Whilst Bankside estate agents might well propose state of the art contemporary properties, the area is in fact one of the oldest in London. Originally an ancient settlement, it has history millions of years old. This guide to the areas fascinating history gives you a brief glimpse of the past; current attractions; and typical Bankside property today.

Ancient & Medieval Bankside
Many important archaeological finds have been recently discovered underneath Victorian buildings; some date from around half a million years ago. Older still was the first London Bridge 2 million years ago, the only one spanning the Thames until as late as 1750. London’s notorious first prison was built in Clink Street around 860AD and is the origin of the expression, “in the clink”, meaning in jail. The hit paranormal investigation TV show “Most Haunted” has shot a Halloween Jack-The-Ripper Special in today’s Clink Street Prison Museum and nearby Tower Bridge.

Famous Residents & Visitors
William Shakespeare lived in Southwark for some time and his plays were staged at the local Globe and Rose theatres. Playwright Ben Jonson also wrote plays for the Globe and in 1666, London Diarist Samuel Pepys watched the Great Fire Of London from a Bankside pub. Queen Elizabeth was a visitor and Charles Dicken’s had strong local connections, reflected in his novel ‘Little Dorrit’. By the 1800s, the area was also famous for leatherwork, reflected in addresses like Tanners Yard, Leathermarket Court, Tanners Street.

Bankside Today
Important Bankside property postcodes are SE1, SE16, SE17 and SE5 and remember neighbourhood names London Bridge, Borough, Tower Bridge, Shad Thames, Rotherhithe, Elephant & Castle, Southwark, Waterloo, Bermondsey and of course, Bankside. Local Bankside estate agents will tell you of a great regeneration was due to world-class cultural centres, all easily accessible via the Millennium Bridge. There is the Tate Modern, plus the Bankside art gallery hosts both the UK’s Royal Watercolour Society and Royal Society of Painter-Printmakers. Shakespeare’s London is amply represented by the famous Globe Theatre and an exhibition on the Rose Theatre. Just next to the Clink Street Prison Museum is Winchester Palace, with its renowned medieval round ‘rose’ window. The spectacular London Dungeon is in Tooley St, SE1, and don’t miss Southwark Cathedral. Finally, London ‘foodies’ are known to positively worship Borough food market and there are many superb restaurants in the region, praised by London’s Time Out magazine.

Bankside estate agents offer contemporary loft living conversions, many with panoramic penthouse views of London, such as the Jam Factory in Green Walk. Then there is a kind of ‘City Village’ created by Bermondsey Street in SE1, lined with good quality restaurants and bars. Here you’ll find both warehouse conversions and new builds. New developments in New Globe Walk offer riverside views including St Paul’s Cathedral; there are also unique ‘socially minded’ luxurious 2 and 3 bed new builds at Bermondsey Square, SE1. In general, there are plenty of 1 bed properties, some featuring a tremendous amount of floor space and some mezzanine levels. Two and three beds are also well represented, and again the standard on offer is particularly high. Ask Bankside estate agents about the views, floor space and natural light before viewing, the better agents can offer you well appointed Bankside property in the prime locations close to all transport links and places of interest.

Author Bio: Our founders have decades of experience as leading Bankside estate agents. Contact them today to find your ideal Bankside property.

Category: Real Estate
Keywords: Bankside property, Bankside estate agents