Oxo Tower Wharf & Gabriel's Wharf
56 Upper Ground, London SW1

The restored OXO Tower is the most distinctive building between Blackfriars and Waterloo bridges. 

Built in the 1928, the art deco building cleverly incorporated the word 'OXO' into its design, thereby avoiding a council rule against large-scale advertising (OXO is the brand name of a meat extract cube). 

Following its restoration in 1996 the building now contains flats and small retail crafts units. 

The OXO Tower is topped by an upmarket restaurant and brasserie run by the people behind the 'Fifth Floor' restaurant at Harvey Nichols. To enjoy the view without visiting the restaurant visit the public viewing gallery on the eighth floor.  

Future plans for the area include a floating Olympic-sized lido on the stretch of the river by the OXO Tower.  Connected to the river's edge by a 40 m long jetty, the proposed Lido will feature an enormous egg-shaped steel swimming pool.  Rising and falling with the tides, the pool will be covered by a retractable glass roof intended to give bathers a 360º view of the capital.   

Beside the OXO Tower Wharf is Gabriel's Wharf.  This square, set back from the river, is formed by the backs of warehouses painted in 'trompe l'oeil' fashion to resemble house-fronts.  Surrounding a bandstand, where Jazz bands sometimes play in the summer, this is a group of craft shops, boutiques and cafés.  There are also a few stalls are arranged around the courtyard, selling ethnic clothing, jewellery and ceramics. 

The OXO Tower, Gabriel's Wharf and much of the surrounding housing are maintained by the non-profit association Coin Street Community Builders, which was set up after a long debate over the future of what was once an industrial area.  After the residents of Waterloo objected to proposals for office developments the association acquired the site in 1984 and built co-operative housing around the wharf. As a result the integrity of the area has been maintained and ensures that local residents are not priced out. 

Beside Gabriel's Wharf is a small garden and a riverside walkway with views across the Thames to the City.  Between June and September the Coin Street Festival is held annually to celebrate local life and arts.