South Bank
south bank entertainment commercial area south bank river thames london borough lambeth central london england south bank formally defined generally understood situated county hall west oxo tower borough boundary southwark east south bank consists narrow strip riverside land opposite city westminster adjoins albert embankment west bankside london borough southwark east south bank may regarded akin riverside part area known previously lambeth marsh north lambeth throughout history twice functioned entertainment district interspersed around hundred year wharf domestic industry manufacturing dominant use change came construction county hall lambeth replacing lion brewery name south bank first widely used festival britain festival redefined area place art entertainment area attraction includes county hall complex sea life london aquarium london dungeon jubilee garden london eye southbank centre royal festival hall national theatre bfi southbank thames embanked area lambeth often flooded area slower develop north bank thames throughout history twice functioned entertainment district interspersed around hundred year wharf domestic industry manufacturing dominant use middle age area developed place entertainment outside formal regulation city london north bank included theatre prostitution bearbaiting th century genteel entertainment pleasure garden developed shallow bank mud flat ideal location industry dock went develop industrial location patchwork private ownership queen walk pedestrianised embankment part albert embankment built public drainage also raise whole tract land prevent flooding change began construction county hall near north lambeths lower marsh replaced lion brewery coade stone symbol retained placed pedestal westminster bridge known south bank lion construction county hall returned first section river frontage public use extended eastward considerable area redeveloped festival britain renamed south bank part promoting festival legacy festival mixed building exhibit demolished make way jubilee garden royal festival hall queen walk retained part southbank centre year following festival art entertainment complex grew additional facility including queen elizabeth hall art venue opened along river royal national theatre recent development particularly south bank place project canary wharf home underscore ongoing transformation south bank vibrant residential cultural hub trend set continue riverside project horizon south bank formally defined generally understood situated county hall west oxo tower borough boundary southwark east south bank consists narrow strip riverside land opposite city westminster adjoins albert embankment west bankside london borough southwark east south bank may regarded akin riverside part area known previously lambeth marsh north lambeth public open space along riverside including bernie spain garden london studio oxo tower garden named bernadette spain local community activist part coin street action group south bank significant art entertainment district southbank centre comprises royal festival hall queen elizabeth hall hayward gallery royal national theatre london imax super cinema bfi southbank adjoin east strictly part centre polishbritish visual chronicler artist feliks topolski provided studio one arch hungerford bridge worked consistently death topolski commissioned produce ft ft mural arch belvedere road festival britain unknowingly painting two arch eventual studio offered david eccles wasnt queen elizabeth ii coronation window dismantled annex westminster abbey repurposed fit topolskis studio year studio became central feature south bank hosting countless people open studio friday pm open door whosever wished pop head studio function archive exhibition space operated topolski memoir charity set preserve artist legacy topolski provided three arch greater london council glc painted epic ft long ft high memoir century telling broadranging experience th century topolski painted work death writing hoped die working brush hand remained open original state working student due poor condition underwent £ conservation renovation program funded heritage lottery fund private donation several grant body raised artist son daniel topolski reopened duke edinburgh memoir ran year due commercial pressure converted bar topolski topolskis work still seen county hall converted london marriott hotel county hall sea life london aquarium london dungeon oxo tower wharf eastern end south bank house galleryoxo shop boutique oxo tower restaurant run harvey nichols gabriel wharf redeveloped wharf south bank converted shopping area london studio former home itv face thames rambert dance company new studio upper ground old vic young vic theatre nearby florence nightingale museum nursing medicine crimean war adjoins district undercroft queen elizabeth hall used skateboarder since early originally architectural deadspot became landmark british skateboarding culture later threat though supported long live southbank campaign part southbank centre turned shop looking river south bank main scene comedy film happy family set around festival britain part success area visitor attraction attributed high level public transport access several major railway terminal within walking distance south bank side river including waterloo charing cross blackfriar london underground station near south bank west east westminster waterloo embankment blackfriar southwark development thameslink blackfriar railway station early access southern northern side river prompted additional named signage bankside south bank accessibility north bank high connection made west east westminster golden jubilee waterloo blackfriar bridge river utilised mean transport pier along south bank london eye royal festival hall bankside londonsouth bank travel guide wikivoyage south bank london southbank centre