Lambeth Palace is the Archbishop of Canterbury's official residence. It is on the south bank, but walled away from it, across the main road. Part of its grounds are now a public park, Archbishop's Park, which was donated in 1900.
To most of the people who drive past, aiming for the roundabout by Lambeth Bridge, or who walk past, choking on asbestos dust, the great house might as well be invisible, walled and churched-in as it is. The Park is what they can use, with a play area for children, and tennis courts.
The Palace's great ecclesiastical library has its roots in a bequest of books in 1610 from an Archbishop. From time to time, the buildings survive riots -- in 1640 from London apprentices or in 1780 by Gordon rioters. Otherwise, for the most part, its history is unbelievably dull.