Guidebook for London
Essentials
Sainsbury's Local
57-59 Honor Oak ParkOpen 7am-11pm; closest ATM (24 hours)
Tesco Superstore
107 Dunton RdLarge supermarket "superstore"
Parks & Nature
Running track, picnic tables, playground, exercise equipment... and the lovely greenery can be seen fom our flat!
28 locals recommend
Bermondsey Spa Gardens
15 Spa RdRunning track, picnic tables, playground, exercise equipment... and the lovely greenery can be seen fom our flat!
Southwark Park
Gomm RoadLovely big park for walking or running, and lawn bowls in summer
Food Scene
Café Amisha
161 Grange RdGreat, friendly, buzzing, local Italian restaurant
Good local pub with great food, including wood-fired pizza from the oven in the back courtyard
27 locals recommend
The Grange Pub
104 Grange RdGood local pub with great food, including wood-fired pizza from the oven in the back courtyard
Fantastic local street market, open Saturday and Sunday - a cosy street of market stalls and also restaurants/cafes, buzzing all weekend
292 locals recommend
Maltby Street Market
Maltby StreetFantastic local street market, open Saturday and Sunday - a cosy street of market stalls and also restaurants/cafes, buzzing all weekend
Less busy weekend (Saturday only) street market - frequented more by locals than tourists; lots of small producers tucked under the railways arches: cheese, coffee, fruit/veg, bakery goods, meats, etc - great for picnic or dining-in fare
32 locals recommend
Spa Terminus
Dockley RoadLess busy weekend (Saturday only) street market - frequented more by locals than tourists; lots of small producers tucked under the railways arches: cheese, coffee, fruit/veg, bakery goods, meats, etc - great for picnic or dining-in fare
Small (new/growing) local street market, only open on Saturdays; good for a coffee, and a snack on a variety of global cuisines; very friendly local suppliers
Druid St Market
126 Druid StSmall (new/growing) local street market, only open on Saturdays; good for a coffee, and a snack on a variety of global cuisines; very friendly local suppliers
Our favourite local coffee shop! - also a bike repair shop
11 locals recommend
Machine - Bikes & Repairs
97 Tower Bridge RdOur favourite local coffee shop! - also a bike repair shop
Delicious local Japanese restaurant very close to Bermondsey tube station - we've only had takeaway/delivery from here, not eaten in
8 locals recommend
Poppy Hana Japanese Restaurant
168 Jamaica RdDelicious local Japanese restaurant very close to Bermondsey tube station - we've only had takeaway/delivery from here, not eaten in
Fabulous tapas bar - gets very busy, and you might have to wait for a table (doesn't take bookings), but the food is well worth it; great wine list too; it's quietest at 5/6pm, and when it opens at midday on weekends; HIGHLY recommended!
160 locals recommend
José
104 Bermondsey StFabulous tapas bar - gets very busy, and you might have to wait for a table (doesn't take bookings), but the food is well worth it; great wine list too; it's quietest at 5/6pm, and when it opens at midday on weekends; HIGHLY recommended!
The "big brother" restaurant of tapas bar Jose down the street - this is also HIGHLY recommended; more of a formal sit-down restaurant to Jose's bar stool tapas bar vibe, but the food and wine are equally good; NB booking recommended/required
93 locals recommend
Pizarro
194 Bermondsey StThe "big brother" restaurant of tapas bar Jose down the street - this is also HIGHLY recommended; more of a formal sit-down restaurant to Jose's bar stool tapas bar vibe, but the food and wine are equally good; NB booking recommended/required
Our 3rd-favourite local coffee vendor!; great cakes/biscuits and sandwiches too; not much seating, but a lovely spot to stop if you can grab a table - or one of the outdoor ones in sunny weather, to watch Bermondsey St in action
54 locals recommend
The Watch House
199 Bermondsey StOur 3rd-favourite local coffee vendor!; great cakes/biscuits and sandwiches too; not much seating, but a lovely spot to stop if you can grab a table - or one of the outdoor ones in sunny weather, to watch Bermondsey St in action
Our 2nd-favourite local coffee shop! - always buzzing, lots of comfy sofa seating inside, and a hip crowd of local creative types; free wifi; outside tables to watch Bermondsey St go by
71 locals recommend
Fuckoffee
167 Bermondsey StOur 2nd-favourite local coffee shop! - always buzzing, lots of comfy sofa seating inside, and a hip crowd of local creative types; free wifi; outside tables to watch Bermondsey St go by
Covered market stall area in an old warehouse setting; loads of various food and drink stalls, mostly Italian but food from other regions too; quiet in the daytime, and very family friendly with lots of highchairs, and busy and buzzing at night - grab a bottle of wine, and a few plates/platters of food (pizza, pasta, cheese/meat platters etc) and find a seat at the big shared tables, and enjoy live music and a generally fun atmosphere!
227 locals recommend
Mercato Metropolitano
42 Newington CausewayCovered market stall area in an old warehouse setting; loads of various food and drink stalls, mostly Italian but food from other regions too; quiet in the daytime, and very family friendly with lots of highchairs, and busy and buzzing at night - grab a bottle of wine, and a few plates/platters of food (pizza, pasta, cheese/meat platters etc) and find a seat at the big shared tables, and enjoy live music and a generally fun atmosphere!
Good local dim sum; gets busy and doesn't take bookings after 1pm on the weekend (opens at midday)
74 locals recommend
Dragon Castle
100 Walworth RdGood local dim sum; gets busy and doesn't take bookings after 1pm on the weekend (opens at midday)
A local London institution, for very traditional, simple fare of pie and mash; don't go here for a romantic night out, but it's definitely a recommended stop for those wanting a traditional, old-fashioned London food experience
40 locals recommend
M.Manze
87 Tower Bridge RdA local London institution, for very traditional, simple fare of pie and mash; don't go here for a romantic night out, but it's definitely a recommended stop for those wanting a traditional, old-fashioned London food experience
Fantastic steak!!; not cheap, but a very nice restaurant... not so much for vegetarians, but they do have vegetarian menu options
42 locals recommend
Butler's Wharf chop House
36e Shad ThamesFantastic steak!!; not cheap, but a very nice restaurant... not so much for vegetarians, but they do have vegetarian menu options
Lovely restaurant with great views of Tower Bridge - especially if the weather permits sitting outside; not cheap but they do a very good set menu for 2 or 3 courses, and the brasserie next door is equally good but less formal and less expensive
63 locals recommend
Le Pont de la Tour
36D Shad ThamesLovely restaurant with great views of Tower Bridge - especially if the weather permits sitting outside; not cheap but they do a very good set menu for 2 or 3 courses, and the brasserie next door is equally good but less formal and less expensive
AMAZING food market!! - for wandering, snacking, and stocking up on picnic/dining-in fare; highly recommended; gets super-busy on weekends, but that really just adds to the lovely buzzing vibe
1617 locals recommend
Borough Market
Borough High StreetAMAZING food market!! - for wandering, snacking, and stocking up on picnic/dining-in fare; highly recommended; gets super-busy on weekends, but that really just adds to the lovely buzzing vibe
Everything Else
Café Amisha
161 Grange RdGreat, friendly, buzzing, local Italian restaurant
Drinks & Nightlife
Quirky bar, located in a converted underground public toilet block... it's better than it sounds!!; lovely tiled interior, and great cocktails
84 locals recommend
The Bermondsey Arts Club
102a Tower Bridge RdQuirky bar, located in a converted underground public toilet block... it's better than it sounds!!; lovely tiled interior, and great cocktails
Good local pub with a great big beer garden out the back (in nice weather!); good pub food too
92 locals recommend
The Woolpack
98 Bermondsey StGood local pub with a great big beer garden out the back (in nice weather!); good pub food too
Village East
171-173 Bermondsey StGood cocktails!; also great for brunch, dinner and drinks
Arts & Culture
Free art gallery in a huge, impressive space, with changing exhibitions; worth poking your head into as you walk down Bermondsey St
234 locals recommend
White Cube Bermondsey
Bermondsey StreetFree art gallery in a huge, impressive space, with changing exhibitions; worth poking your head into as you walk down Bermondsey St
A lovely day/half-day visit, especially if you take the ferry from London Bridge
612 locals recommend
Royal Observatory Greenwich
Blackheath AvenueA lovely day/half-day visit, especially if you take the ferry from London Bridge
Fantastic modern art gallery in a fabulous, iconic building; many exhibitions are free, some of the special exhibitions have an entry fee
2008 locals recommend
Tate Modern
BanksideFantastic modern art gallery in a fabulous, iconic building; many exhibitions are free, some of the special exhibitions have an entry fee
Very lovely church; tours available
54 locals recommend
The Cathedral and Collegiate Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, Southwark, London,
Very lovely church; tours available
Sightseeing
A great place for a wander as you walk towards Tower Bridge, to take in some of the local history of when this area was a busy wharf
66 locals recommend
Shad Thames
Shad ThamesA great place for a wander as you walk towards Tower Bridge, to take in some of the local history of when this area was a busy wharf
Beautiful structure steeped in London history - often mistakenly thought to be called London Bridge by tourists: but NB this is the lovely, pretty bridge you want to see! (London Bridge is the fairly dull-looking bridge next along the river to the west)
1577 locals recommend
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge RoadBeautiful structure steeped in London history - often mistakenly thought to be called London Bridge by tourists: but NB this is the lovely, pretty bridge you want to see! (London Bridge is the fairly dull-looking bridge next along the river to the west)
A really fantastic day (or few hours) out - well worth the price of entry, and it's also recommended to join one of the guided walking tours of the site: these are always entertaining!
1372 locals recommend
Tower of London
A really fantastic day (or few hours) out - well worth the price of entry, and it's also recommended to join one of the guided walking tours of the site: these are always entertaining!
A great walk along the river - especially walking west from Shad Thames/Tower Bridge, all the way around to the London Eye (the big wheel)
370 locals recommend
South Bank
A great walk along the river - especially walking west from Shad Thames/Tower Bridge, all the way around to the London Eye (the big wheel)