[1]Turn right out of centre. Cross to far side of Lambeth Road using zebra crossing and turn right. Cross Kennington Road at traffic lights. Pass no. 100 and note blue plaque to William Bligh (Captain of the Bounty).
[2] Turn left into King Edward Walk. Cross to right hand side when safe and convenient. At main road use traffic lights, on right, to cross to far side and then turn left along Westminster Bridge Road.
[3] Shortly turn right into Pearson Street. Pass Emery Street. Cross Frazier Street. Turn left into Coral Street. Pass Playground and then enter Waterloo Millennium Green. Go past ponds and leave Green opposite Waterloo Station entrance.
Over 250 village greens were created with Lottery funding to celebrate the millennium but this is the only one in a city. It is largely maintained by volunteer gardeners who are homeless or recently homeless.
[4]Turn right and go straight across Waterloo Road, at traffic lights, into The Cut passing the Old Vic Theatre entrance.
(A) The Old Vic 1818, was initially a minor theatre, and later a temperance venue, before the Old Vic Company 1929 -1963, led by Sir John Gielgud established it as a home for classic drama and Shakespeare. From 1963-76 it was the home of the National Theatre, led by Sir Lawrence Olivier. It now owned by the Old Vic Theatre Trust, who saved it from closure in 1999.
Pass Webber Street. Before Young Vic turn left, at zebra crossing, to cross road into Windmill Walk. Go under railway. At Kings Arms, glance left and right along Roupell Street. (Conservation Area).
The Roupell Street buildings (c1818) are grade II listed and were constructed as workers’ houses. The Young Vic Theatre specialises in opportunities for young actors and directors. The refurbishment won the RIBA London Building of the Year Award in 2007.
[5]Continue along Windmill Walk, cross Whittlesey Street and then left into Theed Street. Turn right into Cornwall Road. At Stamford Street use Pedestrian Lights, on right, to continue straight on along Cornwall Road. When you reach the junction with Upper Ground carefully cross and turn left. Shortly turn right, alongside IBM, through a row of trees to the riverside - the South Bank.
(B) The South Bank was the site of the 1951 Festival of Britain held on the centenary of the 1851 Great Exhibition. Today is a lively cultural centre with theatres, concert halls, galleries, cafes and often free open air entertainment. The Millennium was celebrated with the London Eye; the Queen’s Golden Jubilee (2002) with the Jubilee Footbridges and Gardens.
[6]Turn left with the river on your right. Pass the National Theatre and go under Waterloo Bridge. Pass Queen Elizabeth Hall (note graffiti art and skateboards underneath) and Royal Festival Hall, with shops underneath. Pause at railway bridge for Golden Jubilee Bridges. Optionally: use lifts or steps to ascend for the downstream and upstream views. Go under railway bridge towards London Eye.
[7]Go past Jubilee Gardens. Turn left between Ticket Booths (signpost ‘Boarding Gate’) alongside County Hall.
County Hall, the former home of the Greater London Council, dissolved in 1986, is now the home of 2 hotels, an art gallery and aquarium.
Cross road (by car barriers) and head along Chicheley Street. Cross York Road at traffic lights and go right and then left under Waterloo station into Leake Street.
In May 08 Banksy, the underground artist, organised 39 associates to join him in covering the drab and dank Leake Street with graffiti ‘art’. The street is now an ‘authorised’ graffiti site.
[8]At end keep left, go up ramp and turn right into Lower Marsh (Conservation area).
This former rural village street was developed in the early 19th century when the ancient marsh was drained and the area covered with rows of small houses, wharves and workshops. The market has been here since the mid 1800’s.
At main road turn left, crossing Lower Marsh and continuing on left hand side of Westminster Bridge Road. At next junction, just before Lambeth North Station, turn right and cross to right hand side. On far side, turn left and immediately bear right.
[9] Shortly, at a further set of lights, cross Hercules Road and then turn right. Shortly turn left, through gates, into William Blake Estate which lead into McAuley Close. Fork left and head for the Steam Engine Pub. Cross road (Cosser Street) and go alongside The Steam Engine Pub. Bear right and immediately left to cut though estate car-park and come out in Lambeth Road. Go across zebra crossing into Lambeth Walk. Centre is on the left.