Things to do in South London that I recommend!

London Eye

Any “Best things to do in South London” guide wouldn’t be complete without the iconic London Eye. The London Eye has become one of London’s most famous landmarks since its opening in 1999, and it has won over 85 awards for both national and international tourism, architectural quality, and engineering.

I’m not going to lie, this has been the scariest experience I’ve had exploring South London, however as I sat there looking at the stunning views of London without any building or street sign blocking my view, it was surprisingly very relaxing. Since it’s also situated on the South Bank area, you’ll be able to hear the river along the thames, flowing as the wheel is spinning. Definitely the first thing I’d recommend to any tourist visiting London.

📍Riverside Building, County Hall, London SE1 7PB, United Kingdom

The London Bridge Experience

 

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One of the best things you could do near the tower of London, is the London Bridge Experience. There’s also a reason why it’s placed second here – on my first visit, after admiring the views of Central London and the London skyline by visiting the Eye, I wanted to learn more about what South London has to offer, so I asked around this was what Londoners recommended.

Taking the London Bridge experience means you’ll be treaded to an educational tour of London’s history. . It is an immersive walk-through experience that takes visitors on a journey through the dark history of London Bridge, meeting a variety of characters and journeying from the Roman period through to modern days. 

📍The Rennie Vaults, 2 – 4 Tooley St, London SE1 2SY, United Kingdom

Eat street food at Maltby Street Market

The market is known for its tightly curated set of some of the best street food vendors across the city. These pop-ups offer some amazing food and drinks and I’ll be honest with you, strolling around the market hungry means you’re going to be going home on a damaged wallet, because the aroma of local food being cooked right in front of you, is surely going to make your mouth water! 

On our visit one Sunday morning, we went for some afternoon tea and then for some reason, ended the day with burgers and nachos! 

📍Arch 46, Ropewalk, Maltby St, London SE1 3PA, United Kingdom

Arch Clapham

 

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You’ll find that there are many areas of London that are very LGBTQ-friendly but Arch Clapham is a popular is one of, if not, the most popular cocktail bar.

It’s also one of the most fun things you can do around South London Arch Clapham hosts a variety of events throughout the week, including 2-4-Tuesdays, Drag Karaoke on Wednesdays, Drag Bingo on Thursdays, Draglesque on Fridays, Rotation on Saturdays, and Social on Sundays!

📍Arch 642, Voltaire Rd, London SW4 6DH, United Kingdom

Horniman Museum

The Horniman Museum has a collection of 350,000 objects, specializing in anthropology, natural history, and musical instruments. It’s super cool to me that the he museum hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including exhibitions, workshops, and concerts.

It is also completely open to the public and is absolutely free to visit. I’ve been here multiple times but I’m still astonished at the things they’ve put up for display. I preferable enjoy the anthropology section of the museum as it’s super educational.

📍100 London Rd, London SE23 3PQ, United Kingdom

Crystal Palace Park

Crystal Palace Park features a variety of attractions, including a maze, a farm, a playground, a skatepark, and a concert bowl for local artists. One of the most popular attractions in the park is the collection of life-sized dinosaur sculptures.

Now this park is a little bit underrated, compared to other parks like the deer parks in London; Greenwich Park and Richmond, but what makes this one so special for me is because it has a ton of stuff to do! The maze alone would take me an afternoon, since I’m bad at directions, but the concert bowl is especially special for their music festivals.

📍Thicket Rd, London SE19 2GA, United Kingdom

Peckham Levels

 

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Cool trivia about peckham Levels is that this was actually a former car park transformed into an artistic hot spot in 2017. Of course, I wouldn’t consider visiting an old car park to be one of the top places to see south of London, Peckham levels is unique though as it’s a hub of amazing independent businesses, event spaces, and creative studios.

Also, anyone who has ever sung at a car park knows how good the acoustics are for this place’s live music! I always get treated to unique art spaces and art deco whenever I come here so it is definitely worth the visit.

📍Thicket Rd, London SE19 2GA, United Kingdom

Big Belly Comedy Club

I mean it’s obvious I got to include this one. If you’re in Lambeth and looking for something fun then consider visiting this comedy club! Not only do they have a bunch of comedians that have literally been recognized worldwide, they also have a wide selection of street food to choose from.

They have high-quality sound systems, and most importantly, comfortable seats, so you could have a laugh while being extra snug and cosy. Everything here is well thought out so every customer is guaranteed to enjoy the performances they have. If the seats and equipment don’t get you comfy, maybe a couple of bottomless drinks might help?

📍6 S Lambeth Pl, London SW8 1SP, United Kingdom

Brixton Jamm

If comedy isn’t your thing (though I do recommend trying it out) maybe the music being performed at Brixton Jamm is the perfect place for you! This spot is essentially made for all the music-lovers across London. They have a bunch of genres that it might practically be impossible for you not to find something you might like including DJs who came from all around the world.

Brixton Jamm is also a huge venue, with the ability to accommodate around 700 people with plenty of room to dance around and mingle! We especially love coming over here after a pub-crawl in the nearby Southbank area,  and ending the night with a bunch of dancing, singalongs, and meeting new people!

📍261 Brixton Rd, London SW9 6LH, United Kingdom

CLF Art Cafe / South London Soul Train

Right in the heart of Peckham is a cafe that isn’t exactly a cafe. Let me explain, this joint is a highly creative and versatile venue  as they offer a variety of purpose-built spaces for club nights, live music, brunches, drinks, street food, and social. I have met many interesting people here and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one as this is a very popular spot in the South London Area.

One event they host that I’d like to highlight is t he South London Soul Train, that started on this cafe, and now is an event that takes places in multiple locations across the city. It features soul, funk, jazz, hip hop, Motown, and Latin, though I’m not very picky when it comes to music, jazz and funk definitely is a genre that seems so mesmerizing to me.

📍4a Station Wy, London SE15 4RX, United Kingdom

Royal Observatory

The Royal Observatory was founded in Greenwich by King Charles II in 1675 for the specific and practical purpose of “rectifying the Tables of the Motions… of the Heavens, and the places of the fixed Stars, so as to find out the so much desired Longitude of Places for perfecting the art of Navigation”. It is the oldest scientific institution and has been around for centuries.

The Royal Observatory Greenwich is home to the Prime Meridian of the World, which is the line of 0 degrees longitude that divides the eastern and western hemispheres of the Earth. . I was always check out their website if I have a date planned, for their events such as the stargazing nights and planetarium shows, which are absolutely beautiful. 

📍Blackheath Ave, London SE10 8XJ, United Kingdom

Cutty Sark

We all know how Brits just love their tea, and a significant reason for that is because of tea clippers! Basically ships made for trade in the 19th century. The Cutty Sark in the National Maritime Museum is one of the fastest tea clippers ever built and contributed a lot to the trade industry.

Visitors to the Cutty Sark can explore the ship’s decks, cabins, and cargo hold, and learn about the ship’s history and the lives of the sailors who worked on board. A great glimpse of what life was like before.

📍King William Walk, London SE10 9HT, United Kingdom

The Old Vic

 

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While the Cutty Sark contributed a bunch to the love Brits have for tea. The Old Vic is a spot that contributed to the classic British performing arts history. The Old Vic strives to make the arts accessible to everyone, with creative learning programmes and community project.

Many of the performers at the Old Vic went on to create big names for themselves in film and TV, and the dudes who run the Old Vic are clearly aware of how the place attracts top talents and so they’ve implemented a theatre school. Off the top of my head, I know that Patrick Stewart attended that school!

📍King William Walk, London SE10 9HT, United Kingdom

Bermondsey Beer Mile

The Bermondsey Beer Mile is home to around 15-20 breweries and taprooms, each offering a unique selection of craft beers. It is known for its small batch, pioneer brews, as well as flagship blends that have made their way from Bermondsey to bars across the capital! 

Londoners love their pints, and it’s evident with a literal mile of pubs, bars, and breweries. Everything from rooftop bars to craft hotspots, so I assure you there is something you’ll love here. We’ve had multiple attempts of a mile-long pub-crawl here, we’ve never had a successful run, but boy did we enjoy every attempt! 

📍80 Druid St, London SE1 2HQ, United Kingdom

Eltham Palace

After a night of drinking, what better way to walk off the hangover than in one of the most beautiful heritage sites in South East London, the Eltham Palace. Eltham Palace is surrounded by 19 acres of beautiful gardens, which include a moat, a rock garden, and a sunken rose garden.

Henry VIII spent large parts of his childhood at Eltham and installed archery butts, a bowling green, and a pleasure garden outside the moat. Today, Eltham Palace is managed by English Heritage and can be visited in all its contrasting glory. The medieval palace and its Great Hall may be explored as guests walk in the footsteps of some of Britain’s most famous rulers, with its magnificent oak hammer-beam roof dating back to the 15th century. 

📍Court Yard, London SE9 5QE, United Kingdom

Looking for More Guides?

South London is a a lively mix of history and fun so if you need more guides on where to find the best spots, restaurants, cafes, and even bars, we have got you covered! Check out some of our other articles!