Within 10 minutes
On your doorstep
The South Bank Riverside Walk
One of London's great free pleasures — the Thames path stretching from Waterloo Bridge all the way to Tower Bridge. Street performers, food stalls, booksellers under the bridge, and iconic views of St Paul's, the City and beyond. Best walked at dusk when the lights come on across the river.
Walk east from Waterloo Bridge at sunset for the best views of the City skyline.
Lower Marsh Market
A brilliantly local street market running Monday to Friday. Independent traders, excellent coffee, street food from around the world, and vintage finds. The real Waterloo that tourists miss entirely.
Go Tuesday–Thursday for the widest selection of food traders.
London Eye
The capital's most iconic viewpoint — a slow, sweeping 30-minute rotation 135 metres above the Thames. Book tickets in advance to skip the queues, or visit after 6pm for a quieter experience and spectacular sunset views.
Book the last rotation of the day — cheaper and far less crowded.
Book tickets →Southbank Centre
The Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and the Hayward Gallery sit side by side on the riverfront. World-class concerts, exhibitions and free foyer events most evenings. Check the programme before you arrive — something is almost always on.
The free foyer events at the Royal Festival Hall are a hidden gem.
See what's on →National Theatre
One of the world's great theatre institutions, with three stages running simultaneously. Day seats go on sale online each morning from £20. The riverside terraces are perfect for a pre-show drink even if you're not attending.
Day tickets released online at midnight — set an alarm for the best shows.
See productions →BFI Southbank
The British Film Institute's flagship cinema showing rare archive films, world premieres and director Q&As. The bar is excellent and the bookshop one of the best film bookshops in the country.
Check the BFI Flare and London Film Festival dates if you're visiting in spring or autumn.
See listings →Need turn-by-turn directions?
Open The Quartz Place, SE1 7BL directly in Google Maps
Restaurants, cafés & bars
Eat & drink
Borough Market
London's most celebrated food market and one of the oldest in the world, dating back over 1,000 years. Artisan breads, aged cheeses, street food from every corner of the globe, fresh produce and specialty coffee. Go hungry. The Neal's Yard Dairy counter and Monmouth Coffee are essential stops. Busiest on Saturdays — go Thursday or Friday for a calmer visit.
Thursday lunchtime is the sweet spot — full market, half the crowd.
Plan your visit →Ozone Coffee
Exceptional specialty coffee from this New Zealand-founded roaster. Clean, minimalist space with serious attention to the cup. Perfect for a working morning or a slow start to the day.
Skylon
Suspended above the Royal Festival Hall with panoramic Thames views, Skylon serves refined British cuisine. The bar is the best riverside spot in SE1 for a pre-dinner drink. Smart casual dress.
Bar seating has the same views without the restaurant price tag.
Oblix at The Shard
At level 32 of The Shard, Oblix offers 360-degree views of London over cocktails and sharing plates. No observation deck ticket required — just a reservation. The best elevated drinking experience in London.
Book the window seats at least 2 weeks in advance.
Reserve a table →The Anchor Bankside
A historic Thames-side pub dating back to the 17th century, with a terrace overlooking the river and Tate Modern. Proper pub food, real ales, and atmosphere that no new-build bar can replicate.
Grab a spot on the terrace — the view of St Paul's across the river is extraordinary.
Coin Laundry
A local Waterloo favourite for casual dining — relaxed atmosphere, great cocktails and shareable plates. Ideal for an easy dinner without the South Bank tourist prices.
Museums, galleries & theatre
Culture & art
Tate Modern
One of the world's great contemporary art galleries, housed in a converted Bankside power station. The permanent collection is free and spans the entire history of modern and contemporary art from 1900 to the present. The Turbine Hall installations are unmissable. Take the lift to the viewing terrace on level 10 for sweeping Thames views — entirely free.
The free permanent collection alone justifies the visit. The level 10 viewing platform has the best free view in London.
Plan your visit →The British Museum
Two million years of human history under one roof. The Rosetta Stone, the Elgin Marbles, Egyptian mummies, the Lewis Chessmen. Entirely free. Allow at least half a day — ideally a full one.
Download the free app for a self-guided tour of the highlights.
Plan your visit →Victoria & Albert Museum
The world's greatest museum of art and design — fashion, furniture, jewellery, architecture and more across 145 galleries. The permanent collection is free. The special exhibitions are world-class and worth booking ahead.
The café courtyard is one of London's most beautiful rooms. Worth a visit in its own right.
Shakespeare's Globe
A faithful reconstruction of Shakespeare's original 1599 theatre on the banks of the Thames. Standing tickets (groundling) cost just £5 — one of the great theatre bargains in the world. The guided tour of the theatre is excellent even if no show is on.
£5 groundling tickets are the most authentic way to experience Shakespeare as it was meant to be seen.
Book tickets →National Gallery
Over 2,300 paintings spanning 700 years of European art — Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Monet's Water Lilies, Vermeer, Caravaggio, Turner. Overlooking Trafalgar Square. Free, always.
Plan your visit →Warner Bros. Studio Tour
The Making of Harry Potter — the original sets, costumes and props from all eight films. A genuinely magical experience for fans of all ages. Located in Watford, about 30 minutes by train from Waterloo.
Book months in advance — this sells out consistently, especially at weekends.
Book tickets →Icons of the city
London landmarks
Big Ben & Westminster
The Houses of Parliament, Big Ben and Westminster Bridge — the defining image of London. Walk across Waterloo Bridge or Westminster Bridge for the classic postcard view.
Buckingham Palace
The official residence of the monarch. The Changing of the Guard takes place most mornings at 11am — check the schedule online. St James's Park alongside is one of London's finest.
Changing of the Guard: arrive by 10:30am for a good viewpoint.
The Shard
Western Europe's tallest building at 310 metres. The View from The Shard observation experience spans 360 degrees across London and on a clear day as far as 40 miles. Book in advance for a timed entry.
Book tickets →Tower of London & Tower Bridge
Nearly 1,000 years of history — the Crown Jewels, the Beefeaters, the ravens, and the glass walkway across Tower Bridge. Allow a full morning for the Tower alone.
Book Tower of London tickets online to skip the queues entirely.
Book tickets →St Paul's Cathedral
Wren's masterpiece and one of the world's great domed cathedrals. Climb the 528 steps to the Golden Gallery for a rooftop view rivalling any in the city. The Whispering Gallery is a favourite with all ages.
Plan your visit →Covent Garden
One of London's most vibrant neighbourhoods — street performers in the Piazza, independent boutiques, outstanding restaurants and the London Transport Museum. The Neal Street and Seven Dials area is excellent for independent shopping.
Notting Hill & Portobello Road
The famous Portobello Road antiques market runs on Saturdays — vintage clothing, antiques, street food and an iconic market atmosphere. The surrounding streets of Notting Hill are among London's most beautiful.
Saturday is market day — the antique section is at its fullest by 10am.
Greenwich
Stand on the Prime Meridian, visit the Royal Observatory, walk through Greenwich Park and explore the Cutty Sark. A full day out with a very different feel from central London. Best reached by river boat from Waterloo Pier.
Take the Thames Clipper from Waterloo Pier for a scenic river journey to Greenwich.
Green spaces & outdoors
Parks & outdoors
St James's Park
London's most beautiful Royal Park, stretching between Buckingham Palace and Westminster. The lake, the pelicans (fed daily at 2:30pm), the views of Horse Guards and the tranquillity in the heart of the city make this unmissable. Free to enter, always.
The pelican feeding at 2:30pm daily is a surprisingly wonderful spectacle.
Hyde Park & Kensington Gardens
350 acres of open parkland in the heart of London — the Serpentine lake, the Diana Memorial Fountain, the Serpentine Galleries and Speaker's Corner. In summer, the outdoor cinema and concerts make it a destination in its own right.
Archbishop's Park
A quiet, beautifully kept local park just minutes from the apartment — perfect for a morning run, reading in the sun or a calm start to the day away from tourist crowds. Largely unknown to visitors and all the better for it.
Your secret local park — completely crowd-free and five minutes from the front door.
Hampstead Heath
790 acres of ancient woodland, meadows and ponds on the edge of the city. The Parliament Hill viewpoint offers one of the finest panoramas of London's skyline. The mixed bathing pond is open year-round for the brave.
Parliament Hill at sunset gives you one of the best free views of London's skyline.
From The Quartz Place
Getting around
Lambeth North
2 min walk
Direct to Oxford Circus, Paddington & Harrow. The quickest way into the West End.
Waterloo Station
7 min walk
Jubilee line to Canary Wharf, Greenwich & Stratford. Northern line to Bank, Old Street & Angel.
Waterloo Station
7 min walk
Direct trains to Windsor, Hampton Court, Guildford and the South West. Eurostar at St Pancras (20 min).
Waterloo Pier
8 min walk
Thames Clipper services to Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Tate Modern Pier & Westminster. The most scenic commute in London.
Practical tips
Use contactless
Tap your contactless card or phone on all buses, tubes and Overground. No need to buy an Oyster card.
Santander Cycles
Boris Bikes available nearby. £3.50 for unlimited 30-minute rides all day. Great for the South Bank and parks.
Airports
Heathrow: 45 min via Jubilee & Piccadilly lines. Gatwick: 30 min direct from Waterloo. City Airport: 35 min via Jubilee line.
Night buses
Waterloo is a major night bus hub. Multiple routes run through the night — a reliable and cheap alternative to late-night taxis.