Area overview

Bankside is one of the oldest areas of London with some early archaeological finds dating back half a million years. The first London Bridge was built almost 2 millennia ago and was the only bridge across the Thames until Westminster Bridge opened in 1750. Clink Street, one of the oldest streets in London still in its original form, was the site of London's first prison. It was built around 860 AD and was owned by the Bishop of Winchester. References from this period are everywhere in current property addresses; Clink Wharf, Winchester Stables, and so forth. If you've ever heard of the expression 'in the clink', you now know where it comes from.

In later years the area became a centre for iron founding, wire making, glass making and hat making, but most notably for leather manufacturing. In 1805 there were 1500 tanners working in the area and evidence of this is again reflected in many of the addresses we now see today; Tanners Yard, Leathermarket Court, Tanners Street.

The river and its docks have always been central to London's stature as an important international port and the spice warehouses of Shad Thames, each steeped in their own story, are the envy of many a Londoner and the epitome of riverside loft living.

Since the first pioneers of modern property development traversed the Thames and started developing the warehouses and period properties around Bermondsey Street, Shad Thames and Clink Street some 25 years ago, the area has gone from strength to strength as a residential area and that development continues well into today. Elephant and Castle is less than a mile south of London Bridge and is the next large scale regeneration in the area. With commercial projects such as Bankside 123, the forthcoming Thameslink expansion and exciting forthcoming projects such as the Shard of Glass, Bankside and its regeneration would appear to have many a mile left in it still to come. A fascinating area to live, work and play!

Our Bankside office covers properties in SE1, SE16, SE17 and SE5: Bankside, London Bridge, Borough, Tower Bridge, Shad Thames, Rotherhithe, Elephant & Castle, Southwark, Waterloo and Bermondsey.

Drinking and eating



Bankside, with Borough Market as its gastronomic centre piece, has a superb number of places to eat and drink. For some of our favourites see this section.
Best food

Things to do

Bankside has a number of famous attractions such as the Tate Modern and Globe Theatre. For more information
click here

Keenest Streets

Bankside is made up of a diverse mix of properties, from warehouse conversions to period properties to contemporary new build apartments. SE1 is vast, and each area has its own unique feel. These are some of the developments and areas we are asked about the most

	The Jam Factory, Green Walk, SE1 This award winning ever popular development is made up of large contemporary lofts, originally sold either in shell form or with a choice of designer fit outs. There are some simply stunning views from the penthouses that take in much of London's skyline.
Bermonsdsey Street One of the most popular areas in SE1 is Bermondsey Street and the immediate surroundings. It has 2 open parks and an ever growing number of places to eat and drink. A mixture of warehouse conversions and contemporary new build apartments, Bermondsey Street is a definite contender for the City 'village'.
	Benbow House, New Globe Walk, SE1 Riverside living doesn't come much better than this. Nearly all of the apartments have views of The Thames and St Paul's.