London Bridge: An Insider's Area Guide

London Bridge itself might be relatively uninteresting (well, apart from the nursery rhyme) but the same can’t be said for the area surrounding it.

There’s The Shard of course, plus a wealth of markets, bars, restaurants and hidden gems to discover.

London Bridge most certainly is not falling down, in fact, the area around it has really popped off in the last decade.

Some of the area’s biggest attractions like Borough Market have stood for centuries, joined by newer additions like The Shard, gleaming sky-high next to the station.

Difficult to believe that this used to be one of London’s grimiest areas – renowned for theatre (the height of immorality at the time), bear baiting and *cough* ladies of the night.

Well, the theatres have remained but the brothels have been replaced by busy bars, indie shops and a restaurant scene that reflects London in all its eclectic glory.

Ready to discover the best of London Bridge? Here’s where to start.

Map of London Bridge

Practical Tips for Exploring

The best station for exploring the London Bridge area is… London Bridge – although depending on which part you’re going to, Bermondsey and Borough can be useful too.
Discover the area’s lesser-known spots like Cross Bone’s Graveyard and The Old Operating Theatre for a glimpse into the past.
Tap & Bottle is one of my favourite wine bars in the city – grab some food from the downstairs Flat Iron Square and then gossip the night away over a delicious bottle of red.