Bermondsey Area Guide

Bermondsey, a parish within the borough of Southwark, derives its name from the original Saxon form "Beormund's Eye". It is situated on the south bank of the river Thames, and is intersected by the London Bridge railway. The area owes much of its importance to the proximity of London's docks, making Bermondsey and its environs into London's Larder, where food was processed and stored.

The 'Bermondsey Village' area centred on Bermondsey Street has seen an upsurge in artistic and commercial activity in recent years.  Bermondsey Street is lined with trendy bars such as The Garrison and Village East.  The Bermondsey Kitchen and the Delfina Studio Cafe complete the restaurant scene.  The Fashion and Textile Museum founded by Zandra Rhodes remains a beacon on Bermondsey Street (the colour scheme means it's unmissable). At the southern end of Bermondsey Street, on the site of Bermondsey Abbey (founded in 1082), is Bermondsey Square - home since 1949 of the Friday morning New Caledonian Antiques Market. In late 2005 a major revamp of the Square finally got under way.

The antiques market means that Bermondsey offers several antiques shops and warehouses which are well worth checking out, though these have seen a marked decline in recent years. Further places of interest include Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast, London Dungeon, Fashion and Textile Museum and Shad Thames.  Bermondsey's main parish church is St Mary Magdalen's in Bermondsey Street. Haddon Hall Baptist Church is in Tower Bridge Road, whilst Methodists are catered for at Bermondsey Central Hall.

 At present London Bridge station is the area's main point of access to the transport network. Bermondsey  actually has its own station on the Jubilee Line in Jamaica Road SE16, whilst South Bermondsey over ground station is served by South eastern Trains. Property is very much in demand and prices have risen steeply in recent years, with  Celebrity residents include Zandra Rhodes, Jonathan Meades, the Chemical Brothers and Marc Almond.