What are the best sights and events London’s vibrant South Bank has to offer all year around?

Question

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Answer 1

There's always something to see and do on the South Bank, even if it changes with the seasons. From being a fairly grim area in the past with only the Festival Hall and National Theatre, it's expanded and improved to include the Jubilee Walk, Globe Theatre and Tate Modern, along with other things to see like Southwark Cathedral, Borough Market, The Clink, the Golden Hinde, etc.

Crossing south on Hungerford Bridge (from Charing Cross), there's the London Eye to the right along with the Dali Gallery, and the Festival Hall, National Theatre and Hayward Gallery to the left. Walk left, and there are second-hand bookstalls well worth a rummage under Waterloo Bridge. Carry on, and there's the Oxo Tower where you can have an expensive cocktail in the Moonlight Bar; there's Gabriel's Wharf for places to eat. Sometimes there are fairs and performers - I loved an opera singer recently! Carry on walking east, and there's the Tate Modern. (The Millennium Bridge is there which crosses the Thames to St Paul's. There is also a space across the Thames where you can see the place where old London Bridge used to stand.)

Carry on east, past Shakespeare's Globe, past the ruins of the Bishop of Winchester's Palace, and taste olives, cheese, roasted meats and all kinds of things at Borough Market. The stews of Southwark were once filled with prostitutes and taverns - you can see where bear-baiting took place, although much has been destroyed.

Last winter there was an ice market along the riverbank, and a fair in the Globe.

Well worth a visit - you can also catch the Duck or Frog Tour, which drives into and along the Thames. It's a part of London refreshingly different from the usual tourist sites.

Answer 2

I love the National Theatre, especially during the summer when th 'Watch This Space' festival is on. It's packed full of performances and classes which are all free. This year I particularly enjoyed learning the basics of tango and cha cha at the weekend of dance.

I also appreciate the bargain that is £5 'groundling' tickets for performances at Shakespeare's Globe. It may seem like hard work standing up for a whole play (especially if it's raining) but it's the best way to get close to the action.

Finally, if I've headed up to the town without my packed lunch, I can't resist popping into Borough Market for yummy treats. Even if you don't buy, you can dine like a king on all the free samples. Mmmmmm.

Answer 3

The London Eye
The Tate Modern
The Museum of Moving Image
The River
The bars

Answer 4

National Film Theatre.

Answer 5

Good interest rates nice decor. Do they have an East, West and North Bank and are they all run buy the same people.

Answer 6

The ATMs.

Answer 7

The river isn't bad......