Bankside estate agents today can offer state of the art loft living, new builds with luxurious services; and converted apartments with penthouse views. But Bankside was not always such a sought neighbourhood - like many areas of London, it slid from grace following the Second World War. This article gives you an insider’s glimpse into the regeneration phase from the 1990s and the type of properties you are likely to find there today.

From the late 18th century onwards, Bankside became an industrial centre with many important docks for shipping, warehouses and of course wharves to house trading ships’ cargo. The area was an important hive of trading activity for many years, yet even so it did not escape the industrial devastation blighting much of London after World War Two. The Thames itself was gradually losing business as holiday makers stopped travelling in the post war austerity and the steam boats trips were long gone. Often, Bankside property fell into acute disrepair and the South Bank was reportedly tainted with sewage problems. The contrast with today’s fashionable South bank could not be starker. Instead of a thriving cultural hub, the river and banks was quiet, probably foul and certainly dilapidated.

Like many areas of innovative London regeneration, the saving grace of Bankside property was precisely those seemingly drab and unloved industrial buildings. From the 1990s, scores of former industrial spaces were reborn during London’s loft living revolution. The sheer scale of the buildings allowed Bankside estate agents to champion imaginative living spaces with many features that were impossible to accommodate in other structures. The high ceilings and literally industrial sized windows allowed for extremely spacious floor space, abundant natural light, and the architects were often able to work sympathetically with existing features. This is why today you’ll find original exposed brickwork and beams beautifully incorporated into some lofts and converted apartments.

The opening of the Tate Modern in 2000 undoubtedly cemented the areas reputation. The genius of Bankside is said to be that it links a number of iconic cultural venues to London by the pedestrian friendly Millennium Bridge. Today visitors and locals alike enjoy the restored Shakespearian Globe theatre before walking to the dramatic Southwark Cathedral. Old London is also represented through the Clink Street Prison Museum and visitors can climb on board the Golden Hinde, a full sized reconstruction of a medieval war ship. Modern culture is represented by the Bankside Gallery, the BFI Imax and of course the Tate Modern housed in an imposing former power station. Finally, London’s gourmets can enjoy the Vinopolis gourmet wine tasting experience and the famous Borough food market. There are walking tours and picnic spots by the river and plenty of superb restaurants and bars lining the banks of the Thames.

The area has a good reputation for schools, with 95 state schools and a substantial number within the private sector. It is served by a network of NHS GP Practices, private medical centres and holistic health practitioners and there are of course good quality private health clubs as you might expect. There are some fantastic riverside walks as well as green space at nearby Southwark Park. The better Bankside estate agents will show you a variety of Bankside property, from those loft living homes to stylish contemporary family homes to popular new build developments. The conversions are understandably popular, with some of the better ones featuring riverside views.