The south eastern part of London comprises of Southwark, Peckham, Greenwich and Thamesmead. It includes London's busiest railway stations, an area often associated with suburbia. From The South Bank to Thamesmead, attractions include The National Theatre, The Royal Greenwich Observatory and The O2 Arena.
Closer to the centre of London is the South Bank, which includes Royal Festival Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall and The Royal National Theatre. The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,500 seat venue, which opened for the 1951 Festival of Britain. It includes a 7,866 pipe organ and forms part of the Southbank Centre. Close by is the Queen Elizabeth Hall, which a music venue, hosting daily classical, jazz, avant-garde and dance performances. Immediately behind is the Hayward Gallery.
North of Waterloo Bridge is The Royal National Theatre. It has three stages and a temporary performance space, all of varying capacities and auditoria styles. Further east is the Tate Modern, situated in the former Bankside Power Station. It includes a sixth floor restaurant, ground floor shop and first floor café as well as permanent and changeable exhibitions on three floors.
South East London is also home to the Imperial War Museum, which at this moment is closed for refurbishment. Close to Tower Bridge is H.M.S. Belfast, also part of their collection. She is the last remaining cruiser and the largest preserved warship in Europe. The cruiser is available for private tours and for use as a conference venue - quite a change from exhibition halls or hotels.
If time is of the essence of your visit, horograph enthusiasts should make time for the Royal Greenwich Observatory. It is home to London's only planetarium, the Harrison timekeepers and the largest refracting telescope in Britain. The National Maritime Museum is close by, set in its attractive gardens opposite the Royal Naval College. The nearby Greenwich Park provides some respite from the usual concrete. Other attractions nearby include the Cutty Sark, a preserved clipper ship famed for the cargo of Britain's favourite drink: tea, the Meridian Courtyard (where you can see The Meridian Line for real) and Flamsteed House.
The O2 Arena is a must for world class live performance, attracting the greatest of music groups, solo artistes and theatrical productions. Formerly The Millennium Dome, it is now the world's busiest music arena.
Further south of the River Thames, there is a host of fascinating and esoteric conference venues. The Ministry of Sound on 103 Gaunt Street is available for hire as well as post-conference clubbing. The Delfina Foundation is another example, situated in two Edwardian houses. One of the most beautiful and well preserved churches in London, St. Peters' Vauxhall, is an attractive musical venue.
Sports fanatics are spoilt for choice, especially where football, tennis and cricket is concerned. South West London is home to Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic and Millwall. Most famously, the All England Tennis Club is a place of pilgrimage in late June, with The Wimbledon Championships seen by thousands in and around Centre Court, and on television in front of millions worldwide. The Kennington Oval is also a renowned Test Match venue as well as being home to Surrey County Cricket Club.
Much of South West London is well connected with Central London by bus, tube and commuter rail services. As esoteric conference venues and world class venues are concerned, South West London is a smart choice.
