Running along the bustling southern bank of the Thames, Tooley Street is overflowing with restaurants, pubs, tourist attractions, and businesses, making this a cultural centre. It also has green spaces and even a canal in one part. One of London’s most iconic and beautiful bridges, Tower Bridge, is a part of the neighbourhood, and reminds residents and visitors of the area’s rich history. The area provides a perfect mix of new and old, while offering some of the best views of London.

The neighbourhood traces its history back to ancient times when the Romans occupied London. It began as an important junction and foot bridge for the Romans over the Thames to Londinium. It became a market town in early Saxon times and then in the Middle Ages gained a scandalous reputation as a haven for criminals and prostitutes. As the centuries wore on, the area grew, and industry began to develop here, however it maintained its poor reputation and was known as one of the poorer boroughs. Sadly, most of the area’s Victorian architecture was lost in the destruction of World War II, but a few structures remain and can be visited today.

Despite how old Tower Bridge looks, it was actually built in the late 1800s and is made of steel. The HMS Belfast, a naval battleship from World War II, floats on the Thames adjacent to Tooley Street, and has been recommissioned as a museum about WWII. In the 1970s, Butler’s Wharf Pier boasted an underground artists’ space that was used by many up and coming artists at the time, including Derek Jarman, a now famous British director and stage designer.

The housing prices in this area can be a bit on the higher side, but that is to be expected in a neighbourhood that is so centrally located. The area’s proximity to London Bridge Station means properties in this area are well connected, both to the rest of London, and the rest of the city. The high walls of the station and the glass towers which radiate out from The Shard mean this neighbourhood has an urban feel to it, which is great for some, but could be challenging for families with small children.

The area around the borough is now highly sought after by developers following major regeneration since the construction of The Shard and the expansion of London Bridge Station. TBC.London is an office development at 224-226 Tower Bridge Road which will sit at five storeys tall and is scheduled to be completed in 2024. Opposite the station’s northern entrance plans are under review for the redevelopment of Colechurch House, a brutalist office block built in the 1960s. The new scheme will be 85% public open space, with a mixture of different commercial uses supported on the site largely housed within an elevated 22-storey building with a four storey basement.