London

The Search for Banksy

After trying unsuccessfully to hunt down some of Banksy's infamous stencil graffiti, by asking around we came to find out that they had been removed. We were told to check out Leake Street near the Waterloo Station. Leake Street was covered in graffiti by Banksy and friends back in 2008. Very little of the original art remains, but what has been added to the tunnel is exciting to see. Graffiti is legal in this designated area making it a colorful social experiment.

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Landmarks • South Bank / Waterloo / Lambeth North

Jungle

Yes, it's an awful lot of grey concrete that makes up the Southbank Centre. But while the daring Brutalist architecture continues to entertain love/hate feelings among most Londoners, no one doubts the excellence of what's going on inside this cultural powerhouse. At the Hayward Gallery (nowadays just The Hayward), exhibitions are now nicely complemented by this small cafe, which turns into a bar once the sun sets (yes, behind Waterloo Bridge). The bar, concrete-dominated, as you might have guessed, is a bit pricey to become your regular. But there's Russian beer on tap and, given that they put absinthe in their mojitos, always a chance that you might end up talking someone into giving the Hayward's Projects Space to your own, truly amazing art installation next time round.

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Nightlife , Restaurants • South Bank / Waterloo / Lambeth North

You'll Wet Yourself

London just doesn't offer enough opportunities to watch lithe and attractive lovelies frolicking in water. Fortunately, the South Bank did its bit to rectify this heinous oversight. Appearing Rooms was one of the recent art installations at the Southbank Centre, featuring jets of water which burst intermittently to create walls around you, to the delighted shrieks of participants and the sizzling hiss of their fried iPods. Rarely given the green light to poddle about in fountains, Londoners chucked themselves in with abandon, watched by repressed suits wishing they still knew how to play and delighted voyeurs making videos for their evening's self-relief. With a bit of logic visitors could avoid getting wet--after all, its watery walls were apparently more about contemplating transience and modern life (yawn) than tormenting the spectators (though the joys of pushing kids into the upcoming jets must not be underestimated). Although Appearing Rooms has ended its run, the South Bank's regular cycle of installations are invariably unmissable, and a highlight of the city.

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Landmarks • South Bank / Waterloo / Lambeth North