Bankside

South Bank, SE1 9TG

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South Bank, SE1 9TG
London

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Nearest Station
Southwark
Waterloo
Embankment

About Bankside

The bankside area on the Southern bank of the River Thames provides a wealth of interest for any visitor. The Southwark Playhouse is a ninty-seater Dickensian courtyard on Southwark Bridge Road.

Pieces performed at the Playhouse range from classic to contemporary masterpieces and contribute extensively to extra-curricular learning activities for local children. The Bankside Gallery displays a breathtaking range of prints and watercolour paintings and is home to the Royal Watercolour Society. Admission is free.

Housed in the former Bankside Power Station and opposite St. Paul's Cathedral is the Tate Modern. Across seven floors the Tate Modern displays work of arguably unparalleled brilliance and originality. Linking the Tate Modern and St. Paul’s Cathedral is the Millennium Bridge. The design for which was achieved through staging an international competition among artists and architects. The infamous wobble with which it began has since been corrected, such that it now transports thousands of pedestrians over the Thames every day.

Many other attractions populate this district, examples of which include the Southwark Church, which provides a marvel of Gothic design, and is open to all. Further along and set in two and a half acres, the Vinopolis City of Wine is a celebration of wine-making and its colourful history. Visitors can tour the wine-tasting exhibition and even sample a few different varieties whilst they are there! Another attraction on the route is the Golden Hinde, which sailed 140,000 miles before finding a home on the Thames. Originally the ship of Sir Francis Drake, The Hinde is now a living museum with regular guided tours.

Fortunate visitors may also catch the annual Southwark Festival. The entire area of Bankside is easily accessed via the London Underground and via the regular bus service.

Upcoming Events at Bankside