Ten Things to do in Bermondsey Street SE1 |

My Ten Things to do in Bermondsey Street, London SE1, is perfect for anyone who wants to enjoy a village vibe in the capital. I love this street so much that I moved to live just around the corner! It’s a short walk from London Bridge station, with The Shard overlooking it. My list includes visiting the White Cube Gallery, the London Glassblowing Gallery and the Fashion and Textile Museum. When you’re hungry, you can dine at one of the many restaurants, pubs and bars or stop for a coffee. There are a couple of independent shops and art galleries so you can buy yourself something adorable. If you’re looking for the best things to do in Southwark, restaurants in SE1 or pretty places in London, you’ll find my Ten Things to do in Bermondsey Street super helpful. I originally wrote this article in 2017 and have updated it with some new information, pictures and a video.

10 Things to do in Bermondsey Street SE1 List:

1. See contemporary art at the White Cube for free
2. Watch glassblowing at the London Glassblowing Gallery
3. Enjoy an exhibition at the Fashion and Textile Museum
4. Buy art for your home from one of the galleries
5. Browse the independent shops
6. Treat yourself to breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of the restaurants
7. Drink and dine at one of the pubs or bars
8. Stop off for coffee and pastry at one of the cafes
9. Relax or play tennis in Tanner Street Park
10. Appreciate the listed buildings, historic warehouses and quaint church

My Favourite Ten Things To Do In Bermondsey Street

1. See unique contemporary art at Jay Jopling’s White Cube. The 1970s building houses large exhibition spaces showcasing work by renowned artists such as Gilbert and George. It’s free to view the exhibitions, which are often thought-provoking and adventurous. Check out the current collections online.

2. The London Glassblowing Gallery showcases contemporary glass art pieces by founder Peter Layton, the resident artists and guests. You can watch the glassblowers at work in the open studio towards the back of the gallery.

3. The Fashion and Textile Museum have exciting fashion-related exhibitions. It was founded in 2003 by Dame Zandra Rhodes, a famous British designer with bright pink hair. The exhibits change, so check online before you visit. There is also a lovely gift shop in the building.

4. If you want to buy a piece of art for your home, try the Eames Fine Art Gallery. The founders are Rebecca and Vincent Eames, who focus on work by established Master of Modern and Contemporary Art. They specialise in original etchings, lithographs, and drawings. They have a second store selling prints towards the bottom of Bermondsey Street. The Bermondsey Project Space showcases some fantastic paintings and sculptures that you can buy.

5. You’ll find a couple of stores to browse. Seward and Stearn is a must for English menswear, including ties, shirts, polo shirts and other well-made classic clothing. Trove 167 is a lifestyle store selling clothing, jewellery, homeware and gifts with some original one-off vintage finds. Pop into Estella Bartlett for jewellery and gifts.

6. Treat yourself to lunch or dinner at one of the top-notch restaurants. I’ve eaten at most of these and can recommend Cafe Murano (Italian), Flour and Grape (Fresh Pasta and Wine), Baccalà (Italian Seafood) Pizarro (Spanish), José (Spanish Tapas), Lolo (all day dining), Lahpet Larder (Burmese Cuisine) and Sentosa (Singaporean and Malaysian Cuisine). Others include Casse-Croûte (French Bistro) and cheaper places to eat are Hakata (Ramen), Caphe House (Vietnamese) B Street Deli (Soups, Salads, Sandwiches) and Al’s Cafe (Workers Cafe).

7. Bermondsey Street has some bars that also serve food. The Garrison delivers a seasonal British menu while The Woolpack Bar has tasty pub grub, including Sunday lunch.

8. Get your caffeine fix, croissants, cakes, and savoury-filled wraps from WatchHouse; it’s inside a historic 19th-century graveyard watch house building, hence the name! I recommend their almond croissants because I’ve eaten many of them! Fuckoffee has a great sense of humour and gives free coffees to essential workers. Chapter 72 is another excellent coffee shop with the bonus of cocktails.

9. Tanner Street Park borders Bermondsey Street and Tanner Street. It has plenty of benches, so you can buy coffee and pastries from Comptoir Gourmand Bakery and eat them in the park. The tennis courts are popular with the locals. The French Chicken restaurant, Pique-Nique, is tucked away in the corner with a children’s play area in front. Look out for the Cornerstone Sculpture by Austin Emery, a local stonemason and artist. The Igloo Flowers stall is at the entrance of Tanner Street Park, which looks pretty. There is another patch of greenery behind St Mary’s Church where you’ll see cute little dogs frolicking about because Bermondsey Street is the land of adorable dogs.

10. Take time to appreciate the historic buildings on Bermondsey Street. The conservation area has many architectural gems. Houses 68-76 are Grade II listed. The Historic England information states that the terrace of five houses is mid C18 with red bricks and later stuccoed fronts and parapets. Number 76 has a stunning overhanging blue wood-clad top floor built into the roof. Numbers 124-130 also have Grade II listed status.

The road has some incredible historic listed warehouses that once housed tanneries.

St Mary Magdalen Church is beautiful. The Anglican church was built in the late 17th century and has Grade II* listed building status. A church on this site dates back before that time to 1290. The churchyard at the rear houses listed monuments and tombs.

Watch My Bermondsey Street Video

Helpful Information About Bermondsey Street London SE1

If you want to visit this street, it is best to travel to London Bridge Tube Station (Jubilee and Northern Lines) or London Bridge Train Station (Southern, Thameslink and Southeastern). Borough Tube Station (Northern Line) is also close. Good days to visit are Fridays when you can also browse the Bermondsey Antique Market, or Saturdays to eat at the Maltby Street Food Market.