Southwark: Culture, History and Markets on the Thames

Southwark combines the lively atmosphere of markets with a distinctive theatrical history, museums and riverside walks along the Thames. Those planning a trip to London with cultural discoveries and varied ideas for each day will find a place where historic sites, art and local experiences can be brought together. When choosing a holiday apartment in Southwark, it is therefore particularly interesting to consider whether you want to focus your stay on Bankside, market visits, museums or changing cultural programmes.

Markets and culinary discoveries

A defining destination is Borough Market. The market is divided into three main areas: Three Crown Square is intended for larger producers and traders, smaller vendors offer specialist products at the Green Market, and the Borough Market Kitchen brings together street food vendors. This means that during your visit you can experience different forms of market life, from buying special products to choosing a street food option.

Borough Market is located directly next to London Bridge Station. This makes the market an easy-to-navigate starting point for planning your day. In addition, Borough Market offers official, licensed tours led by an expert guide. If you would like not only to taste and shop but also to learn more about the market, you can plan such a visit as a separate part of your itinerary.

Bankside as a setting for theatrical history

The Rose was built in 1587 and was the first theatre on Bankside in Southwark. The archaeological remains are preserved underwater and marked with illuminated ropes. This allows visitors to recognise the shape and size of the theatre, as well as its stage. The site of the original Globe Theatre on the southern side of Park Street also commemorates the area's theatrical history. In Playhouse Court, the area is paved with cobblestones; information boards on the viewing platform provide details about the site.

Shakespeare’s Globe is located on the banks of the Thames in the Bankside Cultural Quarter. Southwark offers more than theatrical connections, however: Tate Modern is located in Bankside in the London Borough of Southwark. The building was formerly a power station and is now an art gallery; admission to Tate Modern is free.

Museums, architectural history and walks

Further insights into Southwark's history are provided by the remains of the western and southern walls of the Great Hall of Winchester Palace in Clink Street. The Clink Prison Museum lies in the heart of present-day Southwark and conveys the scandalous history of Old Bankside through an interactive educational experience. The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret is located in the attic of a 320-year-old church and adds to the district's cultural diversity.

Religious buildings are also part of Southwark's character. The Roman Catholic Church of the Most Precious Blood was built in 1891–1892 by James Smith & Sons of Norwood and is a church in the Romanesque Revival style. Southwark Cathedral offers a programme of music, heritage, guided tours, talks and family events. Depending on the day of your trip, you can therefore choose between exhibitions, history, architecture and events.

Discover Southwark on foot

For an active exploration, one route connects Bankside with London Bridge and Waterloo stations. The Bankside Gallery is located on the Thames Path between Tate Modern and Blackfriars Station. Another walking route runs along a Victorian railway viaduct. These different walking ideas give your trip different points of emphasis: you can focus on the Thames, art or historic infrastructure without limiting your stay to just one attraction.

If you are looking for a holiday apartment or holiday home in Southwark, it is therefore worth first deciding on your preferred travel style: markets and street food, theatrical history, art, religious architecture or walks along cultural sites. You can also consider Camberwell and Rotherhithe as additional destinations for your search.

For the higher-level travel overview: Southwark.