For generations of GCC travellers, a London stay has often centred on the familiar addresses of Knightsbridge and Mayfair, prized for their boutiques, grand hotels and proximity to the West End. Yet across the Thames, another side of the capital brings many of London’s most memorable experiences together within a remarkably compact neighbourhood. London Bridge and Southwark offer historic streets, acclaimed restaurants, world-renowned culture and long riverside walks, with The Shard rising above it all – a destination in its own right, bringing together some of the city’s most recognisable restaurants, panoramic viewpoints and Shangri-La hotel under one roof.

This is London experienced at a different rhythm. Rather than planning each day around car journeys between landmarks, guests can step outside and find much of the city within walking distance. Borough Market sits moments away, Tate Modern and Shakespeare’s Globe await along the river, and Tower Bridge, HMS Belfast and the Tower of London form part of the surrounding cityscape. For returning visitors looking beyond the traditional West London itinerary, the neighbourhood provides a compelling base from which to rediscover the capital.

A neighbourhood made for discovery

At the heart of the area is Borough Market, whose story stretches back very far. Today, its covered passageways bring together specialist producers, bakeries, restaurants and street-food traders from across Britain and around the world. A morning can begin with coffee and fresh pastries and continue with tastings from market traders and unfold into lunch at one of the surrounding restaurants, all without the need for a car.

Borough Yards blends restored Victorian railway arches with restaurants, cafés, independent shops and an Everyman cinema. Nearby Bermondsey Street has the easy character of a neighbourhood favourite, with Spanish dining alongside galleries and design-led independents.

Culture and history, all along the Thames

From Borough Market, the Thames Path opens onto one of London’s most engaging cultural walks. Guests can follow the river towards Shakespeare’s Globe, where performances and guided tours bring the city’s theatrical history to life, before continuing to Tate Modern. Entry to the gallery’s permanent collection is free, and its family programme makes it an accessible stop for visitors travelling with children.

In the opposite direction, the riverside leads towards the iconic HMS Belfast ship and Tower Bridge, with the Tower of London just across the water. London Bridge City Pier also places the Thames itself at the centre of the itinerary, allowing guests to travel by river towards the London Eye or Greenwich. The result is a stay shaped not only by what visitors see but also by the pleasure of moving through the city and watching its historic and contemporary landmarks unfold along the water.

A fresh alternative, without leaving the familiar behind

Choosing Southwark does not mean giving up the West End. London Bridge station offers direct Underground access on the Jubilee line, placing Bond Street and the boutiques of Mayfair within an easy journey. The difference is what guests return to: a neighbourhood that feels connected to the life of the city, where heritage, food, art and the river meet within a few streets.

For GCC families, this concentration of experiences can make a London stay particularly effortless. Interconnecting accommodation at Shangri-La The Shard, London gives families space to settle in, while nearby museums, theatrical experiences, historic attractions and open riverside routes offer flexibility for different ages. Days can be as full or as unhurried as guests choose, with the hotel always close at hand.

London, seen from the sky

Occupying levels 34 to 52 of The Shard, Shangri-La The Shard, London transforms its location into part of the experience. Each of the hotel’s 202 rooms and suites looks out through floor-to-ceiling windows, revealing a panorama that can stretch from Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf to St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Eye. From above, the geography of the city becomes clear: the winding Thames, the rooftops of Borough Market and many of London’s best-known landmarks brought together in a single view.

The hotel’s dining venues offer their own reasons to stay close. On Level 35, TĪNG serves Asian-inspired dishes made with local and seasonal ingredients, alongside afternoon tea framed by sweeping skyline views. High above on Level 52, GŎNG, a chic hotel bar, brings together cocktails and sunset views across the capital. Guests can also spend time at the hotel’s infinity Sky Pool, the highest in London, watching the city change from daylight to evening.

For travellers ready to see beyond London’s most familiar postcodes, Shangri-La The Shard, London offers the best of both worlds: seamless access to the capital’s celebrated shopping districts and a more immediate connection to its food, culture, history and river. It is not simply a different place to stay. It is a different way to experience London.