🎒 3 Days in South Bank, London: Culture, Riverside Gems, and Local Flavor for the Culturally Curious

Skip the clichés—this is London’s cultural heart seen through the eyes of a savvy traveler. From riverside art walks to food markets and hidden tunnels, here’s your ultimate South Bank itinerary.

📍 Where You’re Staying: South Bank Vibes

Imagine waking up to views of the Thames, walking to museums without needing a Tube, and ending your evenings in riverside wine bars instead of packed pubs. That’s South Bank—London’s cultural spine.

You're surrounded by:

• The Tate Modern

• Borough Market

• The National Theatre

• Street musicians, art installations, book markets, and historic pubs—all within walking distance.

Best Area to Book: Look for hotels near Blackfriars Station, Waterloo, or Borough. Some great options:

• Mid-range: The Hoxton Southwark

• Boutique feel: Bankside Hotel (by Autograph Collection)

• Budget gem: Premier Inn London Southwark

Transport Tip: From Heathrow, take the Elizabeth Line to Farringdon, then Thameslink to Blackfriars. It’s fast and avoids the deep Tube lines.

✨ Day 1: Market Bites, Riverside Culture, and Sunset Skies

🌞 Morning: Borough Market + Coffee in a Cloister

Start at: Borough Market (opens 10 AM weekdays, 9 AM weekends)

• Grab a flat white from Monmouth Coffee—a cult favorite.

• Stroll the market stalls: flaky sausage rolls, Ghanaian stews, French raclette.

Cultural Note: Borough Market has fed Londoners for over 1,000 years. You’re not just eating—you’re taking part in a living, breathing piece of London’s food heritage.

Pro Tip: Go early before the lunchtime rush. Closed on Sundays!

🗺️ Google Map Pin: Borough Market

📸 Photo Op: Snap the towering Gothic arches of Southwark Cathedral just behind the market.

🖼️ Late Morning: Tate Modern (But Not What You Expect)

Walk 10 minutes along the river to Tate Modern. But instead of heading straight to the main collection…

Go to the Switch House extension on the right side.

• Less crowded.

• Features edgy, immersive installations.

• Great viewing level on Floor 10 for Thames panoramas—free!

Cultural Context: This former power station turned art museum changed how London approached art—more inclusive, more surprising, and always conversation-starting.

🗺️ Google Map Pin: Tate Modern

🎧 Pro Tip: Use the free Wi-Fi to download their digital guide for deeper insight.

🌆 Afternoon: Riverside Walk + National Theatre Hidden Tour

Walk along the South Bank promenade, heading west. Street performers, secondhand book stalls under Waterloo Bridge, and river views all the way.

Stop at: The National Theatre

• Join a backstage tour if available (check their website—tours run most days at 2:30 PM).

• Explore the foyer installations and Olivier Theatre exhibit, even if you skip the show.

Why it’s Cool: The National Theatre is London’s cultural engine—this is where actors like Daniel Day-Lewis and Helen Mirren cut their teeth.

🗺️ Google Map Pin: National Theatre

🌇 Evening: Sky Garden + Riverside Dinner

Optional Detour: If you’re up for a Tube ride (15 min), head across the river to the Sky Garden (book in advance!). It’s free and gives unbeatable city views from the top of the “Walkie Talkie” building.

• Book for around 7 PM for sunset.

• Glass walls, tropical plants, rooftop vibes.

• Drinks or dinner options on-site (a bit pricey but worth the view).

Back in South Bank, dine at:

• Oxo Tower Brasserie for a fancy riverside meal, or

• The Green Room for laid-back, sustainable plates behind the National Theatre.

🎭 Day 2: Book Markets, Graffiti Tunnels, and Global Plates

☀️ Morning: Southbank Centre Book Market

Underneath Waterloo Bridge sits one of London’s oldest secondhand book markets.

• Dig through old maps, vinyl, vintage prints, and quirky British literature.

• You might even find a 1950s guide to “polite London society.” Seriously.

📸 Photo Op: Old books + London skyline = perfection.

🎨 Late Morning: Leake Street Arches

Hidden behind Waterloo Station is the Leake Street Tunnel—London’s largest legal graffiti zone.

• Walls change weekly.

• Free to enter.

• Totally raw, colorful, and unexpected.

Why it’s Cool: Banksy tagged this tunnel back in the day. Today, it's like stepping into an underground art lab.

🗺️ Google Map Pin: Leake Street Arches

🎧 Optional: Grab a beer at Vaulty Towers, a nearby bar with circus decor and mismatched thrift-store furniture.

🍲 Lunch: Mercato Metropolitano

Take a 15-minute walk (or short bus) to Mercato Metropolitano in Elephant & Castle.

• Indoor-outdoor food hall.

• Global street food: Vietnamese pho, Sicilian pizza, Venezuelan arepas.

• Craft beers, communal tables, fairy lights.

Cultural Note: It’s not just about food—MM supports sustainable farming, ethical vendors, and zero-waste goals.

🗺️ Google Map Pin: Mercato Metropolitano

🎬 Afternoon: BFI Southbank or Thames Clipper Ride

Option 1: Catch a film at BFI Southbank

• Indie, classic, and international cinema.

• Tickets are affordable and screenings are curated.

Option 2: Take a scenic Thames Clipper boat ride

• Board from Bankside Pier

• Ride west toward Battersea or east to Greenwich

• Great way to see the skyline without a packed tourist cruise

🎧 Pro Tip: Use your Oyster card or contactless to board—it's part of London’s public transport.

🍷 Evening: Wine Bar + Walk

End your day with a glass of wine at Gordon’s Wine Bar, one of London’s oldest.

• Dark, candlelit, and carved into a cellar.

• It’s the kind of place you discover once—and never forget.

🗺️ Google Map Pin: Gordon’s Wine Bar (Embankment)

🌿 Day 3: Chill, Stroll, and Soak It All In

☀️ Morning: Walk Along the Jubilee Gardens + London Eye

• Skip the Eye itself (unless you're into it) and instead enjoy the Jubilee Gardens park behind it.

• Street performers, morning sun, families, dogs—just real London life.

• Grab a fresh pastry from Gail’s Bakery nearby.

📸 Optional Mini Adventure: Take the Millennium Bridge across to St. Paul’s Cathedral

• Only a 15-minute walk.

• Iconic photos.

• Then head back across for brunch at Caravan Bankside—one of the city’s best flat whites and sourdough.

✈️ Afternoon: Wind Down + Head to the Airport

• Grab picnic-style snacks from Borough Market or a sit-down meal at Flat Iron Square.

• If you’ve got time, buy local honey or handmade gin at the Southbank Centre Shop.

🎒 Final Tips:

• Best Transport: Walk + Tube (Jubilee Line, Northern Line, Thameslink). Or ride a rental Santander Bike for quick riverside hops.

• Map it: Save all your pins in a custom Google Map (I explain how in my YouTube video!)

• Download offline maps and bring a UK plug adapter.

🧳 About Me

With 15 years as a travel agent and stamps from over 40 countries, I’ve built a career—and a life—around smart, soulful travel. I’ve authored two travel books, one packed with 365 hacks and the other designed to help travelers turn moments into memories. These itineraries aren’t curated—they’re lived.

Want the printable version of this 3-day South Bank itinerary?

Grab the free download (below). Next up: 3 Days in Shoreditch—grit, street art, and vintage shopping heaven.