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| Lives in: | United Kingdom | | Registered: | 25 August 2004 | | Last visit: | 12 February 2007 |
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| Waterloo and South Bank Travel Guide: diy travel guide
| | Written by diy Editorial Team on 07 Mar 2006
| About Waterloo and South Bank | | Waterloo and South Bank area stretches along the River Thames from Tower Bridge all the way through to Chelsea Bridge in the West. Waterloo Station serves the south and southwest together with the present Eurostar terminal for connections to France & Belgium. London Bridge Station is the gateway to the Kent, the Garden of England, and also to the towns and cities of the South Coast.
With the building of the Globe Theatre in the 1600’s the area was adopted as the entertainment centre of London. As well as being the red-light district, Borough or Southwark was also notorious for bull and bear baiting. The 1951 Festival of Britain was responsible for the start of the redevelopment of the area now known as the South Bank arts centre which comprised of the modernist Royal Festival Hall and later the controversial National Theatre, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery. Since then the whole area has undergone a much more sympathetic development, from the restoration of the warehouses at Butlers Wharf to the reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and is once again taking on the mantle of the playground of London. |
Waterloo and South Bank attractions | | There is something for everyone on the South Bank. The Design Museum is located at Shad Thames alongside the Bramah Tea & Coffee Museum. Walking under Tower Bridge westwards you’ll come to the new London Bridge City, home to new shops, bars offices and the Greater London Authority. Zandra Rhodes Fashion Museum is also near here.
Just by London Bridge you can visit HMS Belfast, or the London Dungeons, great for kids and adults alike! Carry on under the bridge and you’ll come to a replica of the Golden Hind in dry dock and just a few steps on from that to the Clink Prison Museum which is on the site of the oldest prison in England! After the prison you may need a bit of cheer… try Vinopolis, the attraction dedicated to wine!
Around the corner you’ll come across the Globe Theatre and then the Tate Modern, one of the latest additions to the South Bank. Next is the Royal Festival Hall and the original South Bank Arts Complex, walk under the bridge and you’ll come to Jubilee Gardens, home of the British Airways London Eye. County Hall is home to the Dali Universe Exhibition, the London Aquarium and behind you’ll find the IMAX cinema. |
Waterloo and South Bank restaurants | | | Starting at Shad Thames in the East with Conan’s Butlers Wharf Gastrodome, of which the Pont de la Tour is probably the most well known, restaurants to suit all tastes and budget line the waterside offering fantastic views of the City and West End. Also worthy of mentioning are the Oxo Tower, where you can have a drink in the 8th floor Tower Bar and a meal in the Restaurant or Brasserie while enjoying stunning views over Charing Cross, and also Cantina Vinopolis, situated within the wine attraction of the same name. Of course you’ll also find most of the big-name restaurants, such as Wagamama, Yo! Sushi etc all here as well. |
Waterloo and South Bank nightlife | | | Nightlife in this area tends to border on the cultural with classical concerts at the Royal Festival Hall, performances at the National Theatre and, of course the Globe. There is an abundance of traditional London pubs along the south bank and the area around Vauxhall is home to many of London’s gay pubs and clubs. The nightlife of the West-End is just a short hop back on one of the capitals Night Buses! |
Waterloo and South Bank shopping | | | The City, Covent Garden and the West End are on the opposite banks so this area is not renowned for its shopping, but worth a look is Borough Market which film fans will recognise from Bridget Jones’ Diary and Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. The market has undergone several transformations since it was first created in the 13th century to the thriving food market it is today. Also worth a visit is the weekly Bermondsey Market held each Friday specialising in Antiques, but if you’re looking for a bargain then you’ll need to be an early bird – the market opens at about 4 am and the best is all but gone by breakfast time! |
Waterloo and South Bank for the Young And Lively | | For the Young & Lively Waterloo & South Bank is good for access to the nightlife of the West End and hotel rates can be a little more favourable than in central London. There are some great value hotels here for those on a tight budget - International House offers basic accommodation and the Comfort Inn Vauxhall provides a good standard of accommodation at reasonable rates. |
Waterloo and South Bank for Families | | Families are well catered for at hotels such as the Days Waterloo and the Express by Holiday Inn London Southwark both of which provide easy access to the myriad of attractions the South Bank has to offer and also into the West End and Covent Garden. |
Waterloo and South Bank for Fifty Plus | | For 50+ visitors, the Plaza on the River Club and Residence provides amazing views across the River to the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and the British Airways London Eye. For those who are more budget conscious Accor Group have the Mercure London City Bankside here which offers excellent value for money. |
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