London by Bridge & Borough

The Tour:

Unlike Paris that is so precisely laid out, London is a complex jumble of city built over city through the ages, streets and neighborhoods that end abruptly, only to resume a few miles down the road. So complicated is its navigation that even London cabs carry A to Z directories to find their way around.

On our tour London By Bridge & Borough, we’ll use the more than 24 bridges that cross the Thames in London’s boroughs to discover hidden gems in 8 of London’s key boroughs. As we explore the neighborhoods that surround each bridge and populate each borough from the River Thames’ north and south banks inward, you’ll find a familiar London and an unknown London filled with history, beauty and surprise. You’ll still need your A to Z, but you’ll have an experience of London unlike any other.

Our London Hotel

The 4-star London Bridge Hotel, is located in the Bourough of Southwark, perfect for us to enjoy the delights of central London.

It’s heritage dates back to Roman times and many of the archaeological finds unearthed during the hotel’s development are with the Museum of London.

Southwark is a thriving and vibrant place to be, and is currently enjoying a new era of prosperity and growth. It stretches along much of the South Bank of the River Thames in central London. The hotel is situated opposite London Bridge, which links Southwark to the City, on the north side of the river.

The area is filled with exciting museums and art galleries, fantastic restaurants and a theatrical heritage that dates back 400 years. Southwark also boasts some of the most spectacular architecture in the capital and to find some of the most dramatic sights and tourist attractions, it only requires an afternoon stroll along the South Bank.

London Markets

London is justifiably proud of its markets, most of which date back to mediaeval times. They tell the history of London: Borough Market, the oldest, has lost its mediaeval clamour but retains its Dickensian air – it’s currently seeing a revival as an organic produce market and film-lot. Some, like Camden and Portobello are thriving, Camden’s turnover makes it Britain’s 4th largest retailer. Others have not stood up to the 21st century as well: the same processes which worked on Les Halles in Paris have been at work here: disrepair and displacement, followed by commercial development.

Covent Garden market moved out of its central location to the wastes of Vauxhall years ago, to be replaced by a tourist-orientated market; Billingsgate, the fish market famous for the bad language of its traders has moved to the Isle of Dogs, and the original waterside building been taken over by city businessmen. Smithfield alone has remained in the centre: this huge temple of meat has retained its ancient working practices but it too has seen the encroachment of the twentieth century: the advent of Mad Cow disease, and deadly E Coli bacteria strains have seen it much modernised over the past few years – it has in the process lost much of its character.