ABOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD . . .

Directly across the Thames from the City of London lies Southwark. One of London’s oldest boroughs, Southwark was once home to Charles Dickens and serves as the setting for many of his earlier novels. Today, this southern borough continues to wear its artistic history on its sleeves. It is an important borough for modern art, with institutions such as the Tate Modern, Hayward Gallery (unfortunately closed for remodeling until 2017) and the Southbank Center and renowned art programs at Camberwell College of the Arts and Goldsmiths University. Shakespeare’s Globe, a reconstruction of the original Elizabethan circular theater, is a reminder of the city’s long held tradition of exploring theatrical art. A walk along Southbank promenade provides unparalleled views of the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, St Paul’s Cathedral, all the way to Tower Bridge, the Tower of London and the Gherkin. Southwark’s brick buildings darkened by the soot of London’s industrial history stand in stark contrast with glistening glass facades of the neighborhoods newer builds, such as The Shard, Europe’s tallest building. Full of hidden vaulted tunnel spaces (former dock warehouses), popular restaurants and cafés continue to open, re-enforcing the city’s relationship with food and drink.