London's Most Vibrant Riverbank.
London's South Bank is one of the most vibrant areas of the city; its exciting vibe and riverside location makes it one of the most sought after areas of London. The River Thames, and the wonderful daytime and nighttime views it brings, are right on your doorstep and many of London's biggest tourist attractions are just a hop over one of the bridges. Read on for the must-see sights, restaurants and hidden gems on London's South Bank.
London's Most Vibrant Riverbank:
London's South Bank is one of the most vibrant areas of the city; its exciting vibe and riverside location makes it one of the most sought after areas of London. The River Thames, and the wonderful daytime and nighttime views it brings, are right on your doorstep and many of London's biggest tourist attractions are just a hop over one of the bridges. Read on for the must-see sights, restaurants and hidden gems on London's South Bank.
London Eye and County Hall
South Bank Tourist Attractions and History:
South Bank was a bit of a no man's land until around 1917 when County Hall was built. Now this imposing building houses the London Eye ticketing office and 4D experience, Namco Station (a video game arcade that's great for kids with a bowling alley and bumper cars) and the London Aquarium. The Festival of Britain in 1951 also helped put the South Bank on the map as a cultural and entertainment hub and it has stayed that way ever since.
A big draw on the South Bank is the Tate Modern which has an incredible free, permanent collection and rotating exhibitions which will set you back only £10. But there's more art in the area in the form of the Hayward Gallery, just by Waterloo Bridge and part of the Southbank Centre. Check out the BFI Southbank which also puts on exhibitions of its archive material.
The National Theatre is another must and it is just the other side of Waterloo Bridge to the Hayward - you can't miss either as they make up the skyline on this side of the river. Pop in on your first day and you should have no problem booking tickets, just don't forget to pre-order drinks in the bar in the interval of the play.
You might also notice the piers along the South Bank and we recommend taking a Boat Ride on the Thames at least once. You can hop on a boat at Westminster Pier, Waterloo Millenium Pier, Embankment Pier and Festival Pier. Evening boat tours are especially magical and some can take you all the way East to past the O2 in Greenwich and as far West as Chelsea.
There's also a Tate Boat which is a nice idea if you want to take in both of London's main Tate galleries and the sights of the river all in one day. The boat runs every 40 minutes between the Tate Modern and Tate Britain (i.e. the Millbank Pier). The journey takes a leisurely 20 minutes and stops off at the London Eye too.
London South Bank at Dusk.
Getting to London's Big Attractions:
For the first couple of days, we recommend strolling out your front door to explore what's right in front of you on the South Bank. You can easily walk to London Bridge, Covent Garden and Westminster from this area and (unless the weather is really dire) we recommend making yourself a walking tour. Biking is another good option, athough this won't be so practical in the very busy, tourist-centric areas like outside the London Eye and County Hall.
To get to the north side of the River, you've got a couple of choices - cross over Westminster Bridge to get to Big Ben (you can't miss it from the other side), the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey and Victoria. Waterloo Bridge takes you to Aldwych, the Strand and Covent Garden whereas the pedestrian only Golden Jubilee Bridge goes straight across to Charing Cross station and Trafalgar Square. It's a nice walk with buskers and has a similar feel to the Millenium Bridge, linking the Tate Modern on the South Bank to St. Paul's Cathedral on the north.
Another South Bank tip is the RV1, Riverside Bus service which you will see tottering along only one road in from the pedestrianised riverbank. It connects over 30 London tourist attractions and will take you on to Bankside, London Bridge and Covent Garden - just don't expect to always be the quickest bus route.
For going further afield, perhaps to Harrods in Knightsbridge you'll need to jump on a tube. Waterloo and Vauxhall are both close by and each one is a massive transport hub, or depending on your destination it might be quicker to walk across to Charing Cross (Northern), Westminster (Jubilee, District and Circle) or Embankment/ Temple stations (District and Circle, Bakerloo, Northern).
London Eye, Southbank at Night
South Bank Insider Tips and Eating Out:
You're absolutely spoiled for choice for eating out on the South Bank, particularly a stretch near the Royal Festival Hall and more eating establishments near the London Eye.
If you're going to splurge, you really must go up to the OXO Tower Restaurant & Bar in OXO Tower Wharf, not too far from the Tate Modern. There's great food, wine and gorgeous views out onto the river but you will certainly pay for all those perks and we'd say it's best to book ahead here.
There's all sorts of cuisine represented along the South Bank, from dim sum at the popular Ping Pong (which is set back from the main riverbank slightly towards Waterloo station) to the chain Wagamama which serves a noodle-heavy Japanese menu. If it's lunchtime and you just fancy a cheap snack, head over to Gabriel's Wharf for a savoury crepe instead or check out Concrete, a nice lunchtime or drinks venue at the Hayward Gallery.
South Bank Amenities:
South Bank isn't the most practical of places - you're more likely to get a fancy coffee or a crazy arcade game than find any shops to grab essentials. But you can venture south to Waterloo station for a range of shops from a big, well stocked Boots to WH Smith and Sainsburies plus a mobile phone repairs shop under the Bridge or cross over to Westminster for more shops.
Once you get down to the Tate Modern there's also plenty of shops (not to mention cafes) in the Blue Fin building at Bankside. You can grab gifts and trinkets from JOY or Oliver Bonas or food from Marks & Spencers on Southwark Street.
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