Borough and Bankside - the place

Borough and Bankside

Borough and Bankside has a reputation as the racy side of the river across from the City. History shows the area as a roistering quarter of theatres and taverns with rich and poor all out to party like it's 1599.

Today the area has old and new juxtaposed, with famous cathedrals, hospitals and inns. There are museums, art galleries and a national newspaper. There are universities and courts. And of course, plenty of taverns and a theatre.

The Borough and Bankside Community Council area runs along the Thames from London Bridge to just past the Oxo Tower. Its southern boundary roughly stretches from the Imperial War museum past the Elephant and Castle to the top of the Old Kent Road.

Landmarks and Institutions

The area has some of London and the UK's most well known sights and attractions. For instance it is home to four of the capital's iconic bridges: Blackfriars Bridge, Southwark Bridge, London Bridge and the Millennium Bridge.

Within its boundaries are Guys hospital, the Financial Times, the Imperial War Museum, the Elephant and Castle, Tate Modern, the Oxo Tower, Shakespeare's Globe, Southwark Cathedral, George Inn, St George's cathedral, Borough Food market, the operating theatre museum, the Clink Museum and the Tea and Coffee Museum.

A brilliant future

Two of the biggest regeneration schemes in Europe are planned for Borough and Bankside over the next few years. The complete redevelopment of London Bridge to the north will be topped by the stunning new Shard of Glass building, the tallest skyscraper in Europe. The Elephant and Castle to the south will be totally regenerated by 2016 with new homes, shops, parks, museums and cinemas and new and better transport links.

In between there are dozens of smaller projects to improve the environment including refurbishing parks, making public art and refurbishing railway arches.