It’s rare finding a street in London that has everything you’d want for a spot of indulging and sightseeing, but Bermondsey Street is one of those places.
When I’m making last minute plans with friends and we’re not sure where to meet, we’ll often settle on Bermondsey Street. Only a 5 minutes’ walk from London Bridge, it’s well-connected making it an ideal meeting point among friends each living in different corners of London.
I should also mention it’s a quick walk from Borough Market too. So combining London’s best food market with Bermondsey Street is a tasty way to spend the morning or afternoon. If the objective of the day begins and ends with food, rest assured, your mission will be completed.
I usually head to this area of London on an evening after work to catch up with friends. It’s also a great option if you’re planning a date date.
The only thing it doesn’t have is a nightclub, however the bars stay open pretty late on a weekend. Alternatively, you can get the underground of an Uber to other areas of capital if you’re up for some dancing. Like with most things, it’s good to mix stuff up by going to other areas too – Brixton, Peckham, Camden, Hackney – are all good choices too.
If you’re simply looking for a selection of fabulous bars and restaurants within close proximity with each other, Bermondsey Street is a solid call.
And yet this isn’t all Bermondsey Street has to offer. You’ll find lots of characterful buildings, green spaces, and not one, but two museums: The White Cube and the Fashion and Textile Museum.
Museums / Galleries on Bermondsey Street
The White Cube
The White Cube showcases many of the big names in contemporary art – Tracy Emin, Chapman Brothers, Damien Hirst and a whole load of other names belonging to YBA artists.
They also represent British sculptor Antony Gormley, and I recently went to one of his exhibitions there which exceeded my expectations.
Whilst it can’t compare to some of the art museums in London, it’s definitely one of the best galleries. The space is cool and the exhibitions change frequently enough to warrant going a couple of times a year. It’s also free to enter so you don’t really have to think too hard about whether its worth going in or not.
Location: 144 – 152 Bermondsey Street. London SE1 3TQ.
Make sure to check out their full program and current exhibitions before going. Website: www.whitecube.com
Fashion and Textile Museum
With its bright orange exterior, you can’t miss the Fashion and Textile Museum. There isn’t a permanent exhibition so it’s worth checking their website beforehand to see whether the exhibition appeals to your interests.
I’m not really into fashion but I figured I should go at least once, so I popped in to check out the Orla Kiely exhibition that was recently showing. Despite not really being my bag, I was still impressed with the detail that had gone into the exhibition – even the ceiling was painted in an Orla Kiely pattern! It’s a small but perfectly formed museum that would provide a great source of interest to anyone who’s studying fashion, textile or print design.
Location: 83 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XF.
Website: www.fashiontextilemuseum.org
Where to Eat & Drink
Considering it’s just one street, Bermondsey Street has an impressive selection of high quality pubs, restaurants and bars.
It’s hard to narrow them down, but I’ve selected a few to cover all occasions, and which I think are all-round crowd pleasers.
Best Pubs
If you’re after pub vibes head over to The Woolpack as it serves a number of local craft beers and has a beer garden at the back. This is a particularly great choice if you have a dog because it’s a super dog-friendly place.
Location: 98 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3UB. Website: www.woolpackbar.com
Alternatively, directly opposite is the green-tiled gastropub, The Garrison, a good choice if you’re after a watering hole with a slight touch of fine-dining. On a Saturday they do a bottomless bunch with unlimited prosecco, bellinis or mimosa. I’ve never done it before because getting drunk between the hours of 12:30 – 16:00 would be more than I can handle!
Location: 99 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XB. Website: www.thegarrison.co.uk
Best restaurants
Kicking off with my favourite restaurant on Bermondsey Street is Baccalà Seafood + Wine Restaurant. As the name suggest, this restaurant specialises in authentic Italian dishes with a focus on seafood.
The menu is seasonal and offers locally sourced and fresh ingredients. The menu is relatively small which means that each dish is presented with absolute perfection. If you’re a fan of seafood and pasta, you won’t be disappointed. Trust me.
It’s quite pricey, but considering the quality of the ingredients, high standard of service, and cosy ambience, it’s definitely worth it.
Location: Unit B3, 194 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ. Website: www.baccalalondon.co.uk
Wanting to go somewhere with friends? Look no further than Cafe Murano. This place nails the fine balance of elegance and style but without the pretension. The Italian restaurant covers pretty much every type of situation whether you’re after a date night, dinner with friends, or simply a low-key brunch. While the mains are great, particularly the pumpkin tortellli, the side dishes such as their cod fritters and arancini are seriously yummy.
Lastly, the white tiled walls and clean modern decor, and open kitchen instantly make this place a hit for those with a taste for modern design.
Location: 184 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ. Website: www.cafemurano.co.uk
In case, you really do love Italian cuisine, this next place specialises in pasta. A few years ago Bermondsey Street saw the opening of Flour & Grape. In this intimate restaurant, you can watch chefs roll out fresh pasta by hand, while enjoying one of its 25 Italian wines – all available by the glass. Continental small plates, tempting desserts and traditional aperitifs make up the rest of the menu, which proves to be great value with almost every main coming in at under £10.
Location: 214 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ. Website: www.flourandgrape.com
Best bar
If you’re after one of the best gin bars in London, look no further than 214 Bermondsey which is hidden in the basement of the Italian restaurant Flour & Grape (mentioned above). My go-to-drink on a night out is usually a G+T but here it would be a waste not to try something different. With over 80 different types of gin and a varied combination of old, new and signature gin cocktails – from martinis to negronis – you’ll definitely find a new concoction you haven’t tried before.
Location: 214 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3TQ. Website: www.two1four.com
Browse the shops
Whether you’re just looking to window shop, or treat yourself to something, there are a few shops on Bermondsey that might take your fancy.
If you’re looking for somewhere to buy gifts or simply to treat yourself to something nice, independent shop Trove 167 offers a mix of lifestyle items from clothes to jewellery, and from candles and homeware.
Just two seconds off Bermondsey street you’ll find Morocco Bound Bookshop. While this place has an excellent variety of books for sale, it’s so much more than a bookshop. They also operate as a small cafe and host jazz evenings, open mic, book events and film screenings. If you’re looking to find like-minded people, there’s a good chance you will here.
Check out their website for their latests shows and events: www.moroccobound.co.uk
Where to stay near Bermondsey Street & London Bridge
If you’re visiting London and want to be located around Bermondsey Street and London Bridge, CitizenM Hotel offers both style and function with a tech angle (there’s an in-room iPad controller). Furthermore, with a couple of lounge rooms each complete in its own distinct contemporary style, you should find your own space should you need somewhere to catch up on work.
Location: 40 trinity square, London, EC3N 4DJ.
However, if your taste in hotels leans towards a more traditional style, the impressive 180-year-old neo-baroque building of The LaLiT London which once housed the erstwhile St. Olave’s Grammar School offers that and more.
This luxury boutique hotel features 70 beautifully designed rooms, each uniquely finished with a fusion of Indian culture and quintessential British charm. Located only a stone’s throw away from Tower Bridge, one of the best ways to enjoy your evening will be a romantic walk along the Thames before sitting at the gorgeous bar for a few libations.
Location: 181 Tooley Street, Southwark, London, SE1 2JR.
Nearby attractions
If the weather is good, you can walk to most centrally located places from Bermondsey Street and London Bridge. Though on your doorstep you’re spoilt for choice at the South Bank, London’s largest cultural hub with the National Theatre, Hayward Gallery, Tate Modern and The Globe theatre all next to each other.
Brutalist fan will be thrilled to see some of the best examples of brutalist architecture in London during a walk along the Southbank.
If you want to prebook any London tickets, take a look at this list here.
