A Guide to Southbank Shops
Renowned for its riverside walks, galleries and theatres, Southbank is also home to a unique shopping scene. From independent boutiques to specialist bookshops and design-led destinations, every outlet represents the character and vibrancy of this riverside location.
Whether you’re browsing for gifts, discovering contemporary fashion or picking up a new novel, here’s a guide to the best shops in and around Southbank.
Shopping near Southbank
The area’s retail scene favours artisan makers and small businesses over high-street chains, giving you distinctive destinations in and around Southbank to browse and shop from.
Leadenhall Market
With a striking Victorian glass roof and cobbled walkways, this 19th-century wrought-iron arcade offers a distinctive setting for boutique shopping and dining.
A short walk from Southbank, across the river into the City of London district, Leadenhall Market offers well-known brands such as Barbour, Hobbs and Waterstones alongside independent specialists, including drinks merchant Amathus and Kandies cigars.
Throughout the year, Leadenhall also hosts weekend pop-up craft and vintage markets.
The Royal Exchange
In the same area, The Royal Exchange offers a collection of luxury boutiques set within a grand historic building. Once London’s first purpose-built centre for trading stocks, this Grade I-listed building is now home to a range of premium jewellery, watches and designer brands, alongside elegant cafés and restaurants.
Ideal for considered purchases or special occasions, it provides a calm and sophisticated contrast to busier shopping areas.
One New Change
Located beside the spectacular St Paul’s Cathedral, One New Change is a modern shopping centre offering a wide variety of well-known brands. High-street favourites sit alongside global names, creating a spot for convenient, everyday shopping that’s within easy reach of Southbank.
Its open-air terraces, rooftop views, leisure arcades, and wide selection of restaurants mean this is more than a traditional retail destination.
Covent Garden
One of London’s best-known shopping areas, Covent Garden offers a range of global brands and independent boutiques covering fashion, lifestyle and beauty. The area is known for its lively atmosphere, with street performers, historic piazzas and covered arcades.
Nearby bars and restaurants, including the outdoor terrace at the top of the Royal Opera House, make it an ideal destination for shopping, dining and entertainment.
Local Gift Shops in Southbank
Southbank is also home to a number of world-class cultural institutions – many of which house carefully curated gift shops.
BFI Southbank
Specialising in film memorabilia, exclusive merchandise and cinema publications, the BFI Shop is the perfect destination for movie enthusiasts.
The selection includes limited-edition posters, classic and contemporary film books, screenplays, DVDs, and distinctive gifts inspired by cinematic history, continuing the institution’s tradition of championing both British and international film.
Tate Modern
A stroll east along the river will take you to Tate Modern, where you’ll find the art gallery’s gift shop offering a range of art books, limited-edition prints, contemporary homeware, stationery, and exclusive artist collaborations.
Even if you’re not visiting an exhibition and are just enjoying a stroll around the Southbank, this shop is worth exploring – whether you’re refreshing your coffee table, searching for a distinctive gift or simply immersing yourself in the area’s creative energy.
Southbank Centre
Between the gift shops and pop-up markets that appear throughout the year, the Southbank Centre offers a wide and ever-changing range of shops. In the heart of the Royal Festival Hall, you’ll find an open-plan shop with music-themed gifts, bespoke collections and a dedicated selection for children.
The Mandela Walk Shop proudly offers a range of products from independent and sustainable brands across homeware, art prints and souvenirs, while the Hayward Gallery Shop is the place to go for limited-edition exhibition merchandise and art books.
Your Local Bookshops in Southbank
Between specialist sellers and iconic independent retailers, Southbank has a number of bookshops to explore, whether you’re looking for classic literature, books on the arts or the latest bestselling novel.
National Theatre Bookshop
With books on drama, performance and playwriting, the National Theatre Shop in Southbank is perfect for theatre enthusiasts and aspiring creatives. Discover classic scripts, contemporary plays, biographies, and behind-the-scenes insights into stagecraft and production.
Located within the National Theatre itself, it’s a unique and inspiring spot to visit.
Foyles
One of London’s most iconic bookshops, Foyles can be found along Southbank, near the Golden Jubilee Bridge. It offers an extensive collection of works, spanning art, architecture and academic titles, as well as contemporary fiction and the latest bestsellers.
Discover a literary classic in this relaxing space before delving into it at a peaceful spot along the river.
Southbank Book Market
Located beneath Waterloo Bridge, the Southbank Book Market has been a fixture of the neighbourhood for decades. Open daily, its open-air stalls offer a mix of second-hand and rare books, art prints, maps, and vintage finds.
Browsing might just reveal an unexpected first edition or beautifully illustrated volume that both collectors and casual readers can enjoy.
Southbank Shops: Convenience on Your Doorstep
Exploring Southbank’s shops is less about browsing high-street names and more about discovering local finds and independent makers. Between the small boutiques and long-standing booksellers, this area offers a distinctive retail experience that reflects the neighbourhood’s creativity and cultural identity.
Once complete, our new home at Opus will be right on the doorstep to these shops, waiting to be explored.