Cultural London Walk:

Explore the famous south bank and bankside areas of London, visit one of London's most popular weekend markets at Borough and see tourist attractions such as Shakespeare's Globe and the Tate Modern art gallery.

This is one of the more peaceful walks around London and there are plenty of opportunities for eating and drinking along the way.

The walk starts from Waterloo station and ends at London Bridge station.

On arrival at the Waterloo station, go upstairs to the main station concourse. Take exit 6 from the Northern side. Follow the footbridge, passing through an archway marked “Shell Centre” and continue to the end of the footbridge. You should see the London Eye ahead of you on your left.

At the end of the footbridge, walk across the park to the London Eye.

Waterloo Station : was opened in 1848. Little of the original station survives except the roof over platforms 18 - 21, which date from 1885. The current buildings date from 1922. During the world war I the station was hit 50 times yet it remained operational throughout. It was the terminal for London's Eurostar service to the continent until 2008, when the terminal moved to St Pancras in north London. Westminster Bridge which became known as the 'Bridge of Fools' was opened in 1862 to replace an earlier bridge which dated from 1750. For centuries London Bridge was the only crossing in central London, the next bridge upstream was many miles away at Kingston. There had been a ford at low tide here since Roman times and many historians believe that the Romans used to wade cross the river near this point. They think the actual crossing point was on the other side of Westminster Bridge, in front of St Thomas' Hospital. In 1909, the remains of a Roman boat were discovered nearby. London Eye: is a ferris wheel with large pods, allowing riders to see great views of London. The wheel was meant to be up and operational in time for the millenium celebrations - unfortunately for technical reasons, it wasn't open until mid 2000. It is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the UK, visited by over 3 million people a year. Adult: UKP 14.50 Child, 5-15: UKP 7.25 Child, under 5: Free County Hall: the large "Edwardian style" building overlooking the Thames near the London Eye, was opened in 1922. It now houses a hotel, a Dali museum (Dali Universe), the Saatchi Gallery, London Aquarium and a Namco Station amusement arcade. Earlier it was the home of London government until 1986.

Walk away from Westminster Bridge, past the London Eye and along the riverfront towards Waterloo Bridge. Just before Waterloo Bridge, stop and face the Royal Festival Hall.

The South Bank Centre:: Built in 1951 as part of the Festival of Britain, the concert halls were originally funded and managed by the London County Council and their successors, the Greater London Council. The Centre became an independent arts organisation in April 1988. These buildings include the Royal Festival Hall (built on the site of the Red Lion brewery), Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Hayward Gallery and the National Film Theatre. The Royal Festival Hall was the first post-war building to receive a Grade I Listing. The world renowned National Theatre is also based here. Although many performances charge admission, there are often free exhibitions and events happening in the foyers of the various buildings within the centre.

Continue past the Royal Festival Hall and under Waterloo Bridge, passing the National Film Theatre and National Theatre. Walk along the riverside until you reach Gabriel's Wharf, just before the OXO Tower.

Waterloo Bridge: The original bridge on this site was opened in 1817 and was named to commemorate the Duke of Wellington's famous victory over Bonaparte. By the 1920s, the bridge faced major problems. It was demolish and replaced with a new structure It was re-opened in 1945. Georgi Markov, a Bulgarian dissident was assassinated on Waterloo Bridge by Bulgarian secret police assisted by the KGB. On 7 Sept 1978, Markov crossed Waterloo Bridge, when he was jabbed in the leg by a man holding an umbrella. Markov developed a high fever. He died in agony three days later. After his death, doctors found a small platinum pellet embedded in his calf. Further examination found that two small holes had been drilled in the bullet containing traces of the poison ricin.

Gabriel's Wharf is a crafts market, converted from a number of old garages. It is part of the Coin Street community area.

The OXO Tower: Originally built as a power station in the 1900's to supply electricity to the Post Office, and in the 1920's it was converted into a meat packing factory. The factory's most famous products are OXO stock cubes and powder.

If you look to the top of the tower you will see the letters O-X-O made out of glass bricks. This was because during the second world war, there was a night-time ban on advertising and the only way the designers could avoid the ban was by including the advertising within the building's design.

Continue past the OXO Tower. Pass Doggett's pub. Go through the Blackfriars Underpass. At the other side of the underpass, go through the metal gates and continue along the narrow path, passing through a large Victorian archway tunnel.

Walk along the other side of the tunnel and stop just after the Founders Arms pub on your left.

The iron gates which lead into the new theatre's grounds contain sculptures of many animals. These are the animals from Shakespeare's various plays.

Continue past the Globe Theatre until you reach the second turning on your right, called Bear Gardens. It is a small alleyway between two restaurants. Stop at the corner, facing the peculiar looking seat embedded into the wall of the restaurant opposite.

About half way down Bear Gardens, on the left, stood the Davies Amphitheatre, the last bear-baiting pit on Bankside. Walk along Bear Gardens to the junction of Park Street. At Park Street, turn left, passing the site of the Rose Theatre on your left.

Continue along Park street, passing under Southwark Bridge, and almost immediately you should see the Financial Times building on your left. Stop in front of the apartments directly opposite the Financial Times building.

Original Globe Theatre: The foundations of the original Globe Theatre are preserved under a small block of apartments called Old Theatre Court, opposite the Financial Times building. They were discovered in 1989.

Continue along Park Street. Turn left at the end and stop at the raised seating area overlooking the river in front of the Anchor Tavern.

The Anchor Tavern : built in 1775 on the site of a much older inn from which Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire of London across the river. The first of the Bishop's licensed brothels, Le Castell upon the Hoop, also stood on this site and the four iron posts in front of the tavern mark the medieval boundary of the Bishop's domain. Six of London's bridges can be seen from the Anchor Tavern.

One of the final scenes in Mission Impossible was filmed here.

Continue past Vinopolis along Clink Street, passing the Clink Prison exhibition, and stop in front of the remains of Winchester Palace on your right

Winchester Palace : was the London home of the bishops of Winchester from the 1140s until 1626. The Bishop owned most of the land in Bankside and licensed the area's brothels in 1161 as the area was outside the control of the City of London (the prostitutes were known as Winchester Geese.) The palace remained in use until the 17th century, when it was divided into tenements and warehouses, but was mostly destroyed by fire in 1814. The only remaining part of the palace is the Rose Window.

Continue to the end of Clink Street, passing the Golden Hinde on your left. At the small junction turn right and follow the path to the left, leading into the grounds of Southwark Cathedral.

Southwark Cathedral : Oldest Gothic church in London (c1220) with interesting memorials connected with the Elizabethan theatres of Bankside. Window and memorial to William Shakespeare, burial place of his brother Edmond. A chapel commemorates John Harvard, benefactor of Harvard University and there are choral services with the fine Lewis organ. An archaeological chamber reveals a Roman road and 17th century Southwark Pottery Kilns. There is a shop and refectory/restaurant. Landscaped gardens with Shakespearean and biblical painting. William Shakespeare's brother, Edmund, who was an actor, is buried in the church. And there is a statue of Shakespeare alongside a tablet dedicated to Sam Wanamaker, founder of the present Globe theatre.

London Bridge: Until 1750, London Bridge was the only bridge over the river. The original bridge was built by the Romans as a bridge of boats and this was replaced by various wooden bridges that were in use until 1176, when a stone bridge was built on the site. replaced The present bridge, less spectacular bridge which was opened in 1973.

During medieval times, the decapitated heads of "traitors", including in 1305, the head of Braveheart (William Wallace) were displayed on spikes on the gates at either end of London Bridge.

Exit the grounds of Southwark Cathedral. You should see the area of Borough market directly in front .

Borough Market: Historians believe that there has been a market in this area since pre-Roman times. These days the market still focuses on the sale of wholesale fruit and vegetables and is busiest between 2am and 9am each morning as hoteliers and greengrocers buy their goods from traders.

The public market is open Thursday - Saturday from morning to mid afternoon.

Continue through the market area to Borough High Street. At Borough High Street, turn right and stop at the traffic lights at the junction with Southwark Street.

Borough High Street lies on the site of a Roman road, dissecting an area which became an important medieval borough. This area has the longest known history of any part of London.

As you wander along it, look for the typically medieval alleys running off the high street between narrow houses. For centuries, this area was the last resting point for travellers heading across London Bridge to the City.

Cross across Southwark Street and again across Borough High Street. Turn right and walk along Borough High Street, passing the George Inn on your left. Cross Borough High Street again at the next set of traffic lights then continue on for a few metres, turning left along Union Street to the junction with Redcross Way.

The George Inn: in George Inn Yard just to the left off Borough High Street, is London's only surviving galleried coaching inn. The present building, though only a section of the original, dates from 1676. Before the Globe opened in 1599, plays were performed in the courtyard and it is believed that Shakespeare himself performed here.

Retrace your route back to Borough High Street, turn right and continue until you reach St George the Martyr Church, opposite Borough station.

"Little Dorritt's" Church: St George the Martyr Church, built in 1122 and re-built in 1736, is known locally as "Little Dorritt's Church" as it features in Charles Dickens' novel, Little Dorritt.

Born in nearby Marshalsea Prison, the fictional Little Dorritt sleeps in the church when she is locked out of it one night. It is also where she is married at the end of the novel.

Turn left along Tabard Street. Turn left at Crosby Row, and at the end, walk through the grounds of Guys’ Hospital, directly in front of you. As you exit the grounds on the other side, turn left along St Thomas Street.

Continue to the end of St Thomas Street and turn left to London Bridge tube station.