Bankside, which is an area on the south of the River Thames, London, has transformed its characteristics during these two decades: From the area of poverty to one of the vibrant historical districts with tourist attractions and commercial interests. This paper examines how the district has transformed its characteristics and how historical attractions at Bankside are designed for maintaining its cultural heritage and ensuring a safe and secure environment. Its redevelopment plan aims at promoting London’s heritage so as to attract tourists, as well as to increase business opportunities and profits from the presence of cultural heritage. It is an attempt to make Bankside a vibrant mixed-use area for business, tourism, and residence. Cultural heritage often celebrates the achievements of the past, which are presented and are tailored in a way of how present people evaluate its significance in terms of both its architectural and environmental protection. Bankside has been reconstructed in a way of presenting an idealized past of the district. The history of local residents, many of whom worked for such locally based shipping industry and were engaged in low paid work, is neither displayed nor celebrated as cultural heritage, which is a collective legacy for presenting to contemporary audiences or tourists. Links between business and local authority contribute to creating a clean and safe environment and generating new jobs and inflows of population into the area. While heritage tourism can result in revitalizing the area, it may increase alienation of the under-privileged section of local population.
Introduction
1. History of Bankside and the Transformation of its Environment
2. The Redevelopment of Bankside as a Historical and Cultural Site
3. Opportunities for developing Cultural Tourism
Conclusion