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Getting Oriented | Top Attractions | Worth Noting

Updated by Ellin Stein

For decades, tourists rarely ventured south of the river, except to go to Waterloo station. Now a host of attractions draws visitors from all over London: The reconstruction of Shakespeare’s Globe, the world-class Tate Modern museum, the Southbank Centre, and, dominating the skyline, the London Eye—a giant Ferris wheel—are all huge draws. No longer off the beaten track, South London has become one of London’s most popular places to be.

That old, snide North London dig about needing a passport to cross the Thames has not been heard for the past decade. Before, natives rarely ventured beyond the watery curtain that divides the city in half; tourists, too, rarely troubled the area unless they were departing from Waterloo station. But now that the South Bank encompasses high-caliber art, music, film, and theater venues as well as an aquarium, a historic warship, and two popular food markets, South Londoners now sometimes look down on their northern cousins.

A borough of the City of London since 1327, Southwark first became well known for its inns (the pilgrims in Chaucer’s A Canterbury Tale set off from one), theaters, prisons, and brothels, as well as entertainments such as bear-baiting. For four centuries, this was where Londoners went to let their hair down and behave badly.

Today, the Thames Path that skirts the South Bank is alive with skateboarders, secondhand booksellers, and street entertainers. At one end the London Eye, a millennium project that’s a favorite with both Londoners and out-of-towners, rises next to the London Aquarium and the Southbank Centre, home to the recently renovated Royal Festival Hall, the Hayward Gallery, the BFI Southbank and the National Theatre. Farther east you’ll come to a reconstruction of Sir Francis Drake’s ship the Golden Hinde; Butlers Wharf, where some notable restaurants occupy what were once shadowy Dickensian docklands; and, next to Tower Bridge, the massive headlight-shape City Hall. Nearby Bermondsey (or “Beormund’s Eye” as it was known in Saxon times), with its bright yellow Fashion Museum, trendy boutiques, and cafés, is rapidly becoming one of the city’s hippest enclaves. Meanwhile, younger visitors will enjoy the London Dungeon and the HMS Belfast, a decommissioned Royal Navy cruiser, while food lovers will head for London’s oldest food market Borough Market, now reinvented as a gourmet mecca where independent stallholders provide farm-fresh produce, artisanal bread and cheese, and specialty fish and meat.

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Getting Oriented

Top Reasons to Go

Join the “groundlings” at Shakespeare’s Globe: Get caught up in the Bard’s great words from the Elizabethan-style standing-room pit of this celebrated theater.

Marvel at the Tate Modern: One of the world’s great shrines of contemporary and modern art, this branch of the Tate is noted for a spectacularly renovated electric turbine hall.

Be a ghoul at the London Dungeon: Did you ever wonder what a disembowelment looks like? That’s just one of the torture tableaux on view in this old-fashioned “chamber of horrors.” You’ll be amazed how many children adore this place.

Channel Vivien Leigh on Waterloo Bridge: Take in one of London’s most romantic views with St. Paul’s to the east and the Houses of Parliament to the west, then head east along a fairy-light embankment toward the Oxo Tower.

Feeling Peckish?

Pieminister.
At the Gabriel’s Wharf branch of Pieminister, which began life as a Borough Market stall, have a hot meat pie in pastry made with locally sourced and ethically farmed ingredients, such as chicken, bacon and tarragon, or stilton and beef (there are also vegetarian options). Take away or eat at the outside tables. | 56 Upper Ground, Gabriel’s Wharf, South Bank | SE1 9PP | 020/7928–5755.

Konditor & Cook.
Known for its exquisite handmade cakes, cookies, and pastries, most baked on-site, this small chain of bijou patisseries also offers daily specials such as chicken paella or vegetarian moussaka. | Borough Market 10 Stoney St., Southwark | SE1 9AD | 020/0844-854-9363.

Getting There

For the South Bank, use Embankment on the District, Circle, Northern, and Bakerloo lines, from where you can walk across the Golden Jubilee Bridges; or Waterloo on the Northern, and Bakerloo lines, from where it’s a 10-minute walk to the Royal Festival Hall (slightly longer from the Jubilee line station). London Bridge on the Northern and Jubilee lines is a five-minute stroll from Borough Market and Southwark Cathedral.

Safety

At night, it’s best to stick to where the action is at the Butler’s Wharf and Gabriel’s Wharf restaurants, the Southbank Centre, and the Cut near the Old Vic. Stray farther away from these areas and the streets quickly begin to feel deserted.

Making the Most of Your Time

Don’t attempt the South Bank all in one go. Not only will you exhaust yourself, but you will miss out on the varied delights that it has to offer.

The Tate Modern alone deserves a whole morning or afternoon, especially if you want to do justice to both the temporary exhibitions and the permanent collection.

The Globe requires about two hours for the exhibition theater tour and two to three hours for a performance. Finish with drinks at the Oxo Tower with its spectacular view or dinner at one of the many restaurants in the Southbank Centre.

You can return across the river to central London via Southwark on the Jubilee line from Tate Modern, although it’s a good 15-minute walk from the station.

Crossing the elegant Millennium Bridge for St. Paul’s on the Central line or the Golden Jubilee Bridges to Embankment offer longer but more-scenic alternatives.

Top Attractions

Fodor’s Choice | Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre.
This spectacular theater is a replica of Shakespeare’s open-roof, wood-and-thatch Globe Playhouse (built in 1599 and burned down in 1613), where most of the Bard’s greatest works premiered. American actor and director Sam Wanamaker worked ceaselessly for several decades to raise funds for the theater’s reconstruction 200 yards from its original site, using authentic materials and techniques, a dream realized in 1997. “Groundlings”—patrons with £5 standing-only tickets—are not allowed to sit during the performance. Fortunately, you can reserve an actual seat on any one of the theater’s three levels, but you will want to rent a cushion for £1 (or bring your own) to soften the backless wooden benches. The show must go on, rain or shine, warm or chilly—so come prepared for anything. Umbrellas are banned, but you can bring a raincoat or buy a cheap Globe rain poncho, which doubles as a great souvenir.

Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition, a museum under the theater (the entry is adjacent), provides background material on the Elizabethan theater and the construction of the modern-day Globe. Admission to the museum also includes a tour of the theater. On matinee days, the tour visits the archaeological site of the nearby (and older) Rose Theatre. | 21 New Globe Walk, Bankside | SE1 9DT | 020/7902–1400 box office, 020/7401–9919 New Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition | www.shakespearesglobe.com | Exhibition and Globe Theatre tour £10.50 (£2 reduction with valid performance ticket); ticket prices for plays vary, £5–£35 | Exhibition: May–early Oct., daily 10–5; mid-Oct.–Apr., daily 9–12:30 and 1–5; plays: April 23–Oct., call for performance schedule | Station: London Bridge; Mansion House, then cross Southwark Bridge.

Golden Hinde. Famed Elizabethan explorer Sir Francis Drake circumnavigated the globe in a little galleon just like this one. Launched in 1973, this exact replica made two round-the-world voyages and called in at ports—many along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the United States—to do duty as a maritime museum. Now berthed at the St. Mary Overie Dock, the ship continues its educational purpose, complete with “crew” in period costumes and five decks of artifacts. Call for information on guided tours. | St. Mary Overie Dock, Cathedral St., Southwark | SE1 9DE | 020/7403–0123 | www.goldenhinde.com | £6 | Daily 10–5:30 | Station: London Bridge, Mansion House.

Quick Bites: Gabriel’s Wharf. This cluster of specialty shops (jewelry, art, clothing, and ceramics) is nicely interspersed with informal restaurants (the place was renovated by the same group that converted the nearby Oxo Tower Wharf, an art deco warehouse topped by the famed Oxo Tower Restaurant, with levels of designer shop-studios). You can rent bicycles at Gabriel’s Wharf from the London Bicycle Tour Company. | 56 Upper Ground, South Bank | SE1 9NH | 020/7021–1686 | www.coinstreet.org | Free | Shops and studios Tues.–Sun. 11–6 | Station: Blackfriars, Waterloo.

Southbank Centre.
The public has never really warmed to the Southbank Centre’s hulking concrete buildings, products of the Brutalist style popular when the Centre was built in the 1950s and ‘60s, but they flock to its concerts, recitals, and exhibitions. The Royal Festival Hall is truly a People’s Palace, with seats for 2,900, and a schedule that ranges from major symphony orchestras to pop stars (catch the new summer Meltdown Festival, where Lou Reed, Patti Smith, and Elvis Costello have put together way-cool calendars of concerts); the smaller Queen Elizabeth Hall is more strictly classically oriented. For art, head to the Hayward Gallery, home to shows on top contemporary artists such as Tracey Emin and George Condo (the terrace here is home to some exciting restaurants). Not officially part of the Southbank Centre but moments away on the east side of Waterloo Bridge, the National Theatre is home to some of the best productions in London (several, such as War Horse and The History Boys, have become films) at prices well below the West End. Meanwhile, film buffs will appreciate the BFI Southbank (formerly the National Film Theatre), which has a schedule that true connoisseurs of the cinema will relish. | Southbank Centre, Belvedere Rd., South Bank | SE1 8XX | 020/7960–4200 | www.southbankcentre.co.uk | Varies; check website | Varies according to venue; check website | Station: Waterloo, Embankment.

London Eye.
To mark the start of the new millennium, architects David Marks and Julia Barfield conceived a beautiful and celebratory structure that would allow people to see this great city from a completely new perspective. They came up with a giant Ferris wheel, which, as well as representing the turn of the century, would also be a symbol of regeneration. The London Eye is the largest cantilevered observation wheel ever built and among the tallest structures in London. The 25-minute slow-motion ride inside one of the enclosed passenger capsules is so smooth you’d hardly know you were suspended over the Thames. On a clear day you can see for up to 25 miles, with a bird’s-eye view over London’s most famous landmarks as you circle through 360 degrees. If you’re looking for a special place to celebrate, champagne and canapés can be arranged ahead of time. TIP Buy your ticket online to avoid the long lines and get a 10% discount. For an extra £10, you can save even more time with a Fast Track flight for which you check in 15 minutes before your “departure.” You can buy a combination ticket for the Eye and other London attractions—check online for details—or board the London Eye River Cruise here for a 40-minute sightseeing voyage on the Thames. | Riverside Bldg., County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd., South Bank | SE1 7PB | 0870/990–8883 | www.londoneye.com | £18.60; cruise £12 | June and Sept., daily 10–9; July and Aug., daily 10–9:30; Oct.–Mar., daily 10–8:30 | Station: Waterloo.

Fashion and Textile Museum.
The bright yellow and pink museum (it’s hard to miss) designed by Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta features changing exhibitions devoted to fashion design, textiles, and jewelry, with a strong emphasis on the 1960s and 1970s. Founded by designer Zandra Rhodes—an icon of Swinging London—and now owned by Newham College, the FTM is a favorite with fashionistas and offers weekday lectures on aspects of fashion history, along with an excellent gift shop selling books on fashion and one-of-a-kind pieces by local designers. After your visit, check out the many trendy spots that have bloomed in Southwark, in particular the restaurants, cafés, and boutiques on Bermondsey Street, as well as the latest—and largest—branch of the famed White Cube gallery. | 83 Bermondsey St., Southwark | SE1 3XF | 020/7407–8664 | www.ftmlondon.org | £7 | Tues.–Sat. 11–6 | Station: London Bridge.

Fodor’s Choice | Tate Modern.
This spectacular renovation of a mid-20th-century power station is the most-visited museum of modern art in the world. Its great permanent collection, which starts in 1900 and ranges from Modern masters like Matisse to the most cutting-edge contemporary artists, is arranged thematically—Landscape, Still Life, and the Nude. Its blockbuster temporary exhibitions showcase the work of individual artists like Gaugin, Warhol, and Gerhard Richter.

Tate Modern Highlights

The vast Turbine Hall is a dramatic entrance point used to showcase big, audacious installations that tend to generate a lot of publicity. Past highlights include Olafur Eliasson’s massive glowing sun and Carsten Holler’s huge metal slides.

The Material Gestures galleries on Level 3 feature an impressive offering of post–World War II painting and sculpture. Room 7 contains a breathtaking collection of Rothkos and Monets; there are also paintings by Matisse, Pollock, and Picasso, and newer works from the likes of the sculptor Anish Kapoor.

Head to the Restaurant on Level 7 or the Espresso Bar on Level 4 for stunning vistas of the Thames. The view of St. Paul’s from the Espresso Bar’s balcony is one of the best in London.

An extension to the front of the building is not ony ambitious but also controversial—you won’t be alone if you don’t care for it.

Tate Modern Tips

Join one of the free, 45-minute guided tours. Each one covers a different gallery: Poetry and Dream at 11, Collection Highlights at noon, States of Flux at 2, and Energy and Process at 3. No need to book; just show up in the appropriate room.

Level 4 is devoted to temporary exhibitions, for which there’s usually a charge of around £15. Bypass it if you’re just here to see the main collection, which is free.

Make it a two-for-one art day by taking advantage of the Tate Boat, which takes visitors back and forth between Tate Britain and Tate Modern every 40 minutes.

Private “Tate Tours for Two” can be booked online from £100 to £120, with an afternoon tea for an additional £20 or a champagne dinner for an additional £90.

Bankside, South Bank | SE1 9TG | 020/7887–8888 | www.tate.org.uk/modern | Free, charge for special exhibitions | Sun.–Thurs. 10–6, Fri. and Sat. 10–10 (last admission to exhibitions 45 mins before close) | Station: Southwark, Mansion House, St. Paul’s.

Worth Noting

Bankside Gallery.
Two artistic societies—the Royal Society of Painter–Printmakers and the Royal Watercolour Society—have their headquarters in this gallery next to the Tate Modern. Together they mount exhibitions of current members’ work, which is usually for sale, along with art books—making this a great place for finding that exclusive, not too expensive gift. There are also regular themed exhibitions. | 48 Hopton St., Southwark | SE1 9JH | 020/7928–7521 | www.banksidegallery.com | Free | Daily 11–6, call ahead, as hrs may vary and gallery closes for short periods between exhibitions | Station: Blackfriars, Southwark, St. Paul’s.

The Clink Prison Museum.
The reason why the term clink became slang for jail, this was the site of a prison owned by the Bishops of Winchester from 1144 to 1780. With a strong claim to being the oldest prison in England, it was certainly the oldest of Southwark’s five prisons and was the first to detain women, many of whom were prostitutes, leading to local ladies of the evening being called “Winchester geese.” Because of the bishops’ relaxed attitude toward the endemic trade—they decided to license prostitution rather than ban it—the area within their jurisdiction was known as “the Liberty of the Clink.” You’ll discover how grisly a Tudor prison could be, operating on a code of cruelty, deprivation, and corruption.

The prison was only a small part of Winchester Palace, a huge complex that was the bishops’ London residence. You can still see the remains of the early 13th-century Great Hall, with its famous rose window, located next to Southwark Cathedral. | 1 Clink St., Southwark | SE1 9DG | 020/7403–0900 | www.clink.co.uk | £7 | Jul.–Sept., daily 10–9; Oct.–June, weekdays 10–6, weekends 10–7:30; last admission 1 hr before closing | Station: London Bridge.

Design Museum.
This was the first museum in the U.K. to place everyday contemporary objects in a social and cultural context and consider their role in the history of design. Furniture, digital technology, and domestic products from the museum’s permanent collection are on display (some visitors feel the ordinariness of the objects does not justify the high admission price), while temporary exhibitions focus on leading individual designers ranging from Charles Eames and Isamu Noguchi to Terence Conran and Christian Louboutin, or themes such as Sport and Design. There is also an annual exhibition highlighting the winners of the Designs of the Year competition. If you’re in need of sustenance, the Blueprint Café (designed by Conran) offers a river terrace with superb views. For quicker snacks at a lower price, the museum has its own café on the ground floor. Entry to both cafés and the museum store is free. | 28 Shad Thames, Southwark | SE1 2YD | 020/7403–6933 | www.designmuseum.org | £10 | Daily 10–5:45, last admission 5:15 | Station: London Bridge, Tower Hill, DLR: Tower Gateway.

Fodor’s Choice | Dulwich Picture Gallery.
Famed for its regal old-master painting collection, the Dulwich Picture Gallery (pronounced “Dull-ich”) was Britain’s first purpose-built art museum when it opened in 1811. The permanent collection includes landmark works by Rembrandt, Van Dyck, Rubens, Poussin, and Gainsborough, and it also hosts three major international exhibitions each year. As one British art critic puts it, “we would all travel bravely for a day in Tuscany or Umbria in order to see much less.” The gallery also has a lovely café serving meals and drinks. Most of the land around here belongs to Dulwich College, a local boys’ school, which keeps strict control over development. Consequently, Dulwich Village feels a bit like a time capsule, with old-fashioned street signs and handsome 18th-century houses strung out along its main street. Take a short wander and you’ll find a handful of cute clothing and crafts stores and the well-manicured Dulwich Park, with lakeside walks and a fine display of rhododendrons in late May. | Gallery Rd., Dulwich | SE21 7AD | 020/8693–5254 | www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk | £5–£9. Free guided tours weekends at 3 | Tues.–Sun. and bank holiday Mon. 10–5 | Station: National Rail: West Dulwich from Victoria or North Dulwich from London Bridge.


Florence Nightingale Museum.
Compact, highly visual, and engaging, this museum is dedicated to Florence Nightingale, who founded the first school of nursing and played a major role in establishing modern standards of health care. Exhibit are divided into three areas: one focuses on Nightingale’s Victorian childhood, while the other two cover her work tending soldiers during the Crimean War (1854–56) and her subsequent health-care reforms. The museum is creative and accessible, incorporating photographs and personal items (including Nightingale’s own books, bed, and famous lamp), as well as interactive displays of medical instruments and medicinal herbs. | 2 Lambeth Palace Rd., Lambeth | SE1 7EH | 020/7620–0374 | www.florence-nightingale.co.uk | £5.80 | Mon.–Sun. 10–5; last admission 4 | Station: Waterloo, Westminster, Lambeth North.

The Garden Museum.
This rather unassuming museum was created in the mid-1970s after two gardening enthusiasts came upon a medieval church which, they were horrified to discover, was about to be bulldozed. The churchyard contained the tomb of John Tradescant, an adventurous 17th-century plant collector who introduced many new species to England. Inspired to action, they rescued the church and opened this museum. With the support of a dedicated team of volunteers, it has subsequently acquired one of the largest collections of historic garden tools, artifacts, and curiosities in the world, in addition to creating beautiful walled gardens that are maintained year-round with seasonal plants. One section contains a perfect replica of a 17th-century knot garden, built around Tradescant’s tomb; another is devoted entirely to wildflowers. It’s also worth visiting the church itself, which contains the tombs of William Bligh, captain of the Bounty, and several members of the Boleyn family. As well, there’s a green-thumb gift shop and the Garden Café serving vegetarian lunches and home-baked cakes—the toffee-apple variety is a must! | 5 Lambeth Palace Rd., Lambeth | SE1 7LB | 020/7401–8865 | www.gardenmuseum.org.uk | £6 (includes garden and all exhibitions) | Sun.–Fri. 10:30–5; Sat. 10:30–4; closed 1st Mon. of month | Station: Lambeth North, Vauxhall.

HMS Belfast. At 613.5 feet, this is one of the last remaining big-gun armored warships from World War II, in which it played an important role in protecting the Arctic convoys and supporting the D-Day landings off Normandy. | Morgan’s La., Tooley St., Southwark | SE1 2JH | 020/7940–6300 | hmsbelfast.iwm.org.uk | £14, children under 16 free | Mar.–Oct., daily 10–6; Nov.–Feb., daily 10–5; last admission 1 hr before closing | Station: London Bridge.

Fodor’s Choice | London Dungeon.
Here’s the goriest, grisliest, most gruesome attraction in town, where unfortunate prisoners (or at least realistic waxworks) are subjected in graphic detail to all the historical horrors that the Tower of London merely describes. Perhaps most shocking are the crowds of children roaring to get in—kids absolutely adore this place, although those with more a sensitive disposition may find it too frightening (that goes for adults as well). Replete with campy mannequins, penny-dreadful stage sets, and lurid colored spotlights, a series of tableaux depicts famously bloody moments alongside the torture, murder, and ritual slaughter of lesser-known victims, all to a sound track of screaming, wailing, and agonized moaning. There are displays on the Great Plague, the Great Fire of London, and Jack the Ripper, and, to add to the fear and fun, costumed characters leap out of the gloom to bring the exhibits to life. If you ever imagined what a disembowelment looked like, here’s your chance. Be sure to get the souvenir booklet to impress all your friends back home. TIP Expect long lines on weekends and during school holidays. Savings are available for online booking. | 28–34 Tooley St., Southwark | SE1 2SZ | 020/7403–7221 | www.thedungeons.com | From £18.52 | Sept.–Feb., daily 10–5; Mar.–July, daily 9:30–6; Aug., daily 9:30–7; phone or check website to confirm times | Station: London Bridge.

Old Operating Theatre Museum.
This rare example of a 19th-Century operating theater, the oldest in Europe, dates back to 1822, when part of the large attic of the 17th Century St. Thomas’s church was converted to surgical use (operations had previously taken place on the women’s surgical ward next door). The church was part of St. Thomas’s Hospital, which was founded in the 12th century as a monastery that looked after the sick. In 1862, the hospital moved to its present Lambeth location and the operating theater was closed. It remained abandoned until 1956, when it was restored and turned into a medical museum. Today you can see the artifacts of early-19th-century medical practice: the wooden operating table under a skylight; the box of sawdust underneath used for absorbing blood; and the surrounding banks of seats where students crowded in to observe operations. Every Saturday at 11:30 and 2 there are demonstrations of surgical practice incorporating the knives, pliers, and handsaws that were the surgeons’ tools. Next door is a recreation of the Herb Garret, with displays of the medicinal herbs St. Thomas’s apothecary would have used. When the Museum was first restored, four poppies from the original Garret were found in the rafters. | 9A St. Thomas St., Southwark | SE1 9RY | 020/7188–2679 | www.thegarret.org.uk | £6 | Daily 10:30–5. Closed Dec. 15–Jan. 5 | Station: London Bridge.

Oxo Tower.
Long a London landmark to the insider, the art deco–era Oxo building has graduated from its former incarnations as a power-generating station and warehouse into a vibrant community of artists’ and designers’ workshops, a pair of restaurants, and five floors of community homes. There’s an observation deck for a super river vista (St. Paul’s to the east and Somerset House to the west), and a performance area on the first floor, which comes alive all summer long—as does the entire surrounding neighborhood. All the artisans expect you to disturb them whenever they’re open, whether buying, commissioning, or just browsing. The biggest draw remains the Oxo Tower Restaurant for a meal or a martini. | Bargehouse St., South Bank | SE1 9PH | 020/7021–1686 | www.oxotower.co.uk | Free | Studios and shops Tues.–Sun. 11–6 | Blackfriars, Waterloo.

Sea Life London Aquarium.
The curved, colonnaded, neoclassic former County Hall that once housed London’s local government administration is now home to a superb three-level aquarium full of sharks and stingrays, along with many other aquatic species, both common and rare. There are also feeding and hands-on displays, including a tank full of shellfish that you can touch. It’s not the biggest aquarium you’ve ever seen, but it will delight marine lovers. | County Hall, Westminster Bridge Rd., South Bank | SE1 7PB | 0871/663–1678 | www.sealife.co.uk | £19.02 | Mon.–Thurs. 10–6, last admission 5; Fri.–Sun. 10–7, last admission 6 | Station: Westminster, Waterloo.

Southwark Cathedral.
Pronounced “Suth-uck,” this is the second-oldest Gothic church in London, after Westminster Abbey, with parts dating back to the 12th century. Although it houses some remarkable memorials, not to mention a program of lunchtime concerts, it’s seldom visited. It was promoted to cathedral status only in 1905; before that it was the priory church of St. Mary Overie (as in “over the water”—on the South Bank). Look for the gaudily renovated 1408 tomb of the poet John Gower, friend of Chaucer, and for the Harvard Chapel. Another notable buried here is Edmund Shakespeare, brother of William. TIP The Refectory serves full English breakfasts, light lunches, and tea daily 10–6. | London Bridge, South Bank | SE1 9DA | 020/7367–6700 | www.southwark.anglican.org | Free, suggested donation £4 | Daily 8–6 | London Bridge.

Vinopolis.
Spread over 2.5 acres next to Borough Market, Vinopolis allows you to sample wines from around the world. Wine-tasting tours start at £22.50, and there are a number of packages, including an option that features tastings of various whiskeys, rums, and absinthes in addition to the wines—as well as comedy nights (check online for details). There are two restaurants in addition to a wine bar that offers a wide range of wines by the glass. If anything strikes your fancy, two independent retailers have outlets (one specializing in whiskey, the other in wine) on the premises. Keep in mind that the last entry is two hours before the scheduled closing time, and that you should allow at least two hours for a tour. | 1 Bank End, Southwark | SE1 9BU | 020/7940–8300 | www.vinopolis.co.uk | £22.50 | Thurs.–Fri. 2–10, Sat. noon–10, Sun. noon–6 | Station: London Bridge.

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