Visit Hay’s Galleria, a grandiose business, dining and retail venue positioned on the south bank of of the River Thames. Once a dockyard and shipping warehouse, today this protected landmark is home to bars, cafes, restaurants and boutique shops. Enjoy varied cuisine and superb people watching from the outdoor seating areas. Admire the architectural features of the landmark and study a kinetic sculpture by London-born artist David Kemp.
The landmark dates back to 1651, when it was a brewery, and was redeveloped into a wharf and enclosed dock in the 1850s. For over a century it was one of the busiest food trading dockyards in the Pool of London section of the River Thames. Sailboats would arrive from all corners of the globe, most notably the clippers from India and China that transported tea. The former wharf reopened in 1987 following an urban regeneration of the London Docklands.
Read an overview of the history of the landmark via information signs located at the entrance. Then look up at the arched glass roof that resembles the style of a Victorian-era railway terminal. Arched colonnades run along either side of the building, above which are the restored former tea warehouses. Today the colonnades house fashion outlets and varied dining options.
Find a seat at the pavement-style terraces, order a coffee, glass of wine, lunch or dinner and enjoy the gallery’s chic ambiance. Watch people playing pétanque at the indoor court. Shop for artisanal goods such as jewelry and leather bags. In December Hay’s Galleria is part of a festive market called Christmas by the River at London Bridge City.
Standing at the heart of the precinct is David Kemp’s The Navigators. This 60-feet (18-meter) tall kinetic sculpture portrays an industrial-age ship and features oars that mimic the action of rowing through water.
Hay’s Galleria is open daily, although the individual hours of the shops and restaurants may vary. Travel here by underground to London Bridge station or catch a ferry to London Bridge City Pier.
