Monday to
Saturday
8AM – 8PM
Sunday
9AM – 7PM
The Sidings,
Waterloo Station,
London SE1 7BH
We cannot lie, May has got us all excited here at The Sidings – 3 bank holidays, lots of 4 day weeks, and hours of bonus fun! We decided to take on the challenge of filling those hours for you with different things to do around South Bank.
We are fortunate to have access to some wonderful river cruises directly from South Bank and as one of the bank holidays is for the King’s Coronation, we felt duty-bound to honour him by suggesting a Coronation-themed cruise.
You could choose one of the lovely afternoon tea cruises, eating a jam and cream-covered scone whilst looking across at world-famous attractions like Big Ben.
However, we’ve decided to point you in the direction of the dinner cruises. The River Thames at night is a glorious place to see London and with the unique Illuminated River project now in full effect, the light show alone is worth the trip.
You’ll be able to sample a delicious four-course menu, have plenty of drinks to choose from and there are live performances to keep you entertained throughout.
You might be surprised by the suggestion of an art class that celebrates activist artwork, but stick with us…
If you are looking for engaging activities for the kids over bank holiday, then the Tate Modern has some workshops that sound ideal to us. Looking to be inspired by some of the rule-breaking artists in the Tate’s collection, they are hosting workshops over most weekends in May to show how to make art for a cause you care about.
Be warned, the workshop could get messy, so wear some clothes you don’t mind getting damaged, as you’ll get to create your own piece of art from some unusual items. You might want to think about bringing a change of clothes as well but it will keep the kids entertained and they might even discover an artistic side they didn’t know existed.
We cannot talk about ideas for the May bank holidays without mentioning the Southbank Centre. The beauty of this London institution is the sheer variety of options available, meaning it caters for those looking for a romantic time for two through to parents needing to occupy the kids for a couple of hours.
For the younger ones, there is Rug Rhymes, where they can listen to nursery rhymes and poems. For the slightly older children and the parents, try FUNharmonics, an interactive concert for the whole family.
For the slightly older members of the family, who might just happen to be fans of David Bowie, there are multiple events throughout April and into the May bank holiday period that celebrate the man they called Ziggy Stardust and his connections with the Southbank Centre. From the story behind the iconic ‘Aladdin Sane’ album cover to an evening of Bowie-inspired poetry, there is something for any fan.
We agree that sounds like an odd combination but not if you happen upon the Leake Street Arches! If you’ve never been, the arches are home to the largest legal graffiti display in London, worth a visit by itself. However, many a bank holiday has been spent indoors playing board games, so why not turn that on its head and visit Draughts.
Draughts is possibly the best board game cafe in London and certainly our favourite. From modern masterpieces like ‘Barking Kittens’ to classics like ‘Monopoly’, they have over a thousand games to play, simply book a table and have unlimited access to the games, all whilst tucking into Taco’s or Burger’s and washing it down with an ice cold beer.
One final bonus idea if you do happen to be in Leake Street and love the graffiti wall, you can book a workshop to learn all about street art and even create a work of art to take home to impress your friends!
A coronation is such a rare event, we really need to end our list of ideas with another one dedicated to the upcoming celebration of the new King. From 29th April to 8th May, you can book a very special seat on board the world-famous London Eye.
One of the most visited attractions in the world, the London Eye is a great time in itself, but for a short period, one of the capsules is being decorated like Westminster Abbey on coronation day. Sit in a replica 700-year-old coronation chair, sip champagne and get to hold replica crown jewels.
Capture the perfect coronation selfie 135m above London to top off the ideal bank holiday weekend!
So there you have it, lots of new ideas to occupy you and the family over the May bank holiday season in and around The Sidings. Say hi as you pass through on the way to one of the amazing attractions, and why not have a coffee, do a little shopping or grab a bite to eat as well. See you over the bank holidays.
