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South Bank is the go-to area in London for chilling out in the summer sun, escaping the traffic, and breathing in the fresh air. In summer our spaces a peppered with Londoners and tourists alike all relaxing and watching the world go by. Here are our pick of the best outdoor spaces in the South Bank area.
The Queen Elizabeth Hall Roof Garden, designed by the Eden Project and run by Company of Cooks, is an enclave of calm between the contrasting brutalist architecture of its surroundings and away from the hustle and bustle of the riverside.
A true paradise at the heart of Southbank Centre with beautiful riverside views, a cafe bar, allotments, fruit trees and wild flowers, the Roof Garden may come to be known as best kept secret in London.
The expansive and peaceful Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park was opened in 1934 and was gifted to the mothers of Southwark. Recent additions to the park include an ecological world garden laid out along the boundary with Lambeth Road to the west of the café, a small copse, a family orchard, and an Ice Age Tree trail.
Away from the crowds, in the southerly end of the South Bank area, Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park is an ideal location for a picnic lunch whilst on your trip, especially as it has plenty of space for kids to run around and blow off some steam. For those of you working in the area, this is a quiet spot for a screen break and some peace away from the office at lunch time!
A beautiful splash of green amongst the brickwork of the surrounding buildings, Jubilee Gardens, which was originally opened for Queen Elizabeth’s silver jubilee, provides the perfect backdrop to the Coca-Cola London Eye.
To mark the Queen’s diamond jubilee in 2012, Jubilee Gardens was transformed into a soft, green and sustainable park with new flower beds, granite pathways and seating edges, 69 trees and a brand new contemporary playground.
In the summer, you’ll find festival celebrations such as Udderbelly taking place right next to the gardens. Jubilee Gardens is regularly a hive of activity but in the down time, it’s the perfect spot to relax and watch the world go by.
Nestled in-between Oxo Tower Wharf and Gabriel’s Wharf, Bernie Spain Gardens is an oasis of green by the riverside and the perfect place to relax.
In summer the gardens are home to the Coin Street Festival, a season of free culturally themed events. Bernie Spain Garden can also be hired for other events.
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We can’t talk about outdoor spaces without mentioning the riverside walk. The South Bank area, as the name suggests, runs along the South Bank of the River Thames (and then back in-land to encompass the Old Vic and IWM London too). Along the whole of our stretch of the river there is a wide, open, pedestrianised walkway that allows you to stroll right beside the river and take in all the major sights and sounds of London.
In the summer, you’ll often find this space scattered with performers entertaining you for free, there will also be street food markets and pop-up bars to satisfy your appetite. There’s even a multi-coloured sand pit for kids to play in. Despite the cold weather, the Riverside Walk is still alive with activity in Winter. You will find traditional German Christmas markets lining the walk, serving hot drinks and catering to your every Christmas gift need with arts and crafts.
