In pictures: London’s newest shopping destination Borough Yards opens next phase

The £300m project partially opened in 2021 and houses around 50 stores including skincare brand Malin + Goetz, fashion retailer Paul Smith and eyewear specialist Ace & Tate, as well as an array of restaurants, an Everyman cinema and co-working spaces.

Located near London Bridge and the historic Borough Market, Borough Yards spans 140,000 sq ft. Its completion means visitors can now pass through the entire site, which leads out to the bank of the River Thames.

The new extension leaves room for beauty, fashion and homewares retailers to set up shop in a busy central London location that previously lacked a “day-to-night integrated shopping, restaurant and leisure district”.

Borough Yards will also show Wimbledon games in July and plans to host seasonal markets in the near future.

The district is made up of the revived Victorian streets Stoney Street, Clink Street and Bank Street, as well as disused viaducts and warehouses.

It was designed by architecture studio SPPARC to create a space for the public to shop, eat and relax in.

Real estate firm and investor Mark helped deliver the final product, having worked on some of London’s other regeneration projects including Burlington Arcade.

Mark UK managing director Lily Lin said: “We continue on our path to building one of London’s most popular mixed-use districts.

“It plays home to a vibrant community of local residents, workers and visitors, enabled in part by the creation of a new pedestrian zone and public space through delicate restoration.

“High-quality retail, food and leisure are complemented by an intense focus on exceptional design.”

Combining old and new

Retail Week was invited to the Borough Yards summer party in June, attended by hundreds of city workers, families, tourists and local Southwark residents.

SPPARC founder Trevor Morriss and associate director Monika Doszla-Marsh led the tour and explained the inspiration behind the design.

Interested in the cultural and historical aspects of this area of London, Morriss said he wanted to “incorporate old London with new London’’ by restoring the derelict streets and railway viaducts of the Victorian era and turning them into a new public space.

He explained that Borough Yards has been “carefully designed” with the five buildings set up so visitors can see the sites of London between each building, such as Southwark Cathedral.

He said: “We wanted to create something modern but incorporate Victorian London into it. We also wanted to be mindful of the Southwark residents and create something for them to enjoy too.”