Waterloo and the South Bank - What to See and Where to Eat and Drink (2 km)
- philip carey
- Jun 29, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: May 31, 2024
Start at Waterloo Station
Finish at Westminster Station
THE EXPERIENCE
Where to find food and drink by London’s Southbank attractions
This route is located along the South Bank between Westminster and Waterloo Station. It takes you past iconic sights such as the BFI, the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre, the London Eye, Westminster Bridge, and Big Ben. It will provide fantastic riverside views across to Westminster, take you past attractions such as the London Dungeons, Shrek Adventurers, and Sea Life, and show you some of the hidden places to ‘Eat, Drink, and be Merry’.
The route is excellent for history, iconic sights, hotels, fantastic river views, transport links, shops, entertainment venues, food markets, government buildings, theatres, and places to eat, drink and be merry.
BEST TIME
Morning- This route is not too busy, but it can get crowded around Waterloo Station, Westminster Station and Westminster Bridge. The best time to explore the route is early morning when the lighting is at its best, and few people are around. It is also a great way to discover places for breakfast.
Day - This route will get busier along most of the route
Evening - This route will be fairly busy in the evening.
ROUTE OVERVIEW
This 2.0 km route is located along the South Bank between Westminster and Waterloo and takes you past Waterloo Station, the Southbank Centre, the National Theatre, the London Eye, and Big Ben, with an ‘Eat, Drink, and be Merry’ theme.
After passing the National Theatre and the BFI, it does a circuit around the Royal Festival Hall and the market food stalls before travelling along the South Bank towards the London Eye and County Hall. It finally crosses Westminster Bridge, taking in the river views before finishing off at Westminster Station.
See the route at speed (2:54)
Use this to see what the route looks like as if you were doing it at speed and to make you more familiar with what you will see along the way.
GOOGLE AND STRAVA MAPS
Use 'My Google Maps' to explore this route's venues. If you are using a mobile device, the map can help you find the start point for the route, navigate to places of interest, and show your position on the map.
What to see and places to eat, drink and be merry.
What to See List
1 The Old Vic and Lower Marsh Market
2 Waterloo Station
3 IMAX and Kings College
4 BFI and the National Theatre
5 Waterloo Bridge Views
6 The Royal Festival Hall and the Southbank Centre
7 The Golden Jubilee Bridge Views
8 Jubilee Gardens and the London Eye
9 Old County Hall and Amusements
10 Westminster Bridge and Big Ben
Waterloo to Westminster - Pubs and Bars
This will help you locate the pubs and bars around this route. These are centred near Waterloo Station and behind County Hall.
Here is a listing of nearby pubs and bars.
The Camel & Artichoke
121 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AE
The Walrus Bar & Hostel
172 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7RW
Duke of Sussex
Baylis Rd, London SE1 7AY
https://www.dukeofsussex.co.uk
Fire Station
150 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8SB
www.thefirestationwaterloo.com
The Anchor & Hope
36 The Cut, London SE1 8LP
The Wellington Hotel
81-83 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8UD
www.wellingtonhotelwaterloo.co.uk
The Hole In The Wall
5 Mepham St, London SE1 8SQ
The White Hart
29 Cornwall Rd, Greater, London SE1 8TJ
Waterloo Tap
Sutton Walk, London SE1 8RL
+44 20 3455 7436
BrewDog Waterloo
Unit G, Waterloo Station, 01 The Sidings, London SE1 7BH
St Stephen’s Tavern Pub & Restaurant
10 Bridge St, London SW1A 2JJ
The Red Lion
48 Parliament St, London SW1A 2NH
https://www.redlionwestminster.co.uk
BARS
Bar Elba Waterloo
111 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8SG
Tonight Josephine Waterloo
111 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 8UL
The Understudy
Upper Ground, London SE1 9PX
BFI Bar / BFI Café
Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XT
Southbank Centre
337-338 Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XU
Topolski
150-152 Concert Hall Approach, London SE1 8XU
Slug & Lettuce - County Hall
1 Chicheley St, London SE1 7PJ
All Bar One Waterloo
1 Chicheley St, London SE1 7PJ
Draughts – Waterloo
1 Chicheley St, London SE1 7PJ
Primo Bar
200 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7UT
Gillray's Steakhouse & Bar
200 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7UT
Waterloo to Westminster - Places to Eat
There are a few places to eat along the way, with most centred around Waterloo Station and the Royal Festival Hall. Use the food links to find your perfect spot.
Open Table London prides itself on bringing together people and the restaurants they love in the moments that matter, offering dining options, experiences, and offers.
The Fork—This is a Tripadvisor company that relies as much on its communities of users as its communities of restaurateurs. You can search by price, cuisine, rating, and special offers.
Hardens – This is probably the UK's most comprehensive independent restaurant guide, with reviews written by its members. It ranks each place by its food, services and ambience and has extensive search capabilities.
Design My Night This site is designed to help you discover and unlock secret, new and unique city experiences, from events to bars and restaurants, but it is also a site to help plan and book online. It has categories for restaurants, bars, pubs, clubs, and 'what's on'.
Afternoon tea This is an Afternoon Tea guide to help you find the 'perfect venue for afternoon tea' in London and the UK. It provides descriptions, offers, booking facilities and an extensive search option.
Waterloo to Westminster - Things to Do
The route has some of Londons most famous attactions as well as theatres and cinemas. These include:-
Young Vic
66 The Cut, London SE1 8LZ
The Old Vic
103 The Cut, London SE1 8NB
Waterloo East Theatre
Brad St, London SE1 8TN
Network Theatre
Enter through the tunnel opposite Tesco Express, 246A Lower Marsh, London SE1 8SJ
The Vaults London
Leake St, London SE1 7NN
BFI IMAX
1 Charlie Chaplin Walk South Bank, London SE1 8XR
National Theatre
Upper Ground, London SE1 9PX
Dorfman Theatre
London SE1 9PX
Lyttelton Theatre
South Bank, London SE1 9PX
Royal Festival Hall
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX
Queen Elizabeth Hall
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX
Purcell Room
Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX
lastminute.com London Eye
Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB
The London Dungeon
Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Shrek's Adventure London
Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
SEA LIFE Centre London Aquarium
Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
London Eye River Cruise
Riverside Building, County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7PB
Thames River Sightseeing Festival Pier
More London Riverside, London SE1 9PX
www.thamesriversightseeing.com
Witness for the Prosecution - County Hall
Belvedere Road, London Eye, behind the London, Street SE1 7PB
Florence Nightingale Museum
2 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7EW
www.florence-nightingale.co.uk
Garden Museum
5 Lambeth Palace Rd, London SE1 7LB
Hayward Gallery
Hayward Gallery, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XZ
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XT
The Vaults Theatre
Launcelot St, London SE1 7AD
Vaulty Towers
34 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7RG
Waterloo to Westminster - Breakfast Venues
These are some of the places for breakfast along the route:-
Benugo Waterloo
Floor 1 Waterloo station 19/20 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 7LY
Waterloo Café
1 Wootton St, London SE1 8TG
Balance
42-43 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AB
https://www.balancekitchen.co.uk/
Pret A Manger
152 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 7AA
Black Penny
17 Casson Sq, London SE1 7BQ
https://www.theblackpenny.com/
The Bankside Café
4, Benson House, Hatfields, London SE1 8DQ
Grind at Waterloo
Unit G, Waterloo Station, 01 The Sidings, London SE1 7BH
https://www.brewdog.com/uk/waterloo-grind
Maries Café
90 Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AB
Le Pain Quotidien
Festival Walk (Southbank end of Jubilee Bridge) SE1 8XX
https://www.lepainquotidien.com/uk/en/locations/Royal_Festival_Hall_South_Bank/Festival-Walk
Giraffe
Behind the, Royal Festival Hall, Riverside Level 1, London SE1 8XX
https://www.giraffe.net/restaurants/southbank
Illy Caffè, London
200 Westminster Bridge Rd, London SE1 7UT (Floor 0 Park Plaza)
BFI Riverfront
The Riverfront, BFI Southbank, London SE1 8XT (Floor G)
Pret A Manger
152 Waterloo Rd, London SE1 7AA
Côte Royal Festival Hal
Festival Terrace, Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 8XX
Leon Southbank Place
Unit 4AA, 6 York Rd, London SE1 7ND
https://www.leon.co/southbank-place/?utm_source=Yext&utm_medium=GBP
Pure
Unit 17, Waterloo Station, Waterloo Rd, London SE1 7LY
PHOTO GALLERY
This gallery provides a descriptive and visual reference to many sights along this route. Double-click to see the image in full size.
HISTORY & INTERESTING FACTS
From Waterloo Station to Waterloo Bridge
Lower Marsh
Lower Marsh is named after the site of the ancient Lambeth Marsh, first recorded in 1377. It stands next to Waterloo Station, a short walk from the Old Vic Theatre.
In 1690, Lower Marsh is shown as a lane lined with cottages and small holdings crossing Lambeth Marsh. In the 18th century, a link was formed between Westminster Bridge and Blackfriars Bridge, which soon attracted leisure activities such as pleasure gardens, circuses, and theatres. The opening of Waterloo Bridge in 1817 and cheap development land began the expansion of the area and other locations in the south of London. Part of this development was the draining of Lambeth Marshes, and the area around Lower Marsh became covered with rows of small houses, wharves and workshops. A market was later established here in 1850 and still operates today from Monday to Friday.
The Old Vic
The Old Vic was established in 1818 as the Royal Coburg Theatre and was known by several names such as the Royal Victoria Theatre, Royal Victoria Palace Theatre and Royal Victoria Hall – but commonly known as ‘The Old Vic’.
In 1898, Lilian Baylis assumed management and began a series of Shakespeare productions in 1914.
The first radio broadcasts of the opera La Traviata were made from the theatre in 1923 by the British Broadcasting Company.
The Old Vic Company, led by Sir John Gielgud, was established in 1929. In 1963, it was dissolved, and the new National Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Sir Laurence Olivier, was based at the Old Vic until its own building, the National Theatre on the South Bank, was opened in 1976.
BFI Southbank
BFI Southbank (formerly known as the National Film Theatre) is the UK’s leading repertory cinema, specialising in seasons of classic, independent, and non-English-language films. The British Film Institute operates the BFI. In addition to the four cinemas, the complex includes a studio, a médiathèque (a library), a gallery space, a shop, a bar, and a restaurant.
BFI IMAX
Out of Waterloo Road’s sunken ‘bullring’ roundabout rises the giant glass drum of the IMAX, home to the biggest cinema screen in the country (20m by 26m) and complemented by the world’s most sophisticated sound and projection system.
The exterior walls of the building project a major work of art by Howard Hodgkin, lit at night with various colours. The BFI IMAX has a seating capacity of 500 and a 14,000-watt digital surround sound system. The BFI IMAX was revamped in 2022.
The Royal National Theatre
The Royal National Theatre, also known as the National Theatre of Great Britain, was founded by actor and director Lawrence Olivier. Its first home in 1963 was in the Old Vic before moving here in 1976. It has a varied program that includes English classics, such as Shakespeare, international classical drama and new plays. It has three theatres, the Olivia Theatre, the Lyttleton Theatre, and the Dorfman Theatre, as well as several restaurants and bars. You also get some great views across towards Somerset House from its upper floors. The National Theatre is also a pioneer of ‘live theatre’, where you have a live performance screened in many cinemas worldwide.
Waterloo Bridge to County Hall
Waterloo Bridge
Waterloo Bridge was originally going to be called the Strand Bridge when it was designed in 1810 by John Rennie. When the Government bought the bridge, they renamed it after Wellington’s recent 1812 victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo. It opened in 1817 but was underused and neglected, and by 1923, the bridge was deemed beyond repair and closed permanently. Work for a replacement began in 1939 but was delayed almost immediately by the outbreak of World War II, though construction continued despite being hit by labour shortages and V2 rockets. With few men available for building work, the construction was mostly done with female labour and was nicknamed ‘The Ladies Bridge’ when it opened in 1945.
Thanks to its location at a strategic bend in the river, the views of London from the bridge are widely held to be the finest from any spot at ground level. These include views of Westminster, the South Bank, and the London Eye to the west and Southwark, the City of London, and Canary Wharf to the east.
Hayward Gallery
The Hayward Gallery by Waterloo Bridge offers a year-round exhibition programme that focuses on presenting a wide range of adventurous and influential artists from across the world. It opened on 9 July 1968 and has an esteemed archive with over 50 years of thought-provoking contemporary art exhibitions, including artists such as Tracey Emin, Andy Warhol, and Antony Gormley. The building is named after Sir Isaac Hayward, a former leader of the London County Council, the GLC's predecessor. It is designed in the Brutalist style and has five exhibition spaces and three outdoor sculpture courts.
Golden Jubilee Bridges - and Hunger-ford Bridge
The two footbridges on either side of the Hungerford Railway Bridge were opened in 2002 and named in celebration of the Queen’s Golden Jubilee. The first Hungerford Bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in 1845 as a suspension footbridge to link the then Hungerford Market to the South Bank. In 1996, a design competition was won by architects Lifschutz Davidson and engineers WSP, who designed two new footbridges on either side of the rail crossing. In 2002, after one million work hours, the new bridges opened. Each one is a 300m concrete deck attached to a series of leaning suspension masts with steel cables. The overall effect is to create a tunnel of light focusing on either end of the crossing and distracting the viewer from the adjacent railway bridge.
The Southbank Centre & Royal Festival Hall
The Southbank Centre includes the Royal Festival Hall (the Hayward Gallery, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and the Purcell Room. This area was chosen for the 1951 Festival of Britain, and The Royal Festival Hall dates from this period and is today a major art centre. The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance, and talk venue with bars and restaurants. Behind the Royal Festival Hall, there is also a food market and a large open area in front that looks onto the river.
London Eye
The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel situated on the banks of the River Thames that rotates at one kilometre an hour. Its 32 capsules represent London’s 32 boroughs. The London Eye is the UK's most popular paid tourist attraction, with more than 3.75 million visitors annually. When built in 1999, it was the tallest wheel in the world at 135 metres tall and the UK’s highest public viewing platform. Views from the London Eye. A trip, or “flight”, in one of the wheel’s 32 glass-enclosed pods takes 30 minutes and, weather permitting offers views of London for up to 25 miles in all directions. The best time for a “flight” is in the morning with the sun in the south or dusk. This will give you great views of the Houses of Parliament, Westminster, and the City of London.
County Hall to Westminster Station
County Hall Facts
- County Hall was built in 1922 as the headquarters of the London County Council and later the Greater London Council (GLC).
- The main six-storey building was designed by Ralph Knott in the Edwardian Baroque style.
- The site had previously been occupied by Simmond's flour mills, a Crosse & Blackwell's factory, wharves, workshops stables and a few houses.
- In 1986, Margaret Thatcher abolished the GLC and County Hall lost its role as the seat of London's government.
- Today, County Hall is the site of businesses and attractions, including the London Sea Life Aquarium, The London Dungeons, Shrek's Adventure and the Marriott Hotel. The Premier Inn and the Marriott County Hall are also hotels located in County Hall:
- From left to right, the views across the river include the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Bridge, Portcullis House, Victoria Embankment, New Scotland Yard, the Ministry of Defence, Whitehall Place, and the Golden Jubilee Bridge.
St Thomas’s Hospital
Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone for the hospital in 1868 and opened the new buildings in 1871. The hospital initially had 600 beds and was one of the first new hospitals to adopt the ‘pavilion principle’ – popularised by Florence Nightingale. It originally had six separate ward buildings linked by common corridors (to improve ventilation and to segregate patients with infectious diseases). However, the ones near Westminster Bridge were destroyed in World War II.
St Thomas’ is one of the oldest hospitals in the country. In 1173, the already well-established infirmary of St Mary Overie in Southwark was renamed St Thomas’ Hospital in tribute to Archbishop Thomas Becket, who had been murdered in Canterbury Cathedral three years before. In 1215, it was relocated to Trenet Lane, then to St Thomas Street, South-wark. Initially run by a mixed order of Augustinian canons and canonesses, the hospital provided shelter and treatment for the poor, sick, and homeless.
St Thomas’ Hospital left Southwark in 1862 when its ancient site was compulsorily purchased to make way for the construction of the Charing Cross railway viaduct from London Bridge Station. The hospital was temporarily housed at Royal Surrey Gardens in Newington (Walworth) until new buildings on the present site by Westminster Bridge in Lambeth were completed in 1871.
Albert Embankment
The Albert Embankment was built for the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1868 under the direction of engineer John Grant rather than Sir Joseph Bazalgette. It stretches approximately 1.6 km northward from Vauxhall Bridge to Westminster Bridge.
Albert Embankments’ main purpose was to create a new highway and open space for the New St Thomas’s Hospital and to help even out irregularities in the riverfront where mud accumulated in the wider places. Unlike Bazalgette's Thames Embankment, the Albert Embankment does not incorporate major interceptor sewers. This allowed the southern section of the embankment (upstream from Lambeth Bridge) to include a pair of tunnels onto a small slipway, named White Hart Draw Dock, whose origins can be traced back to the 14th century.
Big Ben Facts
This photograph taken from Parliament Square shows the northern end of the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the Clock Tower.
The Great Bell was cast by the White-chapel Bell Foundry and weighed 13.5 long tons. Its nickname may be derived from Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw its installation, or heavyweight boxing champion Benjamin Caunt. There are four quarter bells, which chime during quarter hours. It is known for its reliability and can be adjusted by adding or removing pre-decimal pennies from the pendulum.
The bells play four notes – G sharp, F sharp, E and B – and different parts of the tune are played at quarter past, half past and quarter to the hour in Westminster.
The tune is called Westminster Quarters, but its original name was Cambridge Quarters because it originated in Cambridge and was first played in Great St Mary's Church in the city centre.
It is the world's largest four-faced chiming clock and the third-tallest free-standing clock tower. The clock first ticked on 31st May 1859. It has recently been renamed the Elizabeth Tower.
Inside the tower is an oak-panelled Prison Room, which can only be accessed from the House of Commons. It was last used in 1880 when atheist Charles Bradlaugh, a Northampton MP, was imprisoned by the Serjeant at Arms after he protested against swearing a religious oath of allegiance to Queen Victoria.
VIRTUAL TOUR OF THE AREA
Click on the picture below to go on a 360 virtual tour of the shopping areas and look around.
Use the route to explore this location by looking around in 360, taking in the sights and sounds, listening to an audio recording about the area and going on a virtual tour.
Browse the gallery to find out what you can see along the way.
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