South Bank Tour
When you take the Southbank tour, you will be entering what was once known as the outlaw borough – where in Tudor times, Shakespeare’s plays were performed, and drinking, wenching and crime were the main activities of the area.
You will hear stories of rebellion, the Canterbury Tales, a re-discovered operating theatre and the area’s links to Harvard University in America.
You’ll also see one of London’s oldest markets, and the grand Southwark Cathedral.




History of the area
I’ll be explaining the history of the Southbank area and how it came to evolve into such a unique place, at once part of, and yet separate from, London of old.
We shall visit the site of Shakespeare’s original Globe theatre, and the new Globe where plays are still performed.
We will also visit a paupers’ graveyard, pass the site of Tate Modern and finish at St Paul’s Cathedral.
Along the way, we’ll also pass a few movie locations from Harry Potter, Bridget Jones and James Bond.




The tour starts at the Duke Street entrance of London Bridge station, and will take about 2.5 hours. Apart from one slope, it is all on
You should be aware that there will be some content mentioned which may not be suitable for children, as the area was historically a hotbed of crime and prostitution, and these will be discussed.
For those of you who count your steps each day, this will account for about 5,000 of them – and hopefully, you’ll also be informed and entertained by the end.