There is no such district called London Bridge. It is, as one would expect, a bridge that has a long role in the city’s history. It connects both sides of London together, from the financial district to the artsy side of Southwark and the likes of Borough Market. To sum it up, it is a pivotal point in the British capital, with many travellers choosing to stay on both sides of the bridge. The London Bridge Underground Station is a key transport hub to the south-east and other areas outside of the metropolis and the area has enough markets and pubs to fill the spare time of any business and leisure traveller.
In fact, the bridge connects the worlds of business and leisure together. One one side there is the financial centre, City of London, with its Walkie Talkie building, the London Stock Exchange, The Gherkin and the Bank of England to name a few of the big names over there. Meanwhile, towards the south, there’s the Tate Modern Gallery, the aforementioned Borough Market, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, Hays Galleria, HMS Belfast and Southwark Cathedral. It’s worth mentioning that The Shard is also on the south side of London Bridge but it’s still an area of leisure and the arts, rather than of corporate meetings and hangouts.
While it may not be a district, it is a necessary and important part of London that keeps all sides of the equation, and all of our guests, connected and able to enjoy the perfect stay with as little to no hassle whatsoever.
History of London Bridge
The icon itself has been around for a very long time and the reason is due to there being many incarnations of London Bridge since the original Roman crossing that was built in 50 AD. This one was constructed out of wood. But it made it very susceptible to fire, storms, and invading forces like the Vikings for example.
However, in 1176, the first stone version of London Bridge was built, taking over 30 years to build and lasting more than 600 years. it was 8 meters wide, and roughly 240–270 meters long. This was more than sufficient for the day. It was also supported by 19 irregularly spaced gothic arches to give it a bit of a “look”, and featured a central chapel, a host of shops and houses. Naturally, none of these things exist in the current version as they were removed in 1762 but it’s nice to think what having those things on the bridge was like.
As this version of the bridge was torn down, another was put in its place. William IV and Queen Adelaide opened the New London Bridge in 1831 which would last well into the next century. However, as the world changed and new modes of transport like cars, trucks and buses replaced the carriages, it was discovered that the bridge was sinking, in 1962, because of the huge increase in traffic and weight. Therefore the current London Bridge was constructed from 1967 to 1972 and opened by Queen Elizabeth II in 1973. It now stands as another in a long line of bridges that connects the city together.
Business Life in London Bridge
As mentioned prior, the bridge itself connects the worlds of business and leisure together seamlessly. But when business is the main focus of the trip, what can guests really expect? Given that the headquarters and institutions like The Walkie Talkie, the London Stock Exchange, The Gherkin, The Shard and the Bank of England are in close proximity to each other, convenience is always going to be part of the business life.
Some of the businesses that will be nearby are Aviva, BT Group, Lloyds Banking Group, Old Mutual, Prudential, Schroders, Standard Chartered, and Unilever to name but a few. These are big brands that are the best in their fields and it pays to be near such well-known organisations. If our guests are working either of them, we can put them right up close to make the business life easier during their shirt or long term stay near London Bridge.
Our corporate apartments are also a part of the business life near London Bridge. We have elegantly furnished apartments on both sides of the bridge so there are numerous choices for the second home to choose from. With all the amenities that a business traveller needs, they can relax after a long day of hectic meetings or even work from the luxury of their apartment thanks to the free Wi-Fi and spacious living areas that create the ideal “home office”. All apartments are centrally located so they can be as close to their office as possible and right next to essential Underground connections to get further afield. As the area has plenty of attractions too, our corporate guests can wander around and catch a Shakespeare play at the Globe or head out on the weekend to Borough Market to grab something delicious from the stalls.
Where to Stay in London Bridge
Finding the right accommodation in London Bridge can be as simple as personal preference. At TheSqua.re, every serviced apartment provides something different depending on the wants of those staying in London Bridge. Accommodation near Bermondsey will benefit from close proximity to Tower Bridge and Southwark Park, as well as the village-like feel of Bermondsey Street and a number of artisan breweries. Guests staying in Borough can enjoy the bustling sights of Borough Market, Southwark k Cathedral, The Shard and Shakespeare’s Globe right outside their front door.
TheSqua.re also offers quality serviced apartments further afield in London, such as Shoreditch, home of hipster coffee shops, boxcar bars and Jack The Ripper’s notorious Whitechapel, Canary Wharf and the Isle of Dogs for exquisite restaurants and high rise city businesses, and Marylebone in Central London for easy access to Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park and Oxford Street. Wherever guests choose to stay, there is a huge range of short term and extended let furnished apartments available to suit all schedules.
Facts About London Bridge
Now dominated by the sleek triangular point of Europe’s tallest building, the Shard, the area around London Bridge was once a thriving dockland, comprising warehouses, breweries and shipping yards. In recent years, many of these old industrial sites, particularly around Shad Thames, have been repurposed as luxury penthouse apartments and office blocks. Many printing presses were once located in and around the Borough area, and this design and entrepreneurial spirit can still be felt to this day with the neighborhood’s Fashion and Textile Museum, Design Museum, and White Cube Gallery. In addition, the former train arches beneath the London Bridge tracks now house independent businesses, local craft breweries and Maltby Street Market, which runs every weekend and features stalls of organic produce.
Though there have been several bridges spanning the River Thames dating back to Roman times, the current London Bridge was first opened to traffic, when its box girder design replaced a 19th-century stone-arched bridge. Before the Victorian renovation, the bridge was a 600-year-old stone causeway; before that, it was made of timber. Often confused with Tower Bridge, located a half-mile down the river, London Bridge historically is the bridge that travelers and royal processions would cross when first entering the City of London. Tower Bridge, by contrast, culminates in the Tower of London and was often reserved for traitors and members of the military.
The London Bridge of today is a modern travel hub, furnished with a National Rail and Underground station, ample tour and sightseeing buses, local taxi companies, and an abundance of Boris Bikes, meaning that the rest of the city is right on its doorstep.
Things to Do in London Bridge
As soon as the luggage is dropped, guests will discover plenty of things to see and plenty of things to do in London Bridge. From days strolling the Thames Path to nights of dancing in Borough Market, there is enough to entertain the entire family. For a dose of naval history, be sure to visit the former warship HMS Belfast, or for scares and thrills in equal measure, check out the London Bridge Experience, located right outside the train station. Shopping opportunities abound thanks to the close proximity of Hay’s Galleria and Borough Market, and those who like to keep active can participate in a 2 km park run around Southwark Park every Saturday morning.
For more attractions in London Bridge, check out TheSqua.re’s a handy guide to the local area, as well as a full range of serviced apartments on offer.
Places to Eat in London Bridge
As in all other up-and-coming areas of London, residents of London Bridge can find many diverse and delicious restaurants to cater to their impeccable tastes. Whatever cuisine is on the menu for the night, there will be a local eatery serving it up. Among the many places to eat in London Bridge, our favorites include Arabica Bar and Kitchen, for sumptuous Middle Eastern cooking, Lobos, specializing in meat and tapas, and The Coal Shed, for some of the best steaks around. For delicious Chinese servings with stunning views over the rest of London, try Hutong, halfway up The Shard! And for those looking for something a little more settled, try Bermondsey Street for a whole host of dining options with a very village-high-street atmosphere.
Pubs and bars are also aplenty. The Horniman at Hay’s and Butler’s Wharf are always bustling after work, and make for a fun-filled atmosphere overlooking the river. Borough plays host to Katzenjammers, a Bavarian-style bierkeller, complete with lederhosen-clad staff and a brass band every Friday. For a quieter, old-English pub vibe, try the Anchor Tap in the shadow of Tower Bridge, which has stood on the site since 1761 and features no music, televisions or fruit machines: just good old fashioned conversation! And for those looking for a taste of everything the area Bridge has to offer, the Bermondsey Beer Mile is famous throughout the whole of London and boasts nearly twenty artisanal breweries offering tasters of their extensive menus.
Places to Visit in London Bridge
Due to London Bridge’s location close to The City and Canary Wharf, many local businesses, both big and small, are easily accessible from any serviced apartment in the area. Business travelers will be close to some of the biggest corporate hubs and have good connections to the financial institutions of London, whereas tourists and sightseers can benefit from a number of popular attractions, including but not limited to:
- Tate Modern
- IMAX and Southbank Centre
- The London Bridge Experience
- The Shard
- HMS Belfast
- Tower Bridge and The Tower of London
- City Hall
- St. Katharine’s Docks
- Greenwich and Shoreditch (via public transport)
- Southwark Park
- Waterloo and London Bridge Train Stations
- Brunel Museum
From history to culture, fun to festivities, everything is here and nothing is off the table. Discover the best of London from any one of TheSqua.re’s luxury furnished apartments, and enjoy a memorable visit to the capital, no matter the length of stay.
Culture and Shopping in London Bridge
What weekend in London would be complete without the occasional shopping spree? Equally famous for its department stores and designer boutiques as for its sightseeing and historic hotspots, the city of London provides everything a new or temporary resident could possibly need. The City of London is just a short walk away, featuring big-name stores in and around Leadenhall Market. More shopping opportunities can be found at Hay’s Galleria, looking onto the HMS Belfast and Surrey Quays Shopping Centre, which also offers an Odeon and the Printworks Arts Venue in close proximity. There’s also a branch of Hamleys located in London Bridge Station, so experiencing London culture starts before visitors have even set foot onto the streets!
Of course, the most famous shopping locales in the area is Borough Market. One of the capital’s oldest operating markets, Borough celebrated over 1,000 years of trading in 2014 and is also surrounded by many excellent pubs and eateries. Operating year-round, this vast market brings together a mix of the best ingredients in food, including fish, bread, spices, fruit, vegetables, dairy, and even wine! Neal's Yard Dairy is world-famous for its cheese. Be sure to check it out, even if just to marvel at the sheer volumes! In fact, thanks to the sheer range of accommodating shopping opportunities available in London Bridge, residents can spend all day browsing deals, and still want to return for more!
Getting Around in London Bridge
Traveling between London Bridge and the wider city is a simple matter, with various transport options available for visitors to the neighborhood. The area is accessed via a number of Underground Stations, including London Bridge, Bermondsey, Borough and Southwark (providing easy access to the Jubilee and Northern Lines), and Tower Hill, Bank, and Monument on the north side of the river (for the Central and District lines). Traveling around London is easiest by making use of Oyster cards, top-up payment cards, which allow for hop-on hop-off travel on the city’s subway and bus systems.
While there are plenty of things to see and do in London Bridge that can be reached on foot, the city’s iconic red buses run regular services in the area and can help residents bridge the districts in true London style. Black cabs are another great way of getting around, and many taxi drivers can help answer passengers’ questions about the area due to their excellent local knowledge. For visitors determined to bring their own car, many serviced apartments in the area offer complimentary parking facilities, however, it is worth noting that traffic levels can vary depending on the time of day. London Bridge and Waterloo stations provide National Rail services to the wider country, including connections to Heathrow, Gatwick and London City airports for ease of international travel, and there are also a number of riverboat cruises that depart from various embarkation points between Southwark and Tower Bridge.
Weather in London Bridge
As London Bridge is located right on the River Thames, visitors to the area may experience a little more wind and moisture in the air. Generally, however, the weather here is comparable to the rest of the UK. Sometimes difficult to predict, London weather ranges from cold winters (with temperatures falling below freezing) to blazing summers: average highs of 24 degrees, or the occasional heatwave of 35 degrees, as in 2019. It’s also worth checking local weather reports before visiting the city, but wet-weather clothing is advised at any time of year. The month of September is often a good time to visit for those who prefer more temperate climates, as the days are still noticeably warm in the run-off from August while benefiting from cooler evenings for a more comfortable stay in general.
