London
Cheap date ideas in South Bank and Borough
Updated
The South Bank is easy on a budget. Walk the river from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, past the London Eye and the Globe, and stop at Tate Modern, free unless you book an exhibition, for the Turbine Hall and the view from the top. The graffiti in the Leake Street Arches changes almost daily and costs nothing. For food, share a bit of everything at Borough Market, have pici cacio e pepe at Padella, or spend a lazy weekend afternoon at Maltby Street Market under the Bermondsey arches. Browse the book stalls under Waterloo Bridge before a film at BFI Southbank, then a drink at Scootercaffe on Lower Marsh.
Our picks
Tate Modern
Bankside, by the Millennium Bridge
Address: Bankside, London SE1 9TG- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Free
Wander the free collection in the old Bankside Power Station, starting in the vast Turbine Hall, then climb to the top-floor viewing level for a look over the river to St Paul's.
Why it's a good date: There's enough here for a whole afternoon, and it costs nothing unless you book a paid exhibition. Pick one floor each and show the other your favourite piece.
Photo: Thomas Dahlstrøm Nielsen, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Borough Market
Borough High Street, by London Bridge
Address: 8 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TL- Activity
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Dog friendly
- Foodie
Graze your way round London's best-known food market under its Victorian iron and glass roof, sharing a bit of everything from the cheese, bakery and street-food stalls.
Why it's a good date: Agree to split everything, so you each get to try twice as much. It's busiest on Saturdays, so a weekday lunchtime is calmer.
Photo: Stephen Armstrong, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Padella
Southwark Street, Borough
Address: 6 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share bowls of fresh hand-rolled pasta, like the pici cacio e pepe, at the busy little pasta bar on the corner of Borough Market.
Why it's a good date: Simple, generous and very good, and cheap enough to order an extra plate to share. It doesn't take bookings: join the virtual queue and go for a wander in the market till your table's ready.
South Bank riverside walk
The Queen's Walk, Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge
Address: The Queen's Walk, by the London Eye, London SE1 7PB- Outdoors
- Free
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Romantic
Follow the Thames Path along the river from Westminster Bridge to Tower Bridge, past the London Eye, the Southbank Centre, Tate Modern and the Globe.
Why it's a good date: It's car-free nearly all the way, with street performers, river views and somewhere to stop every few minutes. Go as the sun sets and watch the lights come on across the water.
Photo: Lewis Clarke, CC BY-SA 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Old Operating Theatre Museum
St Thomas Street, London Bridge
Address: 9a St Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY- Culture
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Climb a narrow spiral staircase into the roof of an old church to find Europe's oldest surviving operating theatre and a garret of medicinal herbs.
Why it's a good date: Small, strange and fascinating, and it gives you plenty to talk about over a drink afterwards. It's only open a few days a week and the stairs are steep, so check before you go.
Maltby Street Market
Ropewalk, off Maltby Street, Bermondsey
Address: Arch 46, Ropewalk, Maltby Street, London SE1 3PA- Activity
- Cheap and cheerful
- Best in Spring, Summer, Autumn
- Foodie
Eat your way along Ropewalk, a narrow lane of street-food stalls and bars tucked under the railway arches in Bermondsey.
Why it's a good date: Smaller and more relaxed than Borough, with a proper neighbourhood feel. It's a weekend market, so make it a lazy Saturday or Sunday and finish with a drink in one of the arches.
Photo: Bex Walton, CC BY 4.0 (cropped and resized)
BFI Southbank
Belvedere Road, under Waterloo Bridge
Address: Belvedere Road, South Bank, London SE1 8XT- Activity
- Cheap and cheerful
- Culture
- Rainy day
Browse the second-hand book stalls under Waterloo Bridge, then catch a classic, a new release or a rare archive print at the British Film Institute's cinemas.
Why it's a good date: Pick a book for each other at the stalls before the film starts. The riverfront bar is a good spot to talk it over afterwards.
Photo: Ashley Van Haeften, CC BY 2.0 (cropped and resized)
Leake Street Arches
Leake Street, Waterloo
Address: Leake Street, Waterloo, London SE1 7RY- Activity
- Free
- Rainy day
Walk through the graffiti tunnel under Waterloo station, where artists are allowed to paint the walls and the art changes almost daily.
Why it's a good date: It's free, takes ten minutes and is different every time you go. You'll often catch someone painting, and the arches along the tunnel have places to eat and drink.
Photo: Owen Tudor1, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)
Scootercaffe
Lower Marsh, Waterloo
Address: 133A Lower Marsh, London SE1 7AE- Café
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Settle in at a scruffy, much-loved café-bar in an old scooter repair shop, with a vintage Vespa in the corner and a small courtyard out the back.
Why it's a good date: Coffee by day and a drink in the evening, with old records on and no fuss. It doesn't take bookings, so just turn up, and it's handy before or after something on the South Bank.
Bao Borough
Stoney Street, Borough
Address: Bao Borough, 13 Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Share Taiwanese bao and grill plates at Bao's late-night grill house under the railway arches on Stoney Street.
Why it's a good date: Moody and fun, with trains rumbling overhead, and the market right outside for a wander first. It takes bookings, which saves queuing.
Kolae
Park Street, Borough
Address: Kolae, 6 Park Street, London SE1 9AB- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Book a table at the Southern Thai grill house on the edge of Borough Market, with dishes cooked over charcoal and plenty to share.
Why it's a good date: Bold, smoky cooking with a Michelin Bib Gourmand for good value. Order a few plates between you and go back for more.
Flour & Grape
Bermondsey Street, Bermondsey
Address: Flour & Grape, 214 Bermondsey Street, London SE1 3TQ- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Share plates of fresh pasta and a bottle from the Italian list at the friendly pasta spot on Bermondsey Street.
Why it's a good date: Good pasta for not much, on one of the nicest streets for a wander south of the river. It doesn't take bookings, so leave your number and have a drink nearby while you wait.
Flat Iron London Bridge
Tooley Street, London Bridge
Address: Flat Iron, 112-116 Tooley Street, London SE1 2TH- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Have a simple steak supper at Flat Iron on Tooley Street, where the steak comes with a little meat cleaver to cut it.
Why it's a good date: A proper steak dinner for a small bill, just round the corner from Tower Bridge. Walk over the bridge afterwards for the views.
Casa do Frango London Bridge
Southwark Street, Borough
Address: Casa do Frango, 32 Southwark Street, London SE1 1TU- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
Share Portuguese piri-piri chicken from the charcoal grill in the bright, plant-filled dining room on Southwark Street.
Why it's a good date: A sunny, relaxed room that's easy on the wallet, a couple of minutes from Borough Market and the river.
Tas The Cut
The Cut, Waterloo
Address: Tas, 33 The Cut, London SE1 8LF- Restaurant
- Rain-proof ☔
- Cheap and cheerful
- Cosy
Share Turkish mezze and grills at the long-running Tas on The Cut, a short walk from the Old Vic and the Young Vic.
Why it's a good date: A warm, busy room and good value, which makes it an easy dinner before a show. Order lots of small plates and share.
Wahaca Southbank
Southbank Centre, South Bank
Address: Wahaca, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Belvedere Road, London SE1 8XX- Restaurant
- Cheap and cheerful
Grab tacos and cocktails at the bright Mexican street-food restaurant built from shipping containers beside the Queen Elizabeth Hall.
Why it's a good date: Colourful and cheerful, with a terrace for sunny evenings, and right on the riverside walk. Pair it with a film at the BFI or a stroll along the river.
Mercato Metropolitano
Newington Causeway, Elephant and Castle
Address: Mercato Metropolitano, 42 Newington Causeway, London SE1 6DR- Restaurant
- Cheap and cheerful
- Foodie
Wander the huge sustainable food market at Elephant and Castle and pick a stall each for dinner.
Why it's a good date: There's loads of choice and plenty of space to sit, about ten minutes' walk south of Borough. It's a good shout when you can't agree on what to eat.
Quick answers
Is Tate Modern free?
The collection is free, and so is the top-floor viewing level. You only pay if you book a paid exhibition.
Can we book Padella?
No. It doesn't take bookings: join the virtual queue and wander round Borough Market until your table's ready.
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