South Bank London

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THE SOUTH BANK- Entertainment along the Thames

The arguments for and against inner city renewal involve a debate about refurbishing or replacing famous landmarks. However, a powerful advertisement for the merits of a mixture of the old and the new can be found on the South Bank of the River Thames, in Central London. In the mid 1980's, if you happened to look out on the River from Waterloo Bridge, you would have seen a vastly different vista from the one that confronts you today. Much of what has been there for decades is mixed with some new and some brash developments.

A walk along the South Bank is now an essential part of your trip to London simply because it combines the best and the brightest that London has to offer in a few miles of walkway. Starting from the historic Lambeth Palace, a simple couple of hundred yards will take you to -

The London Eye

Sponsored by BA, the Eye is situated by Westminster Bridge across the river from Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.This massive wheel, designed by architects David Marks and Julia Barfield, is a major feature of the South Bank as well as the capitals number 1 vantage point. The first thing you note is that,unlike traditional fairground wheels, you can hardly see the structure move and you might even think it's closed from a distance.

The whole experience takes about half an hour and on a good day, you can see all the way to the suburbs. You also appreciate what luxurious surroundings Buckingham Palace is in - with Green Park and St James Park so close by -as well as getting a birds-eye view of all that London has to offer. With the Eye open until 10pm in summer, with last bookings are at 9.30pm, you can also get a chance to see the glittering lights of the capital by night - always a special experience, but more so from such a height.

Cheaper than a balloon flight (and it doesn't interfere with the flight paths!), the London Eye is accessible to all. Because of this, booking in advance by credit card is essential - especially if "flying" at weekends. Don't miss out on your opportunity to see a different view of London.

The Royal Festival Hall is ,of course, firmly established as a major theatre and music venue by Hungerford Bridge with free performances and exhibitions all day long. There are also some of the best cafes and snack bars in the area - perfect for a short rest and to take in the South Bank. Combined with the National Theatre and the Museum of the Moving Image( for film and TV), all aspects of performance art are covered in a very small area. There is also the new IMAX Theatre set slightly back from Waterloo Bridge - for the complete film experience on one of the largest sized screens in the UK.

A further short walk along past Blackfriars Bridge is the latest addition to the South Bank attractions -
Tate Modern.Since May of 2000,the former Bankside Power Station has been a great tourist success with several floors of modern and thought- provoking art which will more than likely shock, inspire and downright confuse in equal measure. Stretching up from the vast expanse of the generating hall, the various galleries cover a wide range artistic work in both 2d,3d and multimedia.For any artwork that particularly catches your eye, you can buy postcards, reproductions and books in the shop before discussing the various merits over some delicious food in the cafes and restaurants. With free admission, Tate Modern has already established its place in the range of museums available across London.

And it doesn't stop there- with Shakepeare's Globe Theatre and the London Dungeon within easy reach, there is something for everyone on the South Bank. With so much along a stretch of river from the area opposite the Houses of Parliament to the Tower of London, one day is just simply not enough to do the revitalised area justice - so book that extended break today.......

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