Once known as Lambeth Marsh, Waterloo is a bustling cultural district that lies on a bend in the River Thames as it snakes its way through London. It’s famously home to the London Eye and The Old Vic theatre, as well as plenty of modern eateries and lively bars.
Things to do in Waterloo
Overlooking the River Thames is the Sea Life London Aquarium, which occupies the ground floor of the magnificent County Hall. Get up close to gentoo penguins at the Polar Adventure and come face-to-face with clownfish in the Coral Kingdom, then learn about some of the 500 species of sharks that inhabit our oceans. In addition to its engaging displays, the aquarium also conducts important breeding programs for Cuban crocodiles, seahorses and jellyfish.
Theatre buffs shouldn’t miss a visit to The Old Vic, a 1,000-seat theatre originally established in 1818 and gave birth to what would eventually become the National Theatre. Lovingly restored in 1983, it still hosts both classic and modern plays featuring some of the United Kingdom’s leading actors and directors.
For sweeping views across the city, step into one of the gondolas of the London Eye, a cantilevered observation wheel that rises 135 metres above the Jubilee Gardens. This public park was created in 1977 to mark Elizabeth II’s Silver Jubilee and encompasses a memorial to the International Brigades of the Spanish Civil War. If you’re travelling with kids, there’s a newly built playground and plenty of seating where parents can relax.
Getting around Waterloo
Waterloo is around five minutes’ drive from the centre of London and can be accessed by trains and subway services to the Waterloo railway and underground stations. London Heathrow Airport is 40 minutes’ drive from the neighbourhood. Buses travel throughout Waterloo and access most of its attractions.