Southbank Centre Book Market
secondhand treasures under the bridge
A long-running secondhand book market under Waterloo Bridge, free to browse, open every day come rain or shine.
Free to visit · South Bank · Waterloo · SE1 8XX
Opening: Daily, roughly 11am–7pm
Tucked under the arches of Waterloo Bridge, sheltered from the rain, is a secondhand book market that has been part of the South Bank for decades. Browsing the trestle tables is completely free, and you never quite know what you will find, old Penguins, art books, maps, prints and battered paperbacks all jumbled together.
It runs every single day, which makes it a reliable free pleasure on a walk along the river, and the setting under the bridge with the Thames a few steps away is half the charm. Even if you buy nothing, a slow rummage here is one of the nicest free things on the South Bank.
Getting there: Under Waterloo Bridge on the riverside walk, between the BFI and the National Theatre.
Best time to go: Any day really, though it is most atmospheric in the late afternoon as the river light drops.
Insider tip: It is open daily and undercover, so it makes a perfect free stop on a rainy riverside walk. Dig through the boxes underneath the tables, where the cheaper and stranger finds tend to hide.
Official site: https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk
Free things to do in London · London Free Guide