How to get to Bankside

 

From Heathrow

By rail and tube

London Underground (the tube) connects Heathrow directly with central London. This is the cheapest and most convenient way to travel as long as you don't have too much luggage.

 
For Bankside, either take the Piccadilly line to Green Park and change to the Jubilee line, eastbound to Southwark (approx 1 hour). Or take the Piccadilly line to South Kensington and change to the District or Circle line eastbound to  Blackfriars  (approx 1 hour 15 minutes).

 

A possibly faster but certainly more expensive option is the  Heathrow Express. This runs every 15 minutes to and from Paddington Station in central London. The journey takes about 15 minutes. From Paddington take the tube - Bakerloo line to Waterloo - and then either change for the Jubilee line to Southwark (approx 20 minutes) or hop in a black cab (taxi). You could instead go to  Blackfriars, via the Circle line, but this is often a slow option (approx 25 minutes but no changes). 

By bus

National Express run bus services between the terminals and central London. Most go to Victoria from where you can catch the District line to  Blackfriars. The trip to Victoria can take up to 1 hour 15 minutes and then it is another 15 minutes on the tube. 

From Gatwick

By rail

Thameslink Railway runs train services to Bedford via London, which stop at London Bridge. This is very convenient for Bankside. 

Otherwise, you could use the  Gatwick Express  which runs trains every 15 minutes to Victoria. The journey takes about 30 minutes. All trains come into the South Terminal, but there is a free inter-terminal transit train every 3 minutes (journey time 2 minutes). 

By bus

Gatwick Airport is well connected by National Express coach services to the rest of the UK. The Airbus A5 runs to Victoria from the South Terminal.

From Victoria Station

Use the tube: take the Circle and District lines to  Blackfriars  station which is just across the river from Bankside House. 

From Paddington Station

Use the tube: the Circle line (via Victoria) or the District line (via Earls Court) can be taken to  Blackfriars.

From Waterloo Station

Waterloo station is within an easy walking distance of Bankside House. If you have a lot of luggage with you, it might be more convenient to take a taxi. Use a black cab from the ramp at the front of the station and ask for 'Sumner Street, just behind the Tate Modern'.

From Kings Cross Station

You can get the Northern Line southbound to  London Bridge.

From Liverpool Street Station

You can take the tube: Circle line (via Tower Hill) to  Blackfriars.

By Taxi

If you've got too much luggage to carry easily on and off trains or buses, then you might consider a taxi from wherever you are. We recommend using a black cab. For Bankside House ask for 'Sumner Street, just behind the Tate Modern'.

 

We recommend using a route planner such as  AA route planner, RAC route planner,  Green Flag route planner or any other.


From the  M1,  A1(M),  A10  and  A41  put  Blackfriars Bridge  as your destination.

 

Then...

• Cross Blackfriars Bridge, heading south and at the traffic signals turn left onto Southwark Street, A3200 (signposted London Bridge)
• Next take the third turning on the left, just before the second set of traffic lights, into Great Guildford Street. You'll pass the Rosie Tate cafe on your right as you enter the street.
• About 80 metres down this road, it bears left into Sumner Street and the building on the left here is Bankside House. 
• Pull in to the car parking area in front of the building for unloading. 

 

 

From the  M11,  A12  and  A13  put  Southwark Bridge  as your destination.

 

Then...

• Cross Southwark Bridge, heading south and at the traffic signals turn right onto Southwark Street, A3200. 
• Take the next right into Great Guilford Street. You'll pass the Rosie Tate cafe on your right as you enter the street. 
• About 80 metres down this road, it bears left into Sumner Street and the building on the left here is Bankside House. 
• Pull in to the car parking area in front of the building for unloading. 

 

 

From the  M2,  M20,  A2  and  A21  put  Guy's Hospital  (on St Thomas Street as your destination.

 

Then...

• Passing Guy's Hospital, turn left at the traffic lights at the end of St Thomas Street, onto Borough High Street, the A3 (signposted Elephant and Castle)
• From Borough High Street, turn immediately right into Southwark Street, A3200 (signposted Waterloo)
• Continue along Southwark Street, crossing Southwark Bridge Road (traffic lights) and taking the next right into Great Guilford Street. You'll pass the Rosie Tate cafe on your right as you enter the street.
• About 80 meters down this road, it bears left into Sumner Street and the building on the left here is Bankside House. 
• Pull in to the car parking area in front of the building for unloading.

 

 

From the  M23,  A3,  A22  and  A24  put  Southwark Bridge  as your destination. BUT DO NOT CROSS THE BRIDGE...

 

• After passing under the second railway bridge on Southwark Bridge Road, take the left at the traffic lights into Southwark Street, A3200. 
• Take the next right into Great Guilford Street. You'll pass the Rosie Tate cafe on your right as you enter the street. 
• About 80 meters down this road, it bears left into Sumner Street and the building on the left here is Bankside House. 
• Pull in to the car parking area in front of the building for unloading.

 

 

From the  M3,  M4  and  M40  put  Vauxhall Bridge  as your destination.

 

Then...

• Crossing Vauxhall Bridge heading south-east, turn left a the lights onto the Albert Embankment (following the river east). 
• At Lambeth Bridge, take the second exit (following the river) onto Lambeth Palace Road. 
• Pass St Thomas Hospital and at the traffic signals take the middle lane which bears right onto Westminster Bridge Road, A23 (signposted Waterloo, London Bridge) and then left into York Road. 
• At the roundabout (at Waterloo, with the IMAX cinema in the centre) take the third exit onto Stamford Street - A3200 (signposted London Bridge). 
• Keep following this road past the end of Blackfriars Bridge (still signposted for London Bridge)
• After Blackfriars Bridge, take the third turning on the left, just before the second set of traffic lights, into Great Guilford Street.
• You'll pass the Rosie Tate cafe on your right as you enter the street.
• About 80 meters down this road, it bears left into Sumner Street and the building on the left here is Bankside House. 
• Pull in to the car parking area in front of the building for unloading.

 

Walking

The estimated time for walking is 20 to 25 minutes.

To School 

• As you leave Bankside turn left onto Sumner Street.
• Take the first turn to the right along Holland Street to the side of the Tate Modern gallery.
• At the end of Holland Street cross the small piazza heading towards the railway bridge. This looks as if it might be a dead end but there are two paths on your right which take you to the riverside walk. Take either one.
• At the river, turn left and proceed under railway bridge that crosses the river.
• Keep going and you will find yourself passing under a second bridge (Blackfriars). Immediately after the bridge, climb the stairs on your left side and cross the river.
• At the other end, you will pass some steps on your left, don't take these. Instead follow the path round to the left as it goes down to the Embankment.
• Walk along the Embankment (this follows the river) for about 10 minutes, keeping an eye out on the right, for a crossing and Temple underground station.
• Take this crossing, and pass Temple station. Climb the steps in front of you to reach Temple Place, cross this street and continue walking up the hill along the right hand side of Arundel Street.
• When you reach the top, cross the Strand (ahead of you) towards the Gladstone memorial statue and then turn immediately left and cross to the 'island' between the church (St Clement Danes) and Australia House. Turn right.
• At the end of the 'island' is a crossing to the Aldwych. Turn left and you will pass a post-office on your right.
• The next right, before the NatWest bank, is Houghton Street, home of the School.
• A map showing the School buildings and the links between them is available on the  Maps and directions  page.  

Home

• Leave Houghton Street past the Garrick, turning left into the Aldwych.
• Take the first crossing on your right onto the 'island' between Australia House and St Clement Danes Church.
• Cross the next road, the Strand, straight ahead of you and go down the hill on Arundel Street.
• At the end of Arundel Street cross Temple Place and walk down a few steps to pass by Temple underground station
• Cross the Embankment and turn left along to river.
• In about 5 minutes on your right you should see Blackfriars Bridge. Cross the river on this bridge.
• At the end of the bridge there is a pub called Doggets. By the pub there are steps down to the walkway by the river. Go down these steps and pass under the bridge.
• Carry on under the next bridge and then turn immediately right. At the end of this path you join Hopton Street.
• Turn left and cross the small piazza by the big orange tower. Pass the tower into Holland Street which takes you past the Tate Modern gallery.
• Walk to the end of Holland Street and turn to the left along Sumner Street.
• Bankside House is about 70m further along on the right side. 

 

By bus

The estimate time for taking the bus is 20 to 25 minutes.

 

The RV1 passes along Southwark Street, just a couple of minutes walk from Bankside, on the way to Covent Garden. Whilst the route is not direct, for convenience it cannot be beaten. Return is from Catherine Street (off the Aldwych).

 

By tube

The estimated time for taking the tube is 20 to 25 minutes.

 

Taking the tube holds no benefit in terms of time or convenience when travelling to and from the School. It is probably quicker and easier to walk.

 

 

For an interactive map, please see this map of the local area.