuit. This self-guided tour allows visitors to find out about ... More

 

 

Nightlife in Bankside

 

Potters Fields Park
London > Leisure > Parks and Gardens
City Hall, 110 The Queens Walk, London, 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

 

 

Leisure in Bankside

 

Education in Bankside

 

Vinopolis
London > Business > Venue Hire
London Bridge, Bankside, London, Bankside, London SE1
This conference and event venue caters for between 10 and 1250 guests. Ideal for dinners, conferences, exhibitions, meetings, product launches & AGMs. ... More

 

 

Tate Modern
London > Business > Venue Hire
Bankside, London, 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

 

 

The Bridge
London > Business > Venue Hire
Weston Street, London, Bankside, London SE1
... More

 

 

Meeting Venues in Bankside