How to spend a day in Waterloo

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

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.

This Osaka-style restaurant serves authentic Japanese dishes in a casual setting on the South Bank. Dishes include butter, soy sweetcorn, an assortment of gyoza, and a menu of sake cocktails, Japanese sake, and plum wine. It's a laid-back spot, perfect for catching up with some old pals after work.

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.

Waterloo Oasis Farm is a much-loved urban farm in the heart of the city that relies on volunteers to help with the day-to-day runnings 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 gaining the skills to expand their knowledge and social skills.

Archbishop 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 timetable 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, which is all 100% plant-based. Inside, it’s funky with neon lights, disco balls and outlandish decor - feels a bit like an Aladdin’s cave.

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 is 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 and seats for dining in.

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.

Explore Japan's traditional and authentic dishes at Hannah Japanese Restaurant, from sushi and sashimi to teriyaki and more. They also serve delicious bento boxes, comprising a boxed meal of rice or noodles, pickled or cooked veggies and a source of protein. The restaurant is modern and stylish, with an open kitchen, hanging wicker lights, parquet flooring and ambient lighting.

La Barca Ristorante in Waterloo specialises in flambé dishes, a cooking technique commonly used for its caramelisation flavour and performative flair. The menu is chock full of classic Italian dishes, like fresh tagliatelle carbonara, alongside a hand-picked 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 games, from chess to newly launched games.

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. It’s closed on the weekends for private events but is open mid-week for all your weekday wine needs.

Crust Bros is a casual industrial-style pizzeria 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 and 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.