The Pool is located in Bermondsey just off Tower Bridge Road . It's a wonderfully vibrant area with a real community spirit and a diverse range of cultures, (including a frankly supreme Lebanese grocers). Every Friday there's an infamous antiques market nearby and there are a large number of quality local restaurants to grace with your stomach's company.
In recent years developers have been moving in and building a raft of upmarket dwellings, so, alongside the more traditional feel, the area is starting to benefit from an influx of trendy gastronomic bars and fancy cafes. In summary, the area has a really friendly and eclectic feel.
Within 10 minutes walk you can find yourself at Tower Bridge, with its large selection of restaurants, bars and hotels. And if you fancy a longer stroll you can head to London Bridge to sample the delights of Borough Market, more restaurants, the Vinopolis wine-tasting emporium, Globe Theatre and Tate Modern.
In addition to the many activities on offer and the large selection of restaurants and bars catering to palette and thirst, there's also a good and varied range of hotels. Read on for details, my friends...
The Globe Theatre is a faithful reconstruction of the open-air playhouse, designed in 1599, where Shakespeare plied his trade and for which he wrote many of his greatest plays. You can sit in the gallery or stand in the yard - just as audiences would have done some 400 years ago.
Expore all nine decks of Europe's only surviving big gun battleship from WWII. HMS Belfast was launched in 1938, saw active service in World War II and was decommissioned in 1965. HMS Belfast has been a floating museum since 1971.
The Tower of London has been an integral part of British royal history for nearly 1,000 years. Only at the Tower can you marvel at the breathtaking Crown Jewels, stand on the execution site of three English queens and hear the myths and legends that make a visit to the Tower 'a day out to die for'.
The world-famous gallery of modern art opened on Bankside in May 2000. It's full of art. It's a great building. I'd go.
One of the largest aquaria in Europe, containing over 1 million litres of water. Learn all about the world's oceans, as well as rainforests, tropical freshwater, seashores and beaches. See a recreation of a coral reef and take a gander at the daily expert talks beamed through the video screens in the foyer.
This independent arts organisation has a history of developing creative spaces across London, using empty buildings within areas which are undergoing re-development. So, as the South London area of Elephant and Castle is currently such an area, their latest site has occured there. It caters for a wide range of media and arts activities, music of course being one of them. Check their site for more info.
Clubbing fanatics will need no introduction to Ministry of Sound. It has been one of Europe's leading clubs for many years, attracting the world's top DJs week in-week out. It is a short bus ride from Miloco's Leroy Street premises.
Only open Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights this luxury boutique cinema is perfect for kicking back in front of the silver screen in style. Come for the films, stay for the comy sofa-like seats and great selection food and drinks on offer.
This quirky little gift shop is nestled amongst the hustle and bustle of Bermondsey Street, selling products from local and independent artists and designers. A great stop for every gift-buyer it has an eclectic mix of wares from retro decorations, to candles, jewellery and art.
Since the redevelopment of Bermondsey Square, the long standing antiques market lives on. Selling china, silver, food, fashion and craft it's a great place to browse, but be warned it's also the perfect place to lose track of time!
Arguably London's most famous food market, Borough Market is a foodie's heaven, offering everything from organic coffee to handmade chorizo - and who could forget the truffle cheese! It's also home to a range of cafes, pubs, restaurants, flower stalls, and take away food vendors. It slows down a bit Monday to Wednesday, but any other day make sure to get there early to avoid the crush!
Conran's SE1 flagship. Offers private dining for groups of up to 20 in a room with a wall of sheet-glass providing a view of the wine cellar and all those lovely loitering bottles. Set menu for groups of 13+
The Garrison in Bermondsey Street is the Honest Cabbage re-launched by a new team, and this is very unusual pub. While some of the decor is kept simple and cool with stripped floorboards, the splendid toilets are worth visiting to experience the sensation of being onboard an ocean liner.
Formerly the London Scotia Bar, this is a nice pub that has been completely redecorated and offers food for lunch and in the evening. It has a great beer garden too.
Housed in an old public lavatory (they got rid of the smell, don't worry) is this art-deo style cocktail bar and music venue. Just on the fork where Bermondsey St and Tower Bridge Road split, it's just a stone's throw from the studio and the perfect place for a well-earned after session drink.
This gorgeous little cafe would be considered a hole-in-the-wall, if it was in fact attached to any walls. The tiny building sits on the corner of the St. Mary Magdalene churchyard, serving artisan coffee and tasty snacks, and if you like the art by local artists on their walls, you can buy one of those too!
The Roebuck is an inviting pub tucked away at the end of Great Dover Street. It offers a wide range of local beers and a menu featuring sustainably sourced produce. It's trendy but not pretentious, and as it's just a stone's throw from Borough tube is conveniently located without being amongst the hubbub of Borough Market.
Just a hop, skip and a jump from Bermondsey Street is the welcoming Simon The Tanner. A beautiful pub that offers the best larger, porter, ciders and ales, as well as really good pub food, it's a spot that comes highly recommended by the Miloco HQ team.
Get a little taste of Spain in Bermondsey with José Pizarro Tapas. It's a cosy tapas bar that reproduces the bustling atmosphere and traditional menus of tapas in Barcelona and Andalucia. The menu rotates on a daily basis so you're always guaranteed the freshest produce!
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