With the cartological world still reeling from the announcement yesterday that the centre of London is south of the river, here's the view from the real midtown.
As was scientifically established beyond a shadow of a doubt, the true geographical centre of the city is on the Southwark / Lambeth border, near Lambeth North tube station. The area will shortly be overrun by tourists seeking out this incredible new destination. But what will they get out of a visit?
Unprepossesing at first, the area may be less obviously attractive than Charing Cross, but it does contain some unlikely gems. Scroll around the view above (or use this link if it doesn't work) and you'll see a strikingly unattractive tower block: unappealing it may be, but one of the penthouses is (reputedly) occupied by a certain Oscar-winning actor currently running the Old Vic just down the road. This soon-to-be infamous junction also includes the depot for the London Duck Bus tours, the Christ Church and Upton Hall (built 1873), and perhaps less interestingly for the average tourist, a nondescript office where one Londonista works.
A little further afield, you have the Imperial War Museum, while in the other direction, leading up Westminster Bridge Road, there is the entranceway to the old Necropolis Railway, which ferried 19th century corpses out to be munched by maggots in the countryside. For lunch, Lower Marsh has a fine selection of street market stalls (the dude selling Thai curry at £3.50 is worth a look), and there are ample shopping opportunities.
