Waterloo

Charity shops and greasy-spoon caffs, though you’ll now find them in between trendy coffee shops, quirky independent retailers and some cute places to grab a drink.

Busy Waterloo’s cultural attractions include The Old Vic theatre, which stages classic and modern plays featuring big-name actors and directors, plus concerts and workshops at the riverside South Bank Centre. Sea Life Aquarium and the famed London Eye Ferris wheel are additional draws. Modern eateries and family-focused chain restaurants offer global dining, while chic pubs and wine bars cater to a post-work crowd.

Waterloo isn't just a train station, or a path to the buzzy South Bank. Far livelier than it was a decade ago, this well-connected south London area is home to a couple of world-famous theatres, the BFI IMAX, the London Eye, quality food markets, hip coffee shops, and plenty of great pubs and bars. These days, there's a lot more to Waterloo than might meet the eye.

A short walk from Waterloo station and the Old Vic theatre, Lower Marsh is a historic south London street in transition. Built (as its name suggests) on former marshland, it has been home to a street market since the mid-nineteenth century, and in the past decade the underrated Zone 1 enclave has embraced the first flush of gentrification.

Don’t panic: charity shops and greasy-spoon caffs remain, though you’ll now find them in between trendy coffee shops, quirky independent retailers and some cute places to grab a drink. On weekdays, workers from nearby offices flock to a long line of food stalls offering cheap eats from all over the world.