The neighbourhood of Waterloo sits right on the southern banks of the Thames and is made up almost entirely of Waterloo station, Southbank, and their surrounding streets, including the Hungerford and Waterloo bridges. The area appeals to residents and tourists alike, as you are never short of something to do, night or day. It offers a constant provision of lively, eclectic, and vibrant art and entertainment, such as the Young Vic Theater, Old Vic Theater, and a number of riverside bars. There is also the Southbank Centre, which offers residencies to emerging artists and big names alike, as well as music concerts, opera, and an important venue for numerous performing arts festivals. This neighbourhood is an excellent choice for professionals as it has numerous transportation links around London, is in close proximity to many office buildings, and in the evening, there is a tangible sense that you are part of the fun that London has to offer.

Prior to the 1800s, the locality was practically deserted as it was cut off from the rest of London by the great expanse of the River Thames. It was only accessible by ferry man shuffling back and forth across the current and it was really only labourers who came to the area. A great shift occurred at the turn of the century when the Industrial Revolution began, and the area swung into action as an industrial port incorporating wharves and factories, as well as the arrival of London’s busiest train station, Waterloo. From its arrival in 1848 the Railway has dominated the area. Back in the 19th century and the early-20th century, the locality was noisy and dirty as soot from the engines would rise into the air from Waterloo and fall onto the streets below.

BFI Imax, which is located in this neighbourhood, is home to the largest cinematic screen in the country. It measures 26m by 20m for a total screen size of 520 square metres! A skateboard cemetery can also be found on one of the piers of Hungerford Bridge. It has become a tradition for broken decks from the nearby skate park to be flung over the bridge railings to the concrete below and a collection of old boards can normally be seen if you know where to look.

One of the downsides of living or working in Waterloo is that there is a real shortage of green space nearby. However, St. James’ Park is just across the river and residents trade green parks for an abundance of restaurants, bars, and theatres.

This neighbourhood area has undergone significant development in recent years. An Over Station Development is currently under construction around Southwark tube station. The 17-storey hybrid timber building has been designed by Allford Hall Monaghan Morris and offers 26,500 sqm of commercial office space with ground floor retail. Further down Blackfriars Road construction is underway on a new mixed use scheme which will include a 169-room hotel. These types of large developments are increasingly common in Southwark and residents should continue to see more improvements to their neighbourhood area in the coming years.