Bankside

infobox UK place
country = England
map_type = Greater London
region= London
population=
official_name= Bankside
london_borough= Southwark
constituency_westminster= North Southwark and Bermondsey
post_town= LONDON
postcode_area = SE
postcode_district = SE1
dial_code= 020
os_grid_reference= TQ325795
latitude= 51.4993
longitude= -0.0918
static_

static_image_caption=View of Bankside including the Tate Modern from St Paul's Cathedral.

Bankside is an area in Southwark, London, on the southern bank of the River Thames, situated between Blackfriars Bridge to the west and London Bridge to the east. It is the riverside of the Clink Liberty and Paris Garden. The area has developed considerably as a touristic location in recent years. To the west is South Bank which is often confused with it, with further attractions, especially in the arts. The Millennium Bridge makes Bankside very accessible from the north bank by foot. It is possible to walk along most of the bank next to the river, with many attractions for tourists along the way. Starting at "Mary Overie Dock", where the replica of the Golden Hinde is moored. The Domesday Book mentions Bishop Odo had "one minster and one tideway" and this minster is probably what is now called Southwark Cathedral which is formally called "The Cathedral Church of St Saviour and St Mary Overie" and is the parish church of Bankside. However, both the church and the dock are in 'the Borough'.

Walking along Clink Street there is the remains of the Bishop of Winchester's palace, with a fine Rose window. Further west and we find the Clink Museum, claimed to be part of the palace and its prison. Through the railway viaduct arch (railway to Cannon Street Station) in which is the Vinopolis museum of wine we reach one of the oldest pubs in London, The Anchor. Continuing westerly through the Southwark Bridge arch we find the Shakespeare Globe replica. As the Clink and Bankside was outside of the City's authority the area became occupied by playhouses. A short row of Georgian houses, including Cardinal Cap Alley and the residence of the Dean of Southwark Cathedral, are now neighboured by the gargantuan Bankside power station by Giles Gilbert Scott, converted into the Tate Modern. Before arriving at Blackfriars Bridge the Bankside Gallery is worth a visit as is the modern Founders Arms pub.

Visitor attractions and sites in Bankside (and nearby Borough) include:

* Bankside Gallery
* Blackfriars Bridge
* Cannon Street Railway Bridge
* The Clink
* Shakespeare's Globe
* The Rose Theatre
* Millennium Bridge
* Southwark Bridge
* Tate Modern
* Vinopolis

and in Borough

* Borough Market
* Southwark Cathedral
* Golden Hinde replica
* London Bridge

Nearest places:

* Bermondsey
* The Borough
* The City
* Lambeth

Nearest stations:

* Blackfriars station
* Cannon Street station
* Lambeth North tube station
* London Bridge railway station
* London Bridge tube station
* Southwark tube station
* Waterloo station

External links

* [http://www.london-se1.co.uk/areas/bankside.html Bankside page on London SE1 community website]
* [http://www.betterbankside.co.uk Better Bankside - official Business Improvement District website]