I’ve compiled a list of ten reasons to visit Tower Bridge Road London SE1. Until recently, the street has been shabby and run down, surprising since Tower Bridge is a major attraction. With a few recent developments coming to fruition, the street is worth exploring for reasons other than the famous bridge. A swanky new apartment hotel, Bermonds Locke, opened recently, and Planet Organic has just set up shop. Tower Bridge Road is a street that connects you to other exciting things to do South of the River, including One Tower Bridge, Shad Thames, Bermondsey Beer Mile, Maltby Street Market and the Bermondsey Antique Market. Read at my ten reasons to visit Tower Bridge Road and plan your visit soon. My list is in order of what you’ll see if you walk down Tower Bridge Road starting from Tower Bridge.
My Ten Reasons To Visit Tower Bridge Road List
- Tower Bridge Road begins on Tower Bridge. The turreted Victorian bridge is stunning and an iconic symbol of London. It’s a Grade I listed bascule and suspension bridge built 1886-1894 from a design by Horace Jones with John Wolf Barry as the engineer. I can recommend the Tower Bridge Tour that gives you access to a walkway over the bridge, panoramic views of London and a look around the Victorian Engine Rooms. If you stand on the bridge, you have excellent views of the Tower of London, Canary Wharf, Butlers Wharf, BT Tower, The Monument, The City of London Skyscrapers, City Hall and The Shard.
2. One Tower Bridge is on your right at the end of the bridge. Walk down the steps to access it at the river level. One Tower Bridge is a prestigious development with a magnificent view of Tower Bridge. It comprises apartments and restaurants including Gun Powder, The Coal Shed, The Ivy and Rosa’s Thai Cafe. It’s a great place to dine with views of Tower Bridge. City Hall, HMS Belfast and Hayes Galleria are nearby in the direction towards London Bridge.
3. Shad Thames and Butler’s Wharf is on your left, an atmospheric warehouse area with cobbled streets and re-developed 19th-century tea, coffee, and spice warehouses. Pathways lead you to the Thames and a collection of restaurants with alfresco dining and views of Tower Bridge.
4. Continue down Tower Bridge Road, and you’ll pass by Druid Street, where you’ll find The Bermondsey Beer Mile, a collection of independent breweries under railway arches. Behind Druid Street is Maltby Street Market (weekend food market) on Rope Walk (above). You’ll also find WatchHouse Coffee in the vicinity.
5. Bermonds Locke is an urban apartment hotel with coworking space on the ground floor and the Shaman coffee shop. It’s next to a new apartment development called Newnham’s Yard. It includes a walkway connecting Tower Bridge Road with Bermondsey Street, which has greatly impacted the area. The Bermondsey Larder restaurant is behind Bermonds Lock Hotel, which I can recommend.
6. Planet Organic has just opened up a new branch next to Bermonds Locke. We are excited about having this upmarket supermarket within walking distance from our apartment, and I expect I’ll be shopping there regularly. (This supermarket has since closed).
7. St Mary Magdalen Church Yard has a lovely little green space where you can sit on a bench and admire views of The Shard in the distance.
8. Next is Bermondsey Square, which is on the site where Bermondsey Abbey once stood. Check out the Bermondsey Antique Market (above) on Friday mornings and the free jazz events held during the summer on some Sundays.
9. The VC Memorial to Albert McKenzie stands proudly at the start of the Tower Bridge Road main shopping part of the street. Albert McKenzie was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in the Zeebrugge Raid (1918).
10. For food and shopping, the lower part of Tower Bridge Road has a more traditional feel with a few exciting businesses. You’ll find everything you need to keep your life on track, including dry cleaners, key cutters, shoe repairers, bike repairers, a pharmacy and a hardware shop. Other amenities include nail bars, hairdressers and pet groomers. Restaurants of interest are Crystal China for Dry Hot Pot dishes, Tower Tandori Indian restaurant, Iro Sushi for Sushi and Manze (above) is famous for Pies, Mash, Jellied Eels, and Ice Cream.
For a quick bite, it’s Bagels and Beans or Caffe Latino for Banana Bread and Coffee (above).
Pop into Lechevalier for Wine, Cheeses and Charcuterie or the Bermondsey Arts Club (above), a former public convenience transformed into an intimate cocktail bar with live jazz.
Interesting shops to browse on the lower part of Tower Bridge Road include Holloway of Ludlow (above), a high-end furniture and lighting showroom selling premium and timeless UK and Scandi brands. Kas and Ros is a designer jewellery store showcasing work by two award-winning designers with bespoke design services. Bespoke and Bound is a leather specialist shop that makes luxury leather goods from photo albums, notebooks and bags with a bespoke service.
Ten Reasons To Visit Tower Bridge Road London SE1 Information
If you want to explore Tower Bridge Road, the nearest stations are London Bridge or Tower Hill. For more information on the area, read my Ten Things To Do Near Tower Bridge article. Enjoy your visit.
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London. Please check that the places I referenced in this article are still in business before visiting to avoid disappointment.
