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From Wikitravel

London/Southwark-Lewisham is a distict of inner south London.

[edit] Understand

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 western riverside portions of the borough of Southwark are covered in the 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 permament 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 itself 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 as well as 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 [1] is a largely residential borough of south inner London and includes some of the most run-down areas in the whole city.

[edit] Get in

Much of South London is poorly served by the tube network and this district is no exception away from the banks of the Thames. This makes use of overground rail services and the bus network especially important.

[edit] By train

• London Bridge is a main terminus for many south east suburban line rail services.

• Crystal Palace is served by overland trains from two major London stations, Victoria and London Bridge. Direct trains also go south to West Croydon and Beckenham Junction. The tramline linking Beckenham Junction and Croydon is planned to be extended to Crystal Palace as a future development. If they happen then look forward to significant timelines into the 2010s.

• North Dulwich and East Dulwich are both on the line from London Bridge to West Croydon.

• West Dulwich is on the line from London Victoria to Orpington.

• Lewisham is accessible via an overland train from London Bridge (10 mins) to New Cross, New Cross gate, Deptford, St Johns, Lewisham, Ladywell, Lee, Blackheath and Hither Green stations and by Docklands Light railway (DLR) from Bank and Docklands to Lewisham station (approx 25 minutes from Bank, 15 minutes from Canary Wharf).

[edit] By bus

• 3 (Oxford Circus - Crystal Palace)
• 21 (Moorgate - Lewisham)
• 47 (Shoreditch - Catford)
• 75 (Lewisham - Croydon)
• 136 (Peckham - Grove Park)
• 180 (Lewisham - Belvedere)
• 185 (Lewisham - Victoria)
• 321 (New Cross Gate - Sidcup)
• 436 (Paddington - Lewisham)

Crystal Palace is well served by many bus routes and is served by a main bus station. For those who like to party late into the night in Central London the night buses N2, N3, N63 and N137 all run to Crystal Palace.

[edit] By tube

• Southwark (Jubileee line)
• London Bridge (Northern line))
• Borough (Northern line))

[edit][add listing] See

• Crystal Palace Park, (Crystal Palace Park rail station is adjacent to the park), [2]. While the original 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, were then unique. After falling into a state of disrepair in the 1980s and 1990s they were splendidly renovated using a Lottery grant in the early 2000s. The dinosaurs were designed by the Victorians on their idea of what one would look like  edit

• The Horniman Museum, 100 London Rd, Forest Hill SE23 3PQ, ☎ +44 20 8699 1872, [3]. Daily 10.30AM-5.30PM. Is a fine museum with an aquarium, collection of stuffed animals, wonderful collection of world musical instruments, with interactive information. Free.  edit

• 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.  edit

• St. Paul's Church, Deptford High St SE8, ☎ +44 20 8692 7449 (rector@paulsdeptford.org.uk), [4]. Built in 1720, it has been called A remarkable example of English Italianate Baroque.  edit

• Sydenham Hill Wood, Sydenham Hill SE26 6ND (Forest Hill rail station), (awhite@wildlondon.org.uk), [5]. 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.  edit

• Southwark Park, Gomm Road, SE16 (tube: Rotherhithe), [6]. 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.  edit

[edit] Museums and galleries

• Brunel Museum, Railway Avenue, Rotherhithe SE16 4LF (DLR station: Canada Water), ☎ +44 20 7231 3840 (education@brunel-museum.org.uk), [7]. 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 induistrial paintings on show. Free.  edit

• Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Rd, Dulwich Village, ☎ +44 20 8693 5254 (fax: +44 20 8299 8700), [8]. Tu-F 10AM-5PM, Sa Su and bank holiday M 11AM-5PM, closed M except bank holidays, Good Friday, New Year's Day 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. Originally 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. A new extension recently 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. £4, senior citizens £3, unemployed, disabled, students and children free, additional charge for special exhibitions.  edit

[edit][add listing] Do

• Dulwich Festival, [9]. Local arts festival held annually in May.  edit

• Sands Film Studios, 82 Saint Marychurch St, Rotherhithe SE16 4HZ, ☎ +44 20 7231 2209, [10]. 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).  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Bermondsey Antiques Market (New Caledonian Market), Bermondsey Sq (at junction of Bermondsey St/Long Lane, tube: London Bridge), [11]. Fridays only 5AM-2PM. A very famous long-standing market wih 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.  edit

• Deptford Market, Deptford High St SE8 4AG. The old working-class area of Deptford still has a lively street market on Saturdays and Wednesdays. This is a real street market, it is neither trendy or touristy!  edit

• Peter Layton and Associates (London Glass Blowing Gallery), 7 The Leathermarket, Weston St SE1 (tube: London Bridge), ☎ +44 20 7403 2800, [12]. A gallery, studio and shop which showcases contemporary glass pieces.  edit

[edit][add listing] Eat

• Cafe East, 100 Redriff Road, 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.  edit

• Island Fusion, 57B Westow Hill, Crystal Palace SE19 1TS, ☎ +44 20 8761 5544, [13]. Caribbean food.  edit

• Los Toreros Tapas Bar, 35 Westow Street, Crystal Palace SE19 3RW, ☎ +44 20 8771 0087. Tapas and a wide selection of other Mediterranean food.  edit

• Pizza Express, 94 The Village (Dulwich), ☎ +44 20 8693 9333. Local branch of the popular up-market pizza chain.  edit

• A Torre, 19 Westow Street SE19 3RY, ☎ +44 20 8653 9895, [14]. Portuguese restaurant.  edit

• The Yellow House, 126 Lower Road SE16 2UE (tube: Surrey Quays), ☎ +44 20 7231 8777 (info@theyellowhouse.eu), [15]. Informal Restaurant and bar serving modern pub type food and a range of wood-fired pizzas.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

• Ministry of Sound, Gaunt St, [16]. World famous nightclub with a reputation for strong DJ's. It is mostly too commercial for real dance music fans these days but remains a quality venue.  edit

• Old Salt Quay, 163 Rotherhithe Street SE16 5QU, ☎ +44 20 7394 7108. River-side pub with great views across the Thames.  edit

• The White Hart, 96 Church Rd (Corner of Church Rd and Westow St), ☎ +44 20 8768 1001. M-Th noon-11PM, F Sa noon-midnight, Su noon-10:30PM. Really great pub with great mix of seating, specialist nights, interesting beers, great modern British pub food, and a nice outdoor area. Different nights including live music, quiz nights. Mixed crowd. Relaxed weekend day times, can get busy in the evenings. Decor is a mix of traditional, industrial/modern and quirky/shabby chic. Friendly staff. (533500,170457) edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

• Queen's Hotel, 122 Church Rd, Crystal Palace SE19 2UG, ☎ +44 20 8653 6622 (queeneurogroup@yahoo.co.uk), [17]. From £60.  edit

• McMillan Student Village, Creek Rd, Deptford. Fantastic place for a good night's kip after a heavy night out.  edit

• Hilton London Docklands Riverside, 265 Rotherhithe Street SE16 5HW, ☎ +44 20 72311001, [18]. Five star riverside hotel.  edit

[edit] Get out

Southwark makes a good starting point for explorations further along the river Thames, whether upstream or downstream. Upstream (to the west) leads to the vibrant and artsy South Bank district.

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!