Southwark and Lewisham

Location of the Southwark and Lewisham area in London

Southwark and Lewisham are two boroughs of inner south east London.

Understand

Deptford Market

Southwark was one of the earliest extensions of settlement in London beyond the walls of the Square Mile and across the river, beginning back in the Roman period and is traditionally referred to as "the Borough" in order to distinguish it from the "Square Mile" of the City. The eastern part of the district, downstream of Tower Bridge, is generally referred to (and marketed heavily) as "the Pool of London", referring to the old docks and wharves of the area that have been reconverted into housing and retail areas. The north-western riverside portions of the borough of Southwark are dealt with in our South Bank district.

The Crystal Palace was a huge steel and glass building designed by Joseph Paxton to house the Great Exhibition, Prince Albert's brainchild for bigging up the British Empire to the rest of the world. It was erected in Hyde Park and closed in 1851. Parliament closely voted not to retain it as a permanent feature in Hyde Park and it was later transported to the top of Sydenham Hill. The surrounding area, still known to many locals as Upper Norwood, is now known as Crystal Palace. The palace burned down in 1936 in still unexplained circumstances.

Dulwich has a number of recognised sub-districts, which include North Dulwich, bordering Herne Hill, Dulwich Village (which includes the traditional village centre, and is the home to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, James Allen's Girls' School, Dulwich College and Dulwich Park), and East Dulwich which bounds Peckham and has a number of independent shops, restaurants and bars along Lordship Lane.

Lewisham is a largely residential borough of south inner London and includes some of the most run-down areas in the whole city. To the east of this borough is the historic, more gentrified Blackheath, which hosted the first England v Wales rugby international, now ideal for flying a kite. Deptford (home of Queen Elizabeth I's naval dockyard) and Surrey Quays are on the riverside.

Get in

Despite their ideally close proximity to the City of London, Southwark and Lewisham are poorly connected by public transportation to the rest of London; on the whole, South East London is generally not served by the London Underground so the suburban rail services and the bus network are used to get around.

By train

1 London Bridge station. The main station for southeast suburban line rail services to Dartford, Orpington, Hayes and Croydon, stopping at various stations throughout this area. These services are not shown on the standard tube map but pretty much everywhere in this area is within walking distance of a station served by these services and the Oyster fare card works on all of them. Many of these services continue on from London Bridge station to London Charing Cross station – a 5-minute walk from Leicester Square and Covent Garden – and to London Cannon St station in the City of London. (updated Apr 2024)

• There are also services from London Victoria to Orpington and Woolwich which serve stations in this area.

• The London Overground – Windrush line shares a route with trains from Crystal Palace and West Croydon to London Bridge as far as New Cross Gate then veers northwards to Canada Water then crosses under the river to the East End and Islington. Another branch of the Overground Windrush line links Canada Water eastwards to Peckham and Clapham Junction.

• The Docklands Light Railway (DLR) runs from Lewisham rail station northwards to Greenwich and then under the river to the Isle of Dogs in the East End. These are driverless trains so get a seat at the front for a driver's eye view.

By London Underground (Tube)

• The Jubilee line serves Canada Water and Bermondsey stations then goes west to Stratford station in East London and east to the South Bank, the West End and North West London.

• For Northern line and Bakerloo line services to the northern part of Southwark borough see our South Bank page.

By bus

All parts of this area are served by regular bus services. Many bus stops have 'spider maps' – diagrammatic representations of the buses serving that area and where they go to. These can be worth a look as they have a lot of info. PDFs of these maps can be downloaded here and here.

For those who like to party late into the night in Central London, the night buses serve all parts of this area, all night long. Most night buses run at hourly intervals but many places are served by more than one route so service intervals are reduced. Check services on TFL's website.

• Bus 1 (Canada Water to Centre Point). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 3 (London Victoria to Crystal Palace). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 21 (London Moorgate to Lewisham). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 35 (Shoreditch to Clapham Junction). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 47 (Shoreditch to Catford). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 54 (Beckenham to Charlton). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 63 (London King's Cross to Crystal Palace). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 68 (London Euston to West Norwood). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 75 (Lewisham to Croydon). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 108 (Lewisham to Docklands). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 124 (Catford, St Dunstans to Grove Park). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 136 (Peckham to Grove Park). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 160 (Catford Bridge to Sidcup). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 168 (Hampstead Heath to Old Kent Road). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 171 (Holborn to Catford Bus Garage). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 176 (Tottenham Court Road to Penge). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 180 (Lewisham to Belvedere). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 181 (Lewisham to Grove Park). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 185 (Lewisham to Victoria). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 208 (Lewisham to Bromley). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 225 (Canary Wharf to Hither Green). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 284 (Lewisham to Grove Park). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 321 (New Cross Gate to Sidcup). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 381 (Peckham to London Waterloo). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 436 (London Paddington to Lewisham). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 484 (Lewisham to Camberwell). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 453 (Deptford to London Marylebone). (updated Apr 2024)
• Bus 931 (Crystal Palace to Lewisham). (updated Apr 2024)
• P4 (Lewisham to Brixton). (updated Apr 2024)

See

Crystal Palace Park

• 1 Crystal Palace Park (Crystal Palace or Penge West rail stations are adjacent to the park). While the Crystal Palace is no longer there, the 200-acre park is a lasting reminder of the grandeur of the scheme. There is a wide range of things to see and do, including a hedge maze, a sports centre with Olympic-sized pool, a boating lake, fishing, an athletics stadium and an open air concert bowl by a lake among other things. The park is a great place for a walk and also for cycling around. A significant attraction within the park is the Dinosaur Park. Large Victorian concrete and cast iron dinosaurs are scattered around widely. The dinosaurs, built by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins in the early 1850s to meet the emerging passion of wealthy Victorians for fossils and paleontology, they predated Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species by six years and were unique in the world. After falling into a state of disrepair in the 1980s and 1990s, they were splendidly renovated using a Lottery grant in the early 2000s and are now protected as a grade I listed structure. The dinosaurs were designed by the Victorians on their idea of what one would look like and differ somewhat from modern interpretations. Free.  
• Riverside developments. Developments of Shad Thames and Surrey Quays which contains numerous London Dock artifacts. Bermondsey St has undergone extensive redevelopment in the last seven years and it has been transformed into a highly desirable place to live and work. 
• 2 St Paul's Church, Deptford High St, SE8, ☏ +44 20 8692-7449, rector@paulsdeptford.org.uk. Built in 1720, it has been called A remarkable example of English Italianate Baroque.and often has classical concerts and organ recitals. John Betjeman is said to have called the church "a pearl at the heart of Deptford". Adjacent to the beautiful (and quite eerie at night) church yard is Albury Street, which has some fine 18th-century houses which were popular with sea captains and shipbuilders. Christopher Marlowe, (a contemporary of Shakespeare) was murdered in a nearby house, and buried in an unmarked grave in the churchyard of St. Nicholas, the ancient parish church. It's a short walk from Deptford train station, which opened in 1836, and is reputedly the oldest railway station in London, and the oldest suburban station in the world to survive on its existing site.  
• 3 Sydenham Hill Wood, Sydenham Hill, SE26 6ND (Forest Hill rail stn), awhite@wildlondon.org.uk. A remnant of the great hornbeam and oak woodland that once traversed South London. Run as a reserve by the London Wildlife Trust. Some splendid old trees and healthy bird and insect populations.  
• 4 Southwark Park, Gomm Rd, SE16 (tube: Rotherhithe  OGD ). A large, open and green park in an otherwise densely built part of London. Wide range of sporting facilities, a cafe, boating lake and an art gallery.  
• Rotherhithe's Nordic Churches, once an important place for Scandinavian dockers, the only trace of this legacy left is the Norwegian, Finnish (next to each other) and Swedish Churches. While not having regular services, you can go for traditional saunas at these churches.

• 5 Tsar Peter the Great Monument, Deptford Creek. Tsar Peter the Great Monument, which is located at the waterfront adjacent to Deptford Creek and paid for by the Russian government to commemorate the cultural exchange between two great seafaring nations (it could be argued that Deptford Docks inspired the birth of the Russian navy). The writer and gardener, John Evelyn (1620–1706) who lived at Sayes Court, (now run-down and neglected) hosted the young, rowdy Peter the I (1672–1725) as a guest for about three months in 1698; during his naval apprenticeship on his great tour of Western Europe. Sir Francis Drake was knighted by Queen Elizabeth I aboard the Golden Hind in Deptford Docks too. Unfortunately the statue of Evelyn who stood next to Peter was damaged during an attempted burglary in 2022 and is still covered by a wooden box. Free. (updated May 2023)
• Hilly Fields is a park between Brockley and Lewisham with good views in all directions. Access from 484 bus.

Museums and galleries

The Brunel Museum

• 6 Brunel Museum, Railway Ave, Rotherhithe, SE16 4LF (tube: Rotherhithe  OGD ), ☏ +44 20 7231-3840, education@brunel-museum.org.uk. Daily 10AM-5PM. A museum dedicated to the works of the great engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel including a major exhibition about the founding of the London tube system. Also a fine collection of Victorian industrial paintings on show. £8.00 concs £5.00.  
• 7 The Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill, SE23 3PQ, ☏ +44 20 8699-1872. Daily 10:30AM-5:30PM. A fine museum with an eclectic collection of stuffed animals, wonderful collection of world musical instruments, with interactive information. There is also an aquarium with an admission charge. A real hidden gem for those with an interest in the anthropology of African and Asian cultures. Pleasure gardens with a fine view over London, are adjacent to the Museum, perfect for a picnic on a fine day. Free.  
• 8 Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Rd, Dulwich Village, ☏ +44 20 8693-5254, fax: +44 20 8299-8700. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su and bank holiday Mondays 11AM-5PM; closed Good Friday, 1 Jan and 24-26 Dec. One of London's lesser known treasures showcasing a magnificent collection of old masters, including works by Poussin, Claude, Rubens, Murillo, Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Watteau, Gainsborough and many others. It was assembled for the King of Poland in the 1790s; an alternative home was found for the collection of artworks in the "clean air of Dulwich" after the Kingdom of Poland's partition and temporary disappearance as an independent state. The gallery was designed by Sir John Soane and opened in 1817. An extension completed by Rick Mather adds additional space to the compact gallery. DPG received the Museums and Heritage Award for Excellence in 2005 and was winner of the Independent Award for Britain's Favourite Visitor Attraction. It also worth exploring the lush grounds of Dulwich College or Dulwich Park, both a scenic stroll away. £4, senior citizens £3, unemployed, disabled, students and children free, additional charge for special exhibitions.  
• 9 Fashion and Textiles Museum. It's in the vicinity of Bermondsey Spa Gardens, and is an intriguing museum with those for a passion for fashion.  
• 10 Imperial War Museum. It's in the former Bethlehem Mental Hospital (and the origin of the word Bedlam) in Southwark. Founded to commemorate the efforts of soldiers from Britain and the Empire in World War I, it has expanded over the decades with exhibits on World War II, more recent conflicts, and rotating exhibitions. The museum contains a vast array of military exhibitions including an eagle statue from Hitler's desk, and replica-shell of Fat Boy, dropped on Nagasaki to end World War II. Free.  
• 11 The Cuming Museum (Newington Library), 151 Walworth Rd. Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM. The first gallery tells the story of the Cuming family and their collection the second gallery focuses on the history of Southwark and is split into three areas, settling here, a place to visit and world connections. The Southwark gallery looks at the people who have lived and worked here from Roman times to today. The third gallery in the museum is the temporary exhibition gallery - exhibitions change every four to six months. free.  
• 12 Rangers House, Chesterfield Walk, SE10 8QX, ☏ +44 20 8294-2548. At Blackheath, maintains a large ceramic collection. Adults £6.70, children £4.00, concessions £6.00.  
• 13 White Cube Bermondsey, 144 – 152 Bermondsey Street, SE1 3TQ, ☏ +44 20 7930-5373. Tu–Sa 10AM–6PM, Su noon–6PM. Art gallery with exhibitions by major British and international artists. Free. (updated Dec 2016)

Do

Christ's Chapel of God's Gift, in Dulwich

Seasonal activities

• Dulwich Festival: 10–19 May 2024. Local arts festival held annually in May. (date needs updating)
• Carnaval del Pueblo: . The less-famous sister of the Notting Hill Carnival, in Burgess Park. It is the largest Latin American outdoor festival in Europe.  (date needs fixing)
• Lewisham People's Day: . Diverse summer festival hosted in Mountsfield Park, Catford, which attracts large crowds, though often some of the wrong kind. (date needs fixing)
• Telegraph Hill Festival: . Which runs throughout the Telegraph Hill ward from 15 March to 1 April. (date needs fixing)
• Blackheath Fireworks Display: . Every Guy Fawkes night (5 November) Lewisham council puts on a spectacular free fireworks display. Crowds of over 100,000 amass, so stake a good spot earlier. There is also a funfair and circus on the Heath. (date needs fixing)

Cinema and theatre

• Sands Film Studios, 82 Saint Marychurch St, Rotherhithe, SE16 4HZ, ☏ +44 20 7231-2209. This film production company runs an informal cinema club which shows seldom seen and rare films. The club aims to disseminate a better knowledge of the history of world cinema. Club screenings are usually at 9PM every Tuesday. Attendance is free but you do need to join the club (also free and easily done by email - check the website). 
• The Broadway Theatre, Catford, hosts pantomime, stand-up comedy, serious dramas and off-West End musicals, often for a bargain price compared to what you would pay in Theatreland. It has a rather ornate art-deco facade and interior. Likewise there is The Albany at Deptford, as well as the Brockley Jack which has an intimate theatre, seating only about 50 at the back of a rather nice same-named pub in Brockley.
• The Blue Elephant Theatre on Bethwin Road is the only theatre venue in Camberwell.
• Camberwell is home to several art galleries including Camberwell College of Arts, the South London Gallery and numerous smaller commercial art spaces. The annual Camberwell Arts Festival is well supported. Jazz in the Crypt, for the discerning jazz crowd, is located below St. Giles Church, on Camberwell High St, and has seriously good acts each Friday night.

Sport and leisure

• Catch a football match at Millwall or Crystal Palace F.C. These two rival teams have been somewhat yo-yos, yet enjoy zealot-like support from fans in the rougher-parts of London, particularly Millwall who have become infamously portrayed in several hooligan films. It should be fairly easy to purchase tickets for The New Den and Selhurst Park respectively, though you'll want to sit in the home end, to be on the safe side. Near to Selhurst Park, is the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, which boasts an international athletics arena (which hosted some of the earliest FA Cup finals) and Olympic swimming pool. It is possible to watch the London Towers basketball team and London Olympians American football club too.
• Parkrun - Weekly free parkrun events are held at 9am at several southeast London locations including Southwark Park (Southwark Parkrun), Burgess Park, Hilly Fields, Peckham Rye and Catford. In each case, it is a free, timed 5km run - it's you against the clock (pre-register with Parkrun if you want a recorded time). Join in - run, jog, walk, drive a push-chair - whatever your pace. Tourists are always welcome!
• Beckenham Place Park, large picturesque park, were you can also play golf. Kent CCC are known to play Twenty20 matches here in Summer. Beckenham also has a nice weekend market.
• 1 Walk the Thames Path (between London Bridge and Deptford Creek). Southwark and Lewisham host a large portion of the London section of the 184-mile-long Thames Path, organised by National Trails. The route between London Bridge and Deptford Creek largely follows the river (with occasional excursions inland), passing Tower Bridge, the Brunel Museum at Rotherhithe and Greenland Dock. Just north of Deptford, it cuts inland around the Convoys Wharf site before resuming its riverside route towards Greenwich. There are shops, bars, restaurants, etc. around Tower Bridge, then occasional pubs along the way, including Deptford's Dog & Bell. Consider letting the train take the strain: catch the train from Deptford station to London Bridge (10-minute journey) then follow the riverside path back to Deptford. (updated Apr 2021)

Buy

• 1 Bermondsey Antiques Market (New Caledonian Market), Bermondsey Sq (at junction of Bermondsey St/Long Ln, tube: London Bridge). F 5AM-2PM. A very famous long-standing market which attracts dealers from all over southern England every Friday morning. Antiques and collectibles from almost every imaginable genre. Used to be infamous for fencing stolen goods but that is no longer the case. 
• 2 Deptford Market, Deptford High St, SE8 4AG. The old working-class area of Deptford still has a lively street market from 7AM on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. This is a real street market and it is neither trendy or touristy! Likewise, East Street Market in Walworth, which has a real mix of African-Caribbean food stalls and antiques and oddities dealers. The birthplace of Charlie Chaplin is here, with several landmarks named after him.  
• 3 Peter Layton London Glassblowing, 62-66 Bermondsey St, SE1 3UD (tube: London Bridge), ☏ +44 20 7403-2800, gallery@londonglassblowing.co.uk. Th–Sa 11AM–5PM. A gallery, studio and shop which showcases contemporary glass pieces. (updated May 2021)
• 4 Lewisham Shopping Centre (formerly Riverdale Centre), Molesworth St, SE13 7HB. M-W F 9AM-6:30PM, Th 9AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-6PM, Su 11AM-5PM. Many high street chain retailers and a produce market outside too, plus H&M, M&S and TK Maxx department stores. (updated Feb 2018)
• Blackheath Farmers Market is in Blackheath railway station car park every Sunday.

Eat

The area is home to two historic desserts, a particular kind of light lemony bread pudding called the Deptford Pudding. Similarly Crystal Palace, another area gives us the spectacular, fruity, layered jelly that is Crystal Palace Pudding. See if you can track them down!

• 1 Cafe East, 100 Redriff Rd, Surrey Quays, SE16 7LH (at the Surrey Quays shopping Centre). Wonderful Vietnamese food and if you like spicy authentic oriental food, this place is an amazing value. 
• 2 The Sausage Man, Unit 1, St. Margaret’s Farm, St. Margaret’s Road, Dartford, DA4 9LB, ☏ +44 1322 867060. M–Th 9AM–5PM, F 9AM–noon, Sa Su closed. Worth it for the name alone! This is a friendly mobile German deli, under Lewisham Clock Tower, serving the best frankfurters and bratwurst this side of Cologne. (updated Apr 2021)
• 3 A Torre, 19 Westow St, SE19 3RY, ☏ +44 20 8653-9895, bookings@atorre.co.uk. T–F noon–2:30PM & 6–11PM, Sa noon–11PM, Su noon–10PM. Portuguese restaurant. (updated Apr 2021)
• 4 The Yellow House, 126 Lower Rd, SE16 2UE (tube: Surrey Quays), ☏ +44 20 7231-8777, info@theyellowhouse.eu. Tu–Sa 5:30–10PM, Su 12:30–10PM, M closed. Informal restaurant and bar serving modern pub type food and a range of wood-fired pizzas. (updated Apr 2021)
• 5 Maggies Cafe, 322 Lewisham Road, SE13 7PA (tube: Lewisham DLR), ☏ +44 20 8244-0339, info@maggiesrestaurant.co.uk. Below platform 4 of Lewisham train station, is a charming Irish café, extremely popular with the locals, which can make it hard to get a table come lunch-time. A mixed clientèle of City commuters and construction workers frequent this institution. They serve an all-day 'Make-your-own' fry-up for £6, where you can order what and as much as you like off a set-menu. Besides the traditional 'heart attack on the plate', they do pies, pastas, steaks and salads, as well as curiously good curries, owing to the fact that the eponymous Maggy being married to a Bangladesh chef. Good banter is delivered with free refills of tea and coffee. Make you sure you ask for the Specials and also try the infamous Irish Musturd. 
• 6 Sapporo Ichiban, 13 Catford Broadway, Catford, SE6 4SP (1-min walk from Catford Bridge station, behind the Town Hall), ☏ +44 20 8690-8487. Daily 6–10PM. A very good and bargain-priced (by London standards) Japanese restaurant. On Monday to Thursday evenings (6-10PM) they serve £12 order all-you-can eat sushi and noodle dishes, which are freshly made by the experienced chefs. (updated Apr 2021)
• 7 Tai Won Mein, 90-92 Rushey Green, Catford, SE6 4HW (near Catford Bridge), ☏ +44 20 8690-8238. Offers fantastic Chinese cuisine, well, large portions at least, at a budget price. They only take cash. (updated Apr 2021)
• 8 A2 Lounge Restaurant & Wine Bar, 77A Rushey Green, Catford, SE6 4AF, ☏ +44 20 8695-9822. M–Th noon–midnight, F Sa noon–2AM, Su 5PM–1AM. Nigerian Restaurant - interesting if you want to try something different. (updated Apr 2021)
• 9 Planet 68, 68 Rushey Green, Catford, London SE6 4JD, ☏ +44 20 8690-3131. African joint. (updated Apr 2021)
• 10 Mekan Restaurant, 13 Bromley Rd, Catford, SE6 2TS (next to the old Catford cinema, at the Gyratory), ☏ +44 20 7998-1598, orders@mekancatford.co.uk. Daily noon–10PM. It is an excellent Turkish restaurant, with a relaxed dining experience. Big generous portions. (updated Apr 2021)
• 11 The London Particular, 399 New Cross Road London SE14 6LA (between New Cross and New Cross Gate stations), ☏ +44 20 8692-6149, info@thelondonparticular.co.uk. Su-Th 10AM-4:30PM, F Sa 10AM-10PM. Very good food at very good prices. 
• 12 Chicago Grill plus, 315 New Cross Road, New Cross, SE14 6AS (between New Cross and New Cross gate stations), ☏ +44 20 8691-3030. Burger joint with many vegetarian and vegan options. 
• 13 The Last Talisman, 171-173 Bermondsey St, Bermondsey, SE1 3UW, ☏ +44 20 8189-9546, hello@thelasttalisman.com. Tu W 5PM–12:30AM, Th noon–12:30AM, F noon–2:30PM, Sa 11:00AM–2:30AM, Su 11AM–11:30PM, closed M. An Asian grill and bar opened in 2021. (updated May 2021)
• Vietnamese restaurants are clustered in Deptford, such as Le Gia, 41-42 Broadway, Dat Cang 236-238 Evelyn Street and Cafe Mama Pho.
• There are several large Turkish grocery stores in the district, which are open 24/7 and sell a whole range of products including very good daily baked rolls and cakes. TFC along Bromley Road, and Turkish Food Express near the stations in Catford are great value as is its sister branch, TFC on Lewisham High St.

Drink

Bermondsey

• 1 The Angel, 101 Bermondsey Wall E, SE16 4NB, ☏ +44 20 7394-3214. (updated Mar 2021)
• 2 Lord Nelson, 386 Old Kent Rd, SE1 5AA, ☏ +20 7701 8510. (updated Jan 2024)
• 3 Old Justice, 94 Bermondsey Wall E, SE16 4TY. A wood panelled pub with a good range of beers. (updated Jan 2024)
• 4 Old Salt Quay, 163 Rotherhithe St, SE16 5QU, ☏ +44 20 7394-7108. River-side pub with great views across the Thames. 
• 5 The Ship Aground, Wolseley St, SE1 2BP, ☏ +44 20 7237-3314. (updated Mar 2021)
• 6 Simon The Tanner, 231 Long Ln, SE1 4PR, ☏ +44 20 3793-0202. (updated Jan 2024)

Clubs

• 7 Ministry of Sound, 103 Gaunt St, SE1 6DP, ☏ +44 20 7740-8600. F 10:30PM–6AM, Sa 11PM–6AM (last entry 4AM). World-famous nightclub with a reputation for strong DJs. (updated May 2021)
• 8 The Venue, 2a Clifton Rise, SE14 6JP, ☏ +44 20 8692-4077, dance@thevenuelondon.com. is a night-club popular with the artsy crowd of nearby Goldsmiths University. It boasts 5-floors with a range of music from indie to techno, and houses cover-bands such as Bjorn Again. Lots of bohemian pubs are close by where up-and-coming bands (Athlete, Bloc Party and Art Brut all started around here) and DJ's ply their trade. (updated Dec 2023)
• At New Cross, such as The New Cross Inn, The Hobgoblin and Amersham Arms. Also, try the Goldsmiths Union, for cheap student parties.
• 9 The Royal Oak, 44 Tabard Street, SE1 4JU (tube: Borough), ☏ +44 20 7357-7173. Serves excellent Harvey's beer, the only pub in London owned by that brewery, as well as delicious food. Classy selection of traditional British pub-grub along with more exotic choices, such as swordfish or crocodile. Routinely voted CAMRA London Pub of the Year 

Camberwell and Walworth

• 10 Camberwell Arms, 65 Camberwell Church St, London SE5 8TR, ☏ +44 20 7358-4364, enquiries@thecamberwellarms.co.uk. Independent foodie pub famed for its Sunday roasts (rated #1 of 50 best Sunday lunches by the Guardian in 2017). Bars spread over two floors, great for either a drink or a bite to eat. (updated Apr 2019)
• 11 Stormbird, 25 Camberwell Church Street, SE5 8TR, ☏ +44 20 7708-4460. popular craft beer bar with broad, rotating range of interesting ales on tap (updated Apr 2019)

Lewisham, Catford and Deptford

• The Fox & Firkin in Ladywell is a buzzing joint with the 20-something crowd, and has late opening times, as well as film nights and great live music. A stone's throw away, is the Jolly Farmer which has a lot more beardy, grey-haired clientele, and hosts regular folk jam sessions and decent pints.
• 12 Blythe Hill Tavern, 319 Stanstead Rd, SE6 4US, ☏ +44 20 8690-5176. 11:30AM-11:30 PM. is a trad Victorian pub (updated Dec 2023)
• 13 Catford Bridge Tavern (The Copperfield), Station Approach, SE6 4RE (conveniently located next to Catford Bridge Station), ☏ +44 20 8690-6759, info@catfordtavern.com. M–F 4–11PM, Sa Su noon–11PM. is a newly refurbished up-market gastropub next to the stations, with 5 handpumps serving ales.Has a classy selection of gourmet food. (updated Dec 2023)
• 14 The London & Rye, 109 Rushey Grn, London SE6 4AF, ☏ +44 20 8697-5028. is a cheap and cheerful Wetherspoons on Rushey Green named after a long-gone coaching inn, with a mixed crowd. (updated Dec 2023)
• The Goose on the Green, near the old village pump, is the oldest establishment in the area, and was a reputed drinking hole for Karl Marx, it is wonder if he would approve of today's working-class bunch who frequent it. If you fancy a quiet pint, the Catford Ram at the back of the Mews shopping precinct, serves yummy Youngs ale. There are also a few clubs such as Motown, The Spot and Riva.
• Deptford High Street is now home to a thriving evening economy with several bars and restaurants.
• 15 The Dog & Bell, 116 Prince St, Deptford, SE8 3JD, ☏ +44 20 8692-5664. A quiet old-time boozer, known for its fine selection of ales (usually 3 handpumps), above-average meals, and occasional regional beer festivals. Features a bar billiards table and sometimes live music (Irish folk music during the Irish beer festival, for example). There is a quiz on Sundays, and a performing arts venue across the street, in a converted brick warehouse. 

Peckham and Dulwich

• 16 Frank's Cafe at Bold Tendencies, 95A Rye Lane, SE15 4ST (head to the Peckhamplex cinema then follow the path round to the right and into the car park). Summer months only. A unique bar open in the summer months on the top floor of a multi-storey car park, with fantastic views over London. (updated May 2021)
• Other pubs and bars in the area are John the Unicorn, The Montpelier, and the East Dulwich Tavern.
• 17 Victoria Inn, 77 Choumert St, Peckham SE15 4AR (Overground: Peckham Rye), ☏ +44 20 7639-5052. M-Sa 12:00-23:00, Su 12:00-22:00. Excellent restored Victorian pub with good food and stylish accommodation. No dogs. B&B double £100. (updated Sep 2020)

Sleep

• 1 Pasha Hotel, 158 Camberwell Rd, SE5 0EE, ☏ +44 783 7263 635, info@lbnhotels.com. A unique place fronting Camberwell High St. It includes a central Asian restaurant, spa treatment and a shisha balacony, with views over the diverse neighbourhood below. (updated Apr 2021)
• 2 Best Western London Queens Crystal Palace Hotel, 122 Church Rd, Crystal Palace, SE19 2UG, ☏ +44 20 8653-6622. From £60. 
• 3 Travelodge London Greenwich, Blackheath Road, Greenwich, SE10 8DA (Right next to the Deptford Bridge DLR station). Furnished place with funky design and cafe. £40-100. (updated Apr 2021)
• 4 McMillan Student Village, 137 Creek Rd, SE8 3BU. Fantastic place for a good night's kip after a heavy night out. 
• 5 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London - Docklands Riverside, 265 Rotherhithe St, SE16 5HW, ☏ +44 20 7231-1001. Five-star riverside hotel. 
• 6 New Cross Inn Hostel, 323A New Cross Rd 323 New Cross Rd, SE14 6AS, ☏ +44 20 8691-7222, newcrossinn@heltd.org. If you don't mind the area. From £13. (updated Apr 2021)
• 7 The Clarendon Hotel, 8-16 Montpelier Row, Blackheath Village, SE3 ORW, ☏ +44 20 8318-4321. Rooms from £75, backs onto Blackheath, nice views. 
• Or try a homestay. Lots of people rent out rooms in the area, to students practicing their English but tourists too!

Stay safe

Once working-class parts of London, the boroughs that make up Southwark-Lewisham still retain a somewhat rough image in the eyes of many Londoners. Nonetheless, tourists should generally not fear for their lives; much to the contrary. In fact, the area is generally safer than much of South London and on par with London as a whole. Nevertheless, some specific areas should be approached and precautions are to be taken as a result.

Though gang-related activities are nowhere nearly as prevalent as they once were, some areas like Deptford and Peckham remain prone to gun crime and aggravated assaults.

Surrey Quays is a quiet area, but pickpockets and theft have been known to occur in the vicinities.

Southwark Park may be pleasant, but it has been known to attract some unwanted crowds at night and during big events.

If you do manage to party at the Ministry of Sound, get ready to be surrounded by hordes of drunk partygoers that can get really rowdy.

Go next

Because it doesn't appear on the Tube map, this area can get overlooked by tourists but it has good fast links to Charing Cross station (for Leicester Square and Covent Garden), to Cannon Street station (for the City) and to London Bridge station (for the South Bank) so it is a good base for visiting central London.

The Greenwich World Heritage site is a bus ride from most places in Southwark-Lewisham, or take the DLR from Lewisham station.

Routes through Southwark and Lewisham

Leicester Square ← South Bank ←	W  E	→ END
Westminster ← South Bank ←	W  E	→ East End → East London
Leicester Square ← South Bank ← Charing Cross branch ←	N  S	→ Charing Cross branch → Lambeth → South London
The City ← South Bank ← Bank branch ←	N  S	→ Bank branch → Lambeth → South London
The City ← Greenwich ←	N  S	→ END
Wandsworth ← Lambeth ←	W  N	→ East End → Islington
END ← South London ←	S  N	→ East End → Islington

Routes through Southwark and Lewisham

END ←	NW  SE	→ Greenwich → Dartford
merges with at New Cross ←	NW  SE	→ Eltham → Sidcup
merges with at Lewisham ←	N  S	→ Bromley → Sevenoaks

London Borough of Southwark

London Borough of Lewisham