South Bank

Photo of a boat on the Thames taken from the South Bank Photo of a boat on the Thames taken from the South Bank
Photo by me, well artistic.

The south bank of the Thames has an enormous concentration of cultural venues - many of them brutalist icons built for the Festival of Britain in the early 1950s.

The Thames Path along the South Bank is one of the best ways to admire the city, lined as it is with tempting shops and pubs to ensure you get nowhere quickly.

I’m focusing on the area betwen London Bridge and Charing Cross here, but you can continue east through Bermondsey to see Tower Bridge.

The Southbank Centre

The Southbank Centre is Europe’s largest cultural space - according to Wikipedia at least - and writing this website has taught me that what I thought were separate venues along the river are actually all just the Southbank Centre.

A picture of the Hayward Gallery, a brown concrete building.
Photo by me, from Waterloo Bridge.

Hayward Gallery

A bit hidden away behind the Festival Hall, the Hayward Gallery is larger inside than it seems.

They only show one exhibition at a time and they close while re-arranging. The exhibition I went to was pricey but there was a lot to see.

£19.00

www.southbankcentre.co.uk
An angled shot of part of the facade of the Royal Festival Hall
Photo by me, not badly framed eh?

Royal Festival Hall

The Royal Festival Hall is large concert venue, built for the Festival of Britain in the early 1950s.

The hall itself isn’t really somewhere you’d go unless attending a performance but it is part of the South Bank Centre, which also includes the Hayward Gallery and a street food market.

According to The Guardian  the place is falling apart a bit so maybe avoid the lifts, but it deserves support!

www.southbankcentre.co.uk
A table of books for sale
Photo by me, significantly brightened!

The Book Market

Located in permanent gloom under the arches of Waterloo Bridge, The South Bank Book Market is a great place to find second hand books, LPs and those prints of antique maps that all your classiest friends have on their walls.

www.southbankcentre.co.uk

Things to do

The Tate Modern - a large art deco brick building with a chimney The Tate Modern - a large art deco brick building with a chimney
Photo by me, no I am not an artist

Tate Modern

Modern art gallery set in a converted power station with a viewing gallery over the Thames.

Free - some paid exhibitions

www.tate.org.uk
The Oxo Tower with the muddy Thames in the foreground. The Oxo Tower with the muddy Thames in the foreground.
Photo by me, isn't the Thames a lovely colour. 🤢

Oxo Tower Wharf

I’m not sure that having a riverside tower dedicated to a brand of stock cubes helps London’s culinary image but it has been redeveloped into a restaurant and art gallery.

I always assumed it was part of some large business but the building is actually owned by the Coin Street social enterprise, formed by local residents in the 1970s.

coinstreet.org