How to spend a day in Waterloo

Leake Street Arches is a colourful tunnel beneath Waterloo filled with ever‑changing street art and graffiti, offering a free and immersive alternative to traditional galleries. Visitors can enjoy live music, graffiti workshops, and an artist‑in‑residence programme. Whether you're there to admire, participate, or simply pass through, the lively energy of Leake Street makes it a cultural gem worth exploring.

This manicured stretch of greenery is one of the best spots in Waterloo to enjoy views of the River Thames and the London Eye. It's also an excellent sunset spot, since the sun sets in plain sight over the north bank of the river. There are usually food trucks and ice cream vans parked here, so you can grab a bite to eat and snack with views of London as your backdrop.

This Osaka-style restaurant serves authentic Japanese dishes in a casual setting in Waterloo. Dishes include an assortment of gyoza dumplings and there's a menu of sake cocktails, plum wine, and other drinks to go along with the food. It's a laidback spot, perfect for catching up with pals after work.

Enjoy a moment of peace from the busy city at Waterloo Millennium Green, the closest park to Waterloo Station, where you can soak up rays and lounge around – perfect for when you're waiting for another train. The park is filled with grassy verges, wildflowers, sculptures, and a woodland trail that meanders through the park.

Roupell Street Conservation Area is a historic, well-preserved area built in 1820. The streets here survived the bombs of the London Blitz and the greedy eyes of developers, but it's their proximity to busy Waterloo Road and Station that makes them extra unique, offering a quiet escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It's famed for being a popular filming spot featured in “No Time to Die” and “Legend”.

Oasis Farm Waterloo is a much-loved urban farm in the heart of the city that relies on volunteers to help with the day-to-day running of farmyard life. They work with disadvantaged young people in partnership with Jamie's Farm, a charity which offers a 'Farming, Family & Therapy' programme that aids them in expanding their knowledge and gaining social skills.

Archbishop's Park is a Green Flag park with various recreational sports facilities, such as tennis courts, cricket nets, AstroTurf pitches, and outdoor gym equipment. It was once part of the royal grounds of Lambeth Palace but is now open for the public to enjoy and soak up a dose of nature amidst the skyscrapers of the city.

This quirky spot is not only an excellent drinking destination but is most famous for its schedule of interesting events, like music nights, DJs, pub quizzes and comedy nights. They also have a totally vegan fried chicken team, serving a menu inspired by KFC and Southern American fast food. Inside, it's funky with neon lights, disco balls, and outlandish decor – feels a bit like an Aladdin's cave.

This café first opened in 2000 as a vintage scooter repair shop but is now a café by day and bar by night. It’s decorated with vintage treasures, trinkets, mismatched furniture, and old scooters standing side by side as chairs. They serve an excellent hot choccy and specialise in traditional Italian espresso.

No visit to London is complete without trying traditional fish and chips, and Fishcotheque in Waterloo is an excellent spot to chow down on haddock, Maris Piper chips, and a pickled egg. The fish are delivered fresh daily from Billingsgate Market, one of the most famous seafood markets in the city, and all ingredients used are of the highest quality. The restaurant has a traditional chip shop counter for takeaway orders and a handful of comfortable booths for dining in.

La Barca Ristorante in Waterloo specialises in flambé dishes, a cooking technique commonly used for its caramelisation flavour and performative flair. The menu is full of classic Italian dishes like fresh tagliatelle carbonara, alongside a handpicked list of wines sourced from reputable winemakers in Italy. The taverna-style restaurant is authentically Italian, with its tiled floor, tables with white draped tablecloths, and walls plastered with old-school photographs.

This lively bar in a former railway arch in the iconic Leake Street Graffiti tunnel is the place to go for board games and beers on taps in a chilled-out, fun environment. Enjoy classic cocktails alongside tempting tacos and burgers whilst browsing the shelves with thousands of boardgames, from chess to newly launched releases.

Get your wine on at Unwined in Waterloo, a casual wine bar with a by-the-glass wine list that changes based on the seasons. The bar is small and cosy, with a minimal, no-fuss feel to the decor, made trendy by slate flooring and wooden furniture. It's all about the wine here, but they also host guest residencies who cook small plates and snacks for mid-sip snacking.

Crust Bros is a casual industrial-style pizzeria in Waterloo where thick doughy crusts are the most important thing about the menu. The toppings are pretty inventive, as are the names of the pizzas, like the Meat Sweats or the Notorious P.I.G, which comes topped with mozzarella, ham, and mushrooms. Everything is cooked in a blazing hot wood-fired oven to get the perfect crispy base.