Southwark: Bankside, Markets and Theatre History

Shakespeare’s Globe is located on the banks of the River Thames in London’s Bankside Cultural Quarter.

Bankside: Theatre History and Art

Shakespeare’s Globe is located on the banks of the River Thames in London, United Kingdom, in the Bankside Cultural Quarter. The Rose is also part of the area’s theatre history: the theatre was built in 1587 and was the first theatre in Bankside, Southwark. The archaeological remains of The Rose have been preserved underwater. Illuminated ropes mark their structure, allowing visitors to recognise the theatre’s shape and size as well as its stage.

This should be distinguished from the site of the original Globe Theatre on the southern side of Park Street. Its area is paved with cobblestones in Playhouse Court; information boards are located on the visitors’ platform. In Bankside, you can therefore encounter both preserved archaeological traces and marked historical sites.

Tate Modern is also located in Bankside, in the London Borough of Southwark. The building was formerly a power station and is now an art gallery; admission to Tate Modern is free. Bankside Gallery is located on the Thames Path between Tate Modern and Blackfriars Station and complements the artistic and riverside character of this part of Southwark.

Borough Market and Routes Through the District

Borough Market consists of three main areas with clearly distinct focuses: Three Crown Square is intended for larger producers and traders, the Green Market for small vendors of specialised products, and Borough Market Kitchen for street-food vendors. The market is located directly next to London Bridge Station. Borough Market also offers official, licensed tours led by an expert guide.

For orientation between important transport hubs, there is another clear reference point: one route connects Bankside with London Bridge and Waterloo stations. Another walking route runs along a Victorian railway viaduct. These two references describe different ways of exploring Southwark without presupposing a shared route.

Historic Sites and Varied Activities

The Clink Prison Museum is located in the heart of present-day Southwark and conveys the scandalous history of Old Bankside through an interactive educational experience. The remains of the western and southern walls of the Great Hall of Winchester Palace are also located on Clink Street. The Old Operating Theatre Museum & Herb Garret is located in the attic of a 320-year-old church.

Religious architecture also forms part of the local character. The Roman Catholic Church of the Most Precious Blood was built in 1891–1892 by James Smith & Sons of Norwood and is a church in the Romanesque Revival style. Southwark Cathedral offers a programme of music, heritage, tours, talks and family events. Alongside museums and theatre history, you can therefore find activities with a range of cultural focuses.

For further orientation, you can also explore Golders Green, Coulsdon, Beckenham, Harmondsworth, Lambeth, Chingford, Wallington and Northolt.