Top Things to Do & See at Bankside & Stay at Native Bankside - London
One of the popular districts of London and also part of the London Borough of Southwark, Bankside is located on the southern bank of River Thames where my family & I had the pleasure of spending one of our weekends. We stayed at the newly opened Native Bankside, just steps from the river. The check-in here starts at 3:00 pm and guests can find quite a few spaces on a paid street parking nearby.
Just like I had thought, Native offers unique apartment accommodation enabling guests to feel at home the moment they step in. With a friendly and responsive reception staff backed by a full team working round the clock, Native can easily transform the way you’d like to stay. Twenty years ago, founder Guy Nixon initiated the idea of providing serviced apartments to extended stay travelers along with the flexibility of a hotel. Today this is still going strong and what a brilliant idea it has been indeed!
Guests can choose the size and budget to their liking and enjoy staying in furnished apartments offering both space and freedom. The neighborhood guide at the apartment always comes in handy for guests to explore the area and find the best nearby eateries and restaurants.
Guests can choose the size and budget to their liking and enjoy staying in furnished apartments offering both space and freedom. The neighborhood guide at the apartment always comes in handy for guests to explore the area and find the best nearby eateries and restaurants.
With a fully equipped kitchen and dining area, there was no need for any room service and since London’s most popular Borough Market is at a walking distance from Native Bankside (0.4 miles, 8 minutes walk), it’s a brilliant idea to shop from the local market and bring back fresh ingredients to prepare a meal you fancy. Dating back to the 12 century, Borough Market is the oldest and largest food market in Southwark (London) and now selling specialty foods to the general public. Varieties of fresh juices, baked goodies, cheeses & meats are a highlight, but I was glad to discover Halal food sold as well. Arabica at the Borough market sells reasonably priced chicken Shawarma wraps and Beiruiti falafel wraps & bites.
For the times when you are not in a mood to cook, many nearby restaurants at the Bankside can be great options, such as The Swan at the Shakespeare's Globe or Bala Baya, a Tel Aviv–styl eatery & bar for Israeli dishes. For Halal dishes, there’s Tas Pide, Halal Turkish restaurant located at the New Globe Walk (SE19DR), just a minute’s walk from Native Bankside.
Our apartment had a kitchenette with all the cooking essentials including cutlery, plates, glasses, mugs, pots and pans, kettle, fridge, a hob and microwave. There was also a washing machine, detergent provided, good for guests staying longer. Native Bankside has a pantry located on the 1st floor. Open 24 hours, this was a real facility as we could go there anytime to get complimentary snacks offered to all the guests. BabyN’ loved to be here over and again to grab his favorite goodies. There are teas and coffee, chips, biscuits, water bottles and milk cans in the fridge, a variety of sweets and candies, tinned beans and tomatoes, jams, mustard, mayonnaise and uncooked pasta among others. Needless to say, with so many options, at Native Bankside you can easily attend to the growling stomach any time of the day.
Our apartment had a kitchenette with all the cooking essentials including cutlery, plates, glasses, mugs, pots and pans, kettle, fridge, a hob and microwave. There was also a washing machine, detergent provided, good for guests staying longer. Native Bankside has a pantry located on the 1st floor. Open 24 hours, this was a real facility as we could go there anytime to get complimentary snacks offered to all the guests. BabyN’ loved to be here over and again to grab his favorite goodies. There are teas and coffee, chips, biscuits, water bottles and milk cans in the fridge, a variety of sweets and candies, tinned beans and tomatoes, jams, mustard, mayonnaise and uncooked pasta among others. Needless to say, with so many options, at Native Bankside you can easily attend to the growling stomach any time of the day.
We had two toilets with shower in our apartment, and both had luxury toiletries including hand & body lotion, bath and shower gel, shampoo and conditioner - everything by Elemis. Moreover, the toilets also had fresh clean towels and fresh bed linen were also provided in the bedroom. Native Bankside being a hotel apartment also offers ample storage space for the guests as well as hair dryer and iron facility that can be found in one of the cupboards.
The comfortable sofas and seating in the living area made the late night TV session enjoyable with some complimentary tea and biscuits that we grabbed from the pantry. Nowadays since WiFi has become an important part of our lives, I believe it’s also essential for hotels to provide a good WiFi strength otherwise it gets extremely frustrating. BabyN’ enjoys watching YouTube videos before going to bed and I’m glad he didn’t complain about any streaming issues.
For the guests staying for a longer time, there’s also a weekly cleaning facility available and a gym for you to get rid of any extra calories.
My family and I had a very memorable stay at the premium one bedroom apartment at Native Bankside and we would love to stay there again in future too. Since the apartments at the Native Bankside are unique, it’s advised to check for options on the website, for exact specifications. I really love the fact that Native Bankside has a very prime location and there are lots of things to do and see at the Bankside in London. The place is perfect not just for solo travel but couples and family travel too!
Important Information - Native Bankside, London
Check-in: 3:00 pm
Check-out: 1o:00 am
Parking: Nearby paid street parking available at Emerson Street
(Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 6:30 pm & Saturday 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, paid)
(Mon - Fri 8:00 am - 6:30 pm & Saturday 9:30 am - 12:30 pm, paid)
Breakfast: Complimentary food and snacks available at the pantry
In-room amenities: Hair dryer, ironing facility, complimentary toiletries, fully equipped kitchen with tea/coffee & washer for laundry
Location: Empire Warehouse, 1, Bear Gardens, London SE1 9ED
Top FREE Things to Do & See in Bankside, London
Borough Market - Within an 8 minute walk (0.4 miles) from Native Bankside is the most popular Borough Market, also known as the oldest and the largest market in Southwark that sells specialty foods such as varieties of fresh juices, baked goodies, cheeses & meats. Please note that the market is mostly very busy, it opens from Monday to Saturday, 8:00 am - 5:00 pm and is closed on Sundays. You might find a bargain if you visit the market before closing time especially on a Saturday! (Postcode: SE11TL)
Southwark Cathedral - Just 3 minutes (0.3 miles) of walk ahead of the Borough Market is the Southwark Cathedral that opens daily between 8:30 am & 5:30 am. The cathedral is free to enter but please note that the visitors need to pay £1 to get photography permission. The Sunday service was going on at the time when we visited, and it was a lovely sight seeing the devotees praying. The Southwark Cathedral is family and disabled friendly and also has a gift shop. (Postcode: SE19DA)
Golden Hind - One minute of walk further ahead of the Southwark Cathedral, you’ll see the Golden Hind. Captained by Sir Francis Drake, this English galleon is known for privateering circumnavigation of the globe between 1577 and 1580. The Golden Hind was originally known as Pelican, but was renamed by Drake in 1587 to honor his patron, Sir Christopher Hatton whose crest was a golden hind. The full sized ship still contains the original pieces of the galleon. Although the Golden Hind is free to see from the outside and the board outside will tell the visitors about the history as well, the entry is £5 per person & £15 for a family of four!
Winchester Palace Ruins - This used to be an ancient 12th century palace that served as the London townhouse of the Bishops of Winchester. Located on the South bank of River Thames on the Clink Street, near the Southwark Cathedral, the visitors can still see the remains of the demolished palace where past is recorded in stone.
St. George the Martyr - The church, a Grade II listed building is located in the historic Borough district and has been named after Saint George. St. George the Martyr is strongly associated with Charles Dickens, his father was imprisoned for debt and the wall of the prison currently surviving adjoins the north side of the churchyard. During this time, Dickens lived nearby, and many scenes from his novel 'Little Dorrit' were set in and round the church. visitors can see a small representation of the novel in the East window of the St. George the Martyr church. (Postcode: SE1 1JA)
Millennium Mile - Stretching along the Thames between the Westminster Bridge and London Bridge lies the Millennium Mile where visitors can see many attractions as they walk past the area. Lots of crowds can be seen roaming around enjoying the views while some can be seen sitting peacefully and relishing a sandwich. The sunset view at the Bankside Pier is really beautiful and as the sun sets, the lights make the place look even more attractive. Moreover, visitors can also ride on a ferry, tickets can be purchased on the spot from the booth at the pier.
Southbank neighbourhood & Bankside Mix - Take a stroll around the Southbank neighbourhood and make sure to walk around the Bankside mix, one of the most vibrant leisure and retails destinations in London. The Bankside mix offers an array of shops, bars and cafes as well as restaurants and open spaces for children to play and run around. Located behind Tate Modern and the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Bankside Mix is an ideal place for a meal.
Southbank neighbourhood & Bankside Mix - Take a stroll around the Southbank neighbourhood and make sure to walk around the Bankside mix, one of the most vibrant leisure and retails destinations in London. The Bankside mix offers an array of shops, bars and cafes as well as restaurants and open spaces for children to play and run around. Located behind Tate Modern and the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Bankside Mix is an ideal place for a meal.
Shakespeare's Globe - Founded by Sam Wanamaker, the pioneering American actor and director, Shakespeare's Globe is dedicated to exploring the work of Shakespeare. The playhouse hosts lots of different plays written by Shakespeare and visitors can not just enjoy the performance, but can also educate themselves with his work. The Globe also has a shop for visitors to purchase souvenirs or gifts for themselves or loved ones, and a restaurant and cafe where they can enjoy a coffee or a proper meal. Although Shakespeare's Globe in London is free to enter, roam around, visit the shop or stop at the restaurant, the plays that run have a schedule and tickets have to be purchased to enter the playhouse. If you'd like to watch a play, I'd advise you to check the schedule prior to the visit and book the tickets because they sell out like hot cakes!
Tate Modern - Free to enter, Tate Modern at the Bankside in London showcases international modern and contempory art. It opens at 10:00 am till 6:00 pm on Sunday to Thursday and 10:00 am till 10:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. Check out their website about the update on the exhibitions currently running. (Postcode: SE1 9TG)
Bankside Gallery - The gallery opens daily between 11:00 am till 6:00 pm and is free to enter. Visitors can admire the work of the artists and also purchase paintings and artwork. (Postcode: SE1 9JH)
You can do all this in 24 hours and on foot, as all these places are near each other and generally cars can't enter some places. Let me know if there are any other free places or things to do at the Bankside that I may have missed.
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Oh wow that apartment hotel looks gorgeous! I'm a big fan of borough market too, you can get full just on the samples! If you head back, check out bread ahead bakery, they stock some of my fave doughnuts in London.
ReplyDeleteBackside seems like a lovely place to stay and I love the quirky feel of this hotel.
ReplyDeleteI have not been to Bank side for a few months now, I am loving the hotel and it seems there is a lot to do. Sounds like a nice weekend you had there.
ReplyDeleteI have not been to bankside but it's on my list of places to visit and I'd love to see Shakespears globe.
ReplyDeleteI do like the Bank area, I've done a Globe tour but I'm keen to see a show there. This hotel looks really nice x
ReplyDeleteThis looks super nice. Love the accommodations with the Elmis toiletries. Ideal to explore the bank, I will be adding this to my list x
ReplyDeletewow it looks so nice! love the decor and it's in such a good area you can literally walk to almost everything
ReplyDeleteWe do head down to London a lot but not stayed or toured around Bankside before, so will make a note of this
ReplyDelete