There’s so much to explore in London it can be difficult to know where to start. Focusing on one small corner means getting to know the city like the locals and, in Bermondsey, you get the best of the capital in one district.
This southeast London neighbourhood, once a site of industry serving the city with everything from spices to biscuits, is now an unlikely cultural hotspot. Attracting tourists, foodies and influencers, get to know this London neighbourhood and its three-and-a-half-mile stretch of riverside with our guide to the best things to do in Bermondsey.
Maltby Street Market
Colourful flags line a tucked-away alley in Bermondsey, marking your arrival at Maltby Street Market. Traders set up their market stalls under Victorian railway arches each Saturday and Sunday, selling fruit and veg, craft beer and tasty sweet treats. But the main draw of the market is the huge range of delicious street food on offer.
Here, you’ll find everything from crispy Korean dumplings to the juiciest Lebanese lamb. The cobbles of old London now draw visitors from far and wide to taste food from every corner of the globe.
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White Cube Gallery
One of the world’s leading contemporary art galleries, the White Cube has spaces in Hong Kong, Paris, New York, West Palm Beach and… Bermondsey. Founded in the early ‘90s, White Cube was instrumental in launching the careers of the Young British Artists (YBAs) including Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin.
Its flagship space on Bermondsey Street is Europe’s largest commercial gallery space, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors each year to its large-scale exhibitions. A changing programme of exhibitions represents the best in contemporary painting, sculpture and multidisciplinary art.
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Shad Thames
A site of Victorian industry, this Riverside street next to Tower Bridge was once home to the largest complex of warehouses in London. Storehouses of tea, coffee and spices, which were unloaded onto riverboats to serve the metropolis, meant it was dubbed the ‘larder of London’. In the 1970s, cheap rent at the post-industrial site made it home to a number of notable artists, including David Hockney and Derek Jarman.
Today, it’s home to desirable flats and a strip of trendy restaurants and bars. The striking network of overhead walkways, originally used to roll barrels of goods, now provides the perfect backdrop for influencers seeking an Instagrammable backdrop.
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Arch Climbing
After indulging in the delights of the many bars and restaurants in this trendy area, The Arch provides the perfect place to work off the calories. London’s original bouldering centre contains four indoor climbing walls and offers beginner lessons for adults and kids.
The 15,000-square-foot space was originally a biscuit factory and later became artist Damian Hirst’s studio. There are routes for all abilities and a programme of monthly events, including parent and child sessions and women’s socials. The Arch is a friendly and inclusive space (and a great way to take your trip to Bermondsey to new heights!).
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