The South Bank

BBC Learning English

London Life
The South Bank

Anna: Hello, I'm Anna Jones and this is London Life. And

today we’re looking at the

cultural side of London life and one area in particular

which has many cultural events on offer.
Our Learning English colleague, John Escolme recently met

Jude Woodward who is the adviser 1 on culture to the Mayor of

London. John asked Jude if the area of London we are

talking about today is “the cultural heart” of London –

is it the most important part of London for cultural events

and activities? As you listen try to catch the name of the

area of London we are talking about?

JUDE WOODWARD   Can we really say this is London’s

cultural heart this area that we’re talking about – the

South Bank?
Well I imagine some other areas might feel challenged by

that but I think it’s true.

Anna: Well the name of the area is the South Bank which

as its name suggests is situated 2 on the south side of the

River Thames in the heart of London. Now that expression

“in the heart of somewhere” means to be in the most

central part of it.
Well as we heard earlier – John asks Jude if the South

Bank is London’s cultural heart. What does she reply? 

Does she agree or disagree with John?
Listen again.  

JUDE WOODWARD  

Can we really say this is London’s cultural heart this

area that we’re talking about – the South

Bank?

Well I imagine some other areas might feel challenged by

that but I think it’s true.

Anna: Jude agrees with John – she says - “I think

it’s true.” However she adds that “some other areas

might feel challenged by that”. She thinks that

some other “areas” or parts of London might not agree

with her and John – they might feel challenged by it. If

you “challenge” ideas or people then you question their

truth, value or authority.

Anna: Jude goes on to talk about the South Bank area in

more detail. She describes it as “quite unique.” If

something is “unique” then it’s the only thing of its

kind. Jude describes the different cultural “venues 4” or

places where cultural events happen on the South Bank. Try

to listen out for them and the different kinds
of cultural activity that they offer.  

JUDE WOODWARD  

I think its quite unique, particularly that combination of

around the South Bank the fact that you have a music venue 3,

the Hayward Gallery which is an art gallery, you 

have the National Film Theatre which is film, you have the

National Theatre – then moving along you’ve got Tate

Modern which has got one of the best collections of modern

art. You’ve got the Globe which gives you authentic 5

Shakespeare productions.

Anna: Jude mentions various venues on the South Bank:

there’s a music venue which is the Royal Festival Hall and

two art galleries – the Hayward and the Tate Modern. Jude

says that the Tate Modern has “one of the best collections

of modern art. The South Bank also has the National Film

Theatre or cinema and two theatres - the National Theatre

and the Globe theatre. Listen again and
this time try to catch what kind of productions you can see

at the Globe theatre.
 
JUDE WOODWARD  

I think its quite unique, particularly that combination of

around the South Bank the fact that you have a music venue,

the Hayward Gallery which is an art gallery, you 

have the National Film Theatre which is film, you have the

National Theatre – then moving along you’ve got Tate

Modern which has got one of the best collections of modern

art. You’ve got the Globe which gives you authentic

Shakespeare productions.

Anna: Well at the Globe you can watch “authentic

Shakespeare productions.” If something is described as

“authentic” then it means it is real and genuine. So why

is the Globe authentic? Well the new Globe theatre is built

on the site of the original Globe theatre, it is the same

design as the original and produces plays written by

England’s most famous playwright 6 – William Shakespeare.
So you can’t get much more authentic than that! Jude ends

by saying that there is nowhere else in the world like the

South Bank where you can find such an incredible “range”

or wide choice of cultural events in a beautiful setting by

the river. And she adds that’s “leaving aside” or not

even mentioning all the other fantastic things on offer

there such as shopping and restaurants.

JUDE WOODWARD  

Where else in the world can you find such an incredible

range of artistic 7 and cultural things on offer leaving

aside the restaurants, the other things, the shopping those

sorts of things which are available there. Nowhere else in

the world has that and particularly not on such a fantastic

riverside setting.

Anna: That's all from this edition of London life, now I

might just wander down to the

South Bank to see what’s going on …..