Good transport links, the Young Vic and Old Vic and the general atmosphere were all named as positives about Waterloo in a recent survey.

Livebait, Greensmiths, Cubana and The Camel and Artichoke were also mentioned when almost 300 people were asked to name what they liked most about Waterloo.

The survey was conducted by students from London South Bank University as part of a new partnership between the university and the BID to track visitor perceptions of the area.

Suggestions for increasing footfall to the area included promoting its cultural diversity and creating an attraction for younger people, such as a skate park.

In all 298 people stopped for five minutes to complete a survey, which will form part of the second-year students’ coursework for their Tourism Management module.

The results will be analysed in full by both the students and the BID before the young academics present their own suggestions on ways to increase footfall to Waterloo and improve its environment.

It is hoped that the partnership will lead to an annual survey by students to give the BID more evidence over trends in the forthcoming years.