Welcome to Bankside and Borough then and now, a website about the history of Bankside and Borough in the London Borough of Southwark. It's a fascinating history, as long as the history of the City of London, but very different to that of its richer neighbour over the river. It is the history of bawdiness, prisons, the hospitality of inns, playhouses in the days of Shakespeare and extreme poverty in the days of Dickens and later.

Over the last decade, the area has seen a remarkable regeneration and upsurge of creativity. There is a huge buzz around the cafes and shops surrounding the market, and old wharves and factories have been converted into expensive apartments and thriving studios. It is now home to prestigious cultural institutions that include the splendid refurbished Bankside power station now metamorphosed into the Tate Modern, and the transformation of the area will continue with the completion of the Shard and London Bridge Place. But a sense of the past still remains as you walk along such streets as Clink Street and Borough High Street and this website explores this history.