My Neighbourhood: Zandra Rhodes’s Bermondsey

When legendary fashion designer Zandra Rhodes first moved from Notting Hill to Bermondsey in 1995, few people could understand why. The area was largely unchanged since the war – there was one shop and a pub on her street, she says, neither of which looked overly enticing. But Rhodes had a master plan: she wanted to build what is now the Fashion and Textile Museum, and she’d found the perfect space in a lofty old cash-and-carry on Bermondsey Street. With the help of respected Mexican architect Ricardo Legorreta, the vivid orange- and pink-fronted museum opened in 2003. The designer lives in the penthouse and works from her studio on the floor below. “When I first moved here, people would ask me if I was safe walking home,” Rhodes recalls. “There were a few streetlights, but so much was boarded up. The street has definitely flowered since then, and perhaps I’ve played a part in that. I love being surrounded by the young people who come here now. It has a real beauty of its own.”

“There are so many good restaurants on my street, but Casse-Croute is the one for me. It’s a small sort of place, and they have a very nice set menu, either meat or vegetarian. If the weather’s fine, then it’s just delightful to sit outside and watch the world go by.”

“There is always such excellent work on show here; I recently saw a very nice display of paintings by Anita Klein. The art changes regularly, but it’s consistently fabulous – often there are very beautiful etchings.”

“One of our foremost contemporary art galleries, the White Cube is always well worth a visit – there’s usually something jaw-dropping to see there.”

“Aside from the exhibitions, I must say the FTM has a very good shop, which sells such interesting bits of jewellery and brilliant books.”

“A wonderful little coffee shop in a charming corner building. It only seats a few people, but perfect for a coffee to go.”

“You would never know it was there, but there’s a very pretty green space in the middle of an 18th-century colonnade of Guy’s Hospital, now part of the King’s College campus. It’s very peaceful.”

“Every September, there’s a village fete that takes place along Bermondsey Street and in Leathermarket Gardens [this year on September 19]. There’s maypole dancing, music and a dog show that I’ve judged in the past. It’s really quite good fun.”

“I don’t drink, but the bar at The Shard, Gong on the 52nd floor, has the most incredible views. I do like the Chinese food at Hutong, the restaurant on level 33, too.

This article originally appeared in the fifth issue of Broadsheet London's magazine.