Southwark Area Guide

Southwark is one of the oldest parts of London and was originally a series of islands in the River Thames. This made it the best place to bridge the Thames and the area became an important part of London, owing its importance to its position as the endpoint of the Roman London Bridge. With all it’s history Southwark retains fascinating character in many of its buildings, streets and shops. 

Walking from the iconic Tower Bridge all the way to Blackfriars Bridge, there are several landmarks you will recognise, such as City Hall, HMS Belfast, Southwark Cathedral, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and the Tate Modern. Of course, Tower Bridge itself is one of the world’s best-known bridges.

The UK’s tallest building, The Shard was completed in November 2012 replacing Southwark Towers. The 72nd floor is the tower's privately operated observation deck, the View from the Shard and without pointing out the obvious has spectacular views of the city. The building also houses Shangri-La Hotel, residences, offices and restaurants.
 
Southwark is a haven for foodies, with Borough Market selling gourmet food and fresh produce, but if it is too packed, check out nearby Maltby Street Market, which has plenty of mouth-watering products from some of the UK’s best artisanal traders. You re also never a short walk away from pubs dating back to medieval times, including the Market Porter which featured in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as ‘Third Hand Book Emporium’.