London area of Southwark guide

What to do and where to stay in London's Southwark neighbourhood

Renowned for its old inns and taverns, Southwark is also the historical home of the capital's arts and entertainments industry. London's first theatres - the Globe, the Hope and the Rose - were all built there in the 16th century and Shakespeare's plays first performed there. Nestles on the South Bank beside the Thames, the rebuilt Globe is now one of the most popular theatres in London, while the neighbouring Tate Modern, housed in an imposing former power station, is among the world's most popular art galleries. London's modern City Hall and the magnificent gothic Southwark Cathedral complete a remarkable set of buildings that show five centuries of London's architectural achievements. Next to the cathedral is the world-famous Borough Market, open Thursday to Saturday and brimming with fresh, organic produce. New to the Southwark skyline is the 306-metre tall Shard of Glass skyscraper, set to become the 45th tallest building in the world on completion. As well as Bankside, the borough takes in the up-and-coming areas of Bermondsey, Camberwell and Peckham, where the sitcom Only Fools and Horses was set. This part of London is currently popular with young professionals and artists due to its proximity to the centre of town and low property prices. In the south of the borough lies leafy, suburban Dulwich which forms a welcome contrast to the bustling energy that defines the rest of one of London's oldest areas.

See our recommended nearby Southwark Hotels, Entertainment, Sights and Attractions, Shopping, Restaurants, Pubs, and Leisure.

The Bermondsey Square Hotel
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
Bermondsey Square, SE1
Bermondsey Square Hotel offers a peaceful place to stay with its 80 bedrooms taking up one side of the traffic-free square. All rooms in this modern ... More

 

 

Hilton London Tower Bridge
London > Hotels > Mid-Range Chain Hotel
5 More London Place, SE1
This plush, modern hotel south of the historic Tower Bridge is very convenient for exploring London. Just five minutes from the Tube station, it's 10 to ... More

 

 

Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard, London
London > Hotels > Luxury Chain Hotel
31 St Thomas Street, SE1
The first ever luxury Shangri-La Hotel in London has the unique selling point of occupying the upper floors of one of the tallest buildings in Europe. ... More

 

 

Hotels in Southwark

 

Shortwave Cinema
London > Entertainment > Cinemas
10 Bermondsey Square, Southwark, London SE1
Shortwave films, a company whose primary objective was to promote emerging film and video artists, have set up this independent cinema in Bermondsey Square. As you'd ... More

 

 

Entertainment in Southwark

 

Sights and Attractions in Southwark

 

Bermondsey Square Antiques Market
London > Shopping > Markets
Bermondsey Square, Southwark, London SE1
What started in 1855 as a place to trade with impunity (ie stolen goods bought here didn't have to be returned) is now the busy weekly ... More

 

 

Coleman Coffee Roasters
London > Shopping > Food and Drink Shops
55 Stanworth Street, Southwark, London SE1
Wake up on a Saturday morning and smell the freshly roasted coffee at Coleman Coffee Roasters, a small batch coffee roastery at No. 55 Stanworth Street ... More

 

 

Shopping in Southwark

 

Café Amisha
London > Restaurants > Italian restaurants
161 Grange Road, Southwark, Southwark, London SE1
Italian Cuisine... More

 

 

Tower Tandoori
London > Restaurants > Indian/South Asian restaurants
74-76 Tower Bridge Road, Southwark, London SE1
... More

 

 

Del Aziz, Bermondsey
London > Restaurants > Mediterranean restaurants
11 Bermondsey Square, Southwark, London SE1
Located in the modern development of Bermondsey Square, this branch of Del'Aziz, a Moroccan / Mediterranean cafe-cum-deli, has an unusual feature: a glass floor which gives ... More

 

 

Restaurants in Southwark

 

The Anchor Tap
London > Nightlife > Pubs
23 Horsleydown Road, Bermondsey, Southwark, 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 King's Arms
London > Nightlife > Pubs
251 Tooley Street, Southwark, London SE1
The King's Arms is a relaxed, cosy pub with a faithful local clientele and a rather eccentric - but traditional - décor. Located on the Tower ... More

 

 

Pubs in Southwark

 

Leisure in Southwark