Southwark feels like a mini village in the heart of central south London - except with so much more to see and explore! Once you've settled into your Boutique London Lets apartments, don't just rush off to the big name tourist attractions - although it is very quick and easy to do so - spend a few hours wandering the streets of Southwark, taking in its charm and exploring all that it has to offer.
Southwark Lane
Southwark stands as one of the oldest parts of London, initially registered as a borough of Surrey! Nowadays, it's as close to the center of London as the West and East End, whilst still remaining relatively quiet. So, if you're somewhat put off by the hustle and bustle of London, you'll love Southwark.
Southwark is currently in the midst of a period of regeneration - the newly built apartment buildings give it a cosmopolitan feel while the classic architecture ensures the soul of the area is not lost. The area around London Bridge and Borough Market is where the action is and this is where you should head for local attractions, bars and restaurants.
Hay's Galleria is a good start - it's an entertainment complex in the midst of large, glass windowed office blocks on the riverside, It has shops and plenty of food and drink pitstops as well as a really nice, relaxed atmosphere which gets busier when all the office workers clock off at half five.
Foodies should head right on down to Borough Market, especially if you plan to make good use of your Boutique London Lets kitchen during your stay! Look no further for fresh fish, meat and vegetables, or simply grab a quick, delicious lunch from one of the stalls. The market buildings themselves are great and there's a wonderful community spirit here.
Next to Borough Market, you will see the beautiful Southwark Cathedral which is just as lovely inside and has a quiet churchyard on one side. It's open every day and anyone can attend services and other events.
If you're a literature nut, you'll be interested to know that John Keats studied at Guy's Hospital, just by London Bridge station and lived on St Thomas Street and that Charles Dickens lived near Borough tube station. Tooley Street was home to George Orwell when he was writing Down and Out in Paris and London.
The Royal Navy cruise liner, the HMS Belfast (as part of the Imperial War Museums) is also currently docked just past Blackfriars' Bridge and has recently reopened to the public. Don't miss Shakespeare's Globe, a reconstruction of the Globe Theatre, the Elizabethan Playhouse where our most famous writer saw his works come to life.
Shakespeare's Globe
Southwark is a transport hub, with a number of underground stations and bus routes passing through. You are served by Southwark (Jubilee), Borough (Northern) and London Bridge (Jubilee, Northern lines) stations, from which you'll never be more than fifteen minutes walk. Be sure to plan your journey on Transport for London before heading out, to ensure you take the quickest and easiest route.
The Northern line will take you through the City and up to Angel and King's Cross - be careful, this is not the same branch of the Northern line that goes to Waterloo, Charing Cross and Leicester Square - these stations are on the Bank branch.
If you are headed central, either walk through Southwark to the river and along the South Bank and cross at Waterloo Bridge or the Golden Jubilee Bridges for the main sights (or the Millenium Bridge at the Tate Modern for St Paul's Cathedral). Or grab a bus from London Bridge station - the RV1 will take you to Waterloo and then the Strand, for Covent Garden for example.
The Jubilee line is also useful here - it stops at Waterloo before nipping under the river to Westminster (for the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Abbey) and onto Green Park (for Buckingham Palace and Piccadilly) and Bond Street.
As already mentioned, foodies with love Southward - you've got the spectacular Borough Market (try fish! restaurant) as well as the dozens of restaurants dotted across this stretch of the South Bank by the River Thames, not forgetting Hay's Galleria.
If you want a traditional British Sunday roast, try Roast in the Floral Hall of the market on Stony Street. Or else Simply Indian Restauant on Tabard Street is another great restaurant, this time serving good value Indian dishes - and with an equally self-explanatory name!
In terms of daytime activities, you can expect to find a number of hidden gems in Southwark. Built on the site of a prison dating back to 1144, the Clink Prison Museum is home to a selection original artefacts including torture devices - so not one for the faint hearted! It's worth a visit, offering an alternative to the more touristy London Dungeons on the other side of London Bridge station.
Borough Market
Southwark is a good place to be if you find yourself in a pickle - there's a Post Office, plenty of pharmacies and supermarkets and of course markets galore if you need to pick up some last minute ingredients.
In London Bridge station, you can easily locate the WH Smith bookseller and Marks & Spencers supermarket as well as sandwich shops and the like.
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"One of my favorite attractions in London is actually the Harry Potter Museum (part of the Warner Bros Studio Tour until March 2013) since I'm a big fan of the books and films". Read more from the team
Things To Do In #London Today: 20 December 2012 http://t.co/XGfX2Cxd #travel #tips #attraction #art #accommodation #servicedapartments #ukThu 20 Dec 12 @ 11:15
