Lady’s Rotherhithe, London Area Guide

Today I want to bring you my guide to Rotherhithe, London. This area on the River Thames is a great place to get into the city’s local spirit and soak up American history in London.

Rotherhithe, London

Rotherhithe is out east on a bulge on the south bank of the Thames. It’s not far from the trendy streets of Bermondsey, and sits just across the river from the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and historic pubs of Wapping.

Rotherhithe is a London neighborhood I didn’t know much about until a friend moved there. Now another friend has moved there, and both of them love it.

Unable to quench my thirst for exploring new-to-me areas of London, I met them out in Rotherhithe to see what all the fuss was about. In particular, I met them to see what all the American fuss was about.

How to Get to Rotherhithe

I took the tube to Canada Water station, which is on the Jubilee line of the London Underground. It was a short walk from the river and all the waterfront highlights of the neighborhood.

The Overground also goes through the area and stops at both Canada Water and Rotherhithe stations. There’s even a ferry from Canary Wharf to Nelson Dock Pier.

American History in Rotherhithe, London

London has its share of American treasures, many of them sufficient to head off my desire to travel across the Atlantic Ocean and visit home. Some of the best are in Rotherhithe.

That’s primarily because there’s a lot of American history in Rotherhithe. The Pilgrims’ famous ship, the Mayflower, set sail from the banks of the Thames in Rotherhithe on its famous voyage to New England in 1620.

July 2020 marked the 400-year anniversary of its departure, so it was a big year for American connections to London.

Rotherhithe Pubs

To commemorate the event in the most British way possible, there’s a historic pub called The Mayflower in Rotherhithe.

And to commemorate my own pilgrimage to the neighborhood, my friends and I sat out on the deck to have a proper lunch of fish and chips.

It was fun to lift our feet when a boat went by and water splashed up through the floorboards. I’ve never experienced that at a riverside pub in London before, and it was a unique experience.

The Mayflower isn’t the only unique pub in Rotherhithe, either. After lunch our trio walked along the Thames to The Angel, a second historic watering hole with a little riverfront terrace from which we soaked up the sun.

St Mary’s Church, Rotherhithe

But my visit wasn’t just about Rotherhithe pubs. A few steps away from The Mayflower is St Mary’s Church, Rotherhithe.

A beautiful brick building, it has a blue plaque on the side with a commemorative inscription about the sailing of the Mayflower.

Christopher Jones, the ship’s master, is buried in St Mary’s churchyard. Next to the church is a building with carved Pilgrim figures on the facade in another nod to those that set sail for the New World in the 17th century.

Brunel Museum, Rotherhithe

Beyond American history, there’s a lot of underground history in this south London neighborhood.

It’s best seen at the Brunel Museum, which is dedicated to an engineering family and the story of the Thames Tunnel project. Set in the historic Brunel Engine House, it’s a great place to discover London’s subterranean past.

Better yet, every summer the museum’s roof turns into The Midnight Apothecary, one of the best rooftop bars in south London. It’s the perfect spot to spend a dreamy summer evening in the city.

Rotherhithe Area Guide

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Rotherhithe area guide and that it inspires you to get out and discover the neighborhood yourself.

There’s a lot to see and do here, whether you’re a pub lover, a history fan, or just eager to explore new areas of the UK capital.

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