Posted on August 23rd, 2016
Seven Tourist Attractions in Southwark
There’s lots to do and see in Southwark which makes it difficult to whittle it down to a just a few attractions, but here are eight real Southwark gems:
The South London Gallery (Peckham Road) is home to an impressive art collection and regularly hosts a series of exciting (and free!) exhibitions. There’s also an excellent café right next door for when you’ve had your fill of culture.
The Elephant and Castle Shopping Centre is not just for shopping, although there’s plenty of that on offer. Its large airy spaces also act as the perfect venue for numerous art projects and even theatrical performances. If you’re into retail design you’ll love the fact that that many shops have kept their original ‘70’s and 80’s vibe.
Borough Market has been in existence since 1756 making it the oldest fruit and vegetable wholesale market in central London. In Victorian times thousands of tons of produce arrived from the wharves of London Bridge and Tooley Street. Nowadays you can still buy fresh fruit and veg here along with gourmet foods, fish, meat and cheese direct from farmers, representing ‘Britishproduce at its best’ (Jamie Oliver).
Kingswood House is located between Gypsy Hill and Sydenham Hill station and is a real hub of the community. The Victorian family mansion is packed with fascinating features and is full of character making it a sought after location for filming. The house was transformed in the late 19th century by John Lawston Johnston (the inventor of Bovril!).
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre is located on Bankside, a faithful reconstruction of the Elizabethan playhouse. Take a fascinating guided tour and learn about this unique building and its famous playwright.
London Bridge was the earliest bridge built over the Thames by the Romans, a wooden structure which was repaired many times before being replaced with a stone bridge in the 12th In 1825 the new bridge designed by John Rennie was opened to deal with the increasing traffic – the steps leading to the west side of the bridge were immortalised in Oliver Twist as the place poor Nancy fell to her death. In 1970 the bridge was sold to Lake Havasu City, Arizona and the bridge we see today was opened in 1973.
Arment’s Pie and Mash Shop on Westmoreland Road, Walworth, has been a top Southwark landmark since 1914. If you’re looking for a true taste of Southwark Arment’s is the place to head for, for delicious pie and mash, jellied eels and liquor, and more – all cooked to the same high standards as when it first opened over a century ago.
Southwark has so many tourist attractions to offer so keep an check on our website for the next blog on what to see and do!
