Best Things to do in Waterloo: An Insider’s Area Guide

Venture Underground to The Vaults

Make your way underneath the unassuming Waterloo Train Station and you might just stumble across The Vaults, an alternative arts venue hidden underground. 

The venue itself is a quirky mix of neon and graffiti – a million miles away from the concrete jungle above.

There’s plenty on at The Vaults, from secret jazz club nights to performances from independent theatre groups. It’s really one of those places that you have to see to believe.

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Get a New View on The London Eye

Cliche? Yes. But it has to be done at least once in your life. 

Head towards Southbank and board a capsule on The London Eye to see the city from a new point of view. It is truly spectacular and one of those London things you can’t miss. 

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Wander along Southbank

There’s plenty to do in the Southbank area near London Waterloo, whether you’d like to hit up the tourist attractions, check out some brilliant street food, or go shopping at indie retailers. 

Planning ahead? Our favourite time to visit Southbank is at Christmas, as the pretty market that sits there is one of the best in London, but it’s also usually quieter than the likes of Winter Wonderland.

The Old Vic Theatre

Ready for some culture? Be sure to pay a visit to The Old Vic Theatre on the corner of the Cut for an evening of entertainment. Shows here range from quirky performances by smaller theatre groups to much-loved plays like A Christmas Carol and Into The Woods.

And who doesn’t love an excuse to don your fancy gear and head to the theatre?

Relax at The Jubilee Park & Gardens

Although London boasts plenty of beautiful gardens that you should take time to explore, Jubilee Park & Gardens is particularly lovely, overlooked by The London Eye.

This is a haven within central London and the perfect place to relax with a picnic on a warm day before a stroll along Southbank.

Marvel at The Graffiti Tunnel

If you don’t fancy The Vaults, we still recommend heading to the Leake Street Graffiti Tunnel under the railway arches, as it’s one of the quirkiest Waterloo attractions.

Inside Leake Street, you’ll find plenty of street food stalls, cafes, and bars, all whilst surrounded by some of the coolest legal graffiti in London (and there’s a LOT, so that’s saying something).

Spot Creatures at The Sea Life Centre

Another tourist hit near London Waterloo is The Sea Life Centre, just along from The London Eye. 

It’s pretty rare to be able to see animals like this in central London, and if you’ve got kids, this is the perfect way to spend an afternoon – and, let’s be honest, London weather can’t always be guaranteed, so this is a great way to escape the rain.

Detour Through Waterloo Station

A slightly strange one, but it’s impossible to visit Waterloo without at least walking through the iconic train station. Steeped in years of history, there’s not too much to actually do here, but it’s a great one to tick off the bucket list.

Make sure to keep an eye out for the clock in the centre – yes, it’s the one where Only Fools’ Del Boy meets his future wife for the first time. You can also channel your inner Jason Bourne – this is where he meets his journalist source and gets into a shootout in The Bourne Ultimatum. 

Top tip: It gets mega-busy here during rush hour (the place is a ‘surveillance nightmare’, to quote Bourne’s CIA tail), so try to visit during the middle of the day so you can appreciate the UK’s largest and busiest station.

Experience Surrealism at the Dali Universe

Attempt to enter the mind of famed Spanish artist Salvador Dali at the Dali Universe’s permanent exhibition. Located at County Hall, Beniamino Levi has dedicated his entire life to collecting works from Dali, and wow, we’re so glad he has.

Paintings shown here include L’œil Fleuri and Spellbound, alongside sculptures, furniture, and his original tarot collection that he individually painted.

See a Film at the Imax

You might spot the weird-looking building in the middle of the Waterloo Bridge’s roundabout. That’s actually the BFI Imax and the largest cinema screen in Britain. It’s about the height of four double-decker buses stacked on top of each other – yep, massive. 

If it’s a rainy day and you’re ready for a spectacle, check out what they’ve got on. The films usually stick to new releases but sometimes they’ll throw in an old screening to keep things fresh.  

Explore a Time Capsule of 19th-Century London

Just around the corner from Waterloo Station you can find Roupell Street. It’s one of those urban conservation areas and remains a snapshot of what London looked like all those years ago. As such the streets here are often used as movie sets. 

The two-up-to-down terraces of industrial-era housing are all the more special for having survived the bombs of the Blitz and making it through many eras of London construction booms unscathed. 

There’s not loads to do, you’re mainly here to take a step back into the past, but you will find the odd shop or cafe dotted about, and of course, the local pub The King’s Arms – a great spot for a quiet pint and a recharge before heading onwards.

Top Shopping Spots in Waterloo

Gabriels Wharf

There are plenty of shopping places near Waterloo station, but take a short 10-minute walk towards Southbank and you’ll stumble across Gabriels Wharf. There’s a variety of things to do here, from shopping to eating and drinking, and this area boasts plenty of independent retailers.

The area has a very Brooklyn, New York feel to it, and so it’s a really fun place to do some shopping, grab a coffee, and spend the afternoon people-watching.