An Exploratory Journey into South East London

An Exploratory Journey into South East London

28 August, 2009
by: SamGould

Beyond the end of those multi-coloured lines on the underground map, beyond the reach of stifling underground tunnels and beyond the consciousness of many Londoners lies the South East of London, often out of reach for those who depend solely on fast-moving subterranean travel to get around.

Few Londoners can claim to know our great city in its entirety, save a few taxi drivers and possibly the pigeons. That, surely, would be too much to take in. It is of course, an exciting prospect that you could live here for almost your entire life and still find something new and adventurous about this city almost every day. The south east of London is a lovely all-round greener pasture that, while not as connected or frequently visited, offers some of the most amiable of city spots. Why not let Spoonfed suggest some of the most enjoyable areas of interest in the southern sphere of our city?

Dulwich

The area of Dulwich has undergone extensive gentrification over recent years, and now stands as a vibrant, young and exciting area in the south of London. Packed full of busy bars and restaurants, the area is a perfect patch in which to spend a summer evening. Running through it is the ancient thoroughfare of Lordship Lane, a street that vastly predates Victorian developments. 

A location of particular interest stands here, the architecturally significant building known as the ‘Concrete House’. The derelict grade II listed building is a fascinating example of 19th century architecture and is believed to be the only remaining building of its type in England. Dulwich is also home to the Dulwich Picture Gallery, considered to be not only one of the oldest collections in Britain, but also one of its most important. The European Old Master collection was first put together on the request of the King of Poland between 1790-95, but on the country’s partition in 1795, the paintings were given to Dulwich College on the premise that they would then be made open for public viewing, and henceforth became the very first public art gallery in the country.

For more going on in Dulwich try here

Greenwich

Relatively easily accessible compared to most, just a short trip down the Thames by river taxi, lies the alluring and peaceful area of Greenwich, home to the Royal Observatory, beautiful parks and the beginning of time (The Prime Meridian Line runs through Greenwich park).  A pleasure to walk around, Greenwich is a perfect retreat to feel out of the stifling hustle of the inner-city. Without a doubt one of the most charming and dignified areas of our fair city, a walk through Greenwich Park can wash away a sullen mood and lighten the heart.

Atop the hill, amid luscious green foliage, sits the Royal Observatory, commissioned way back in 1675 by King Charles II to accurately record the motion of the heavens. Though no longer in use, in the past the observatory contributed heavily to the weight of scientific endeavour not just in this country but in the world and remains a location of global historical significance. Today, visitors can visit the observatory and enjoy not only the amazing views, but take in one of the incredible planetarium shows, giving a real time presentation of what you can see in the night sky. Most certainly one of the most enjoyable activities in the south of London. Take a look here.

Greenwich is also home to the National Maritime Museum.
For more in Greenwich click here

Forest Hill

Another beautiful green refuge, Forest Hill is home to the much celebrated Horniman Museum which houses many unique collections pertaining to anthropology, music and natural history. The museum contains over 350,000 objects, including an extensive collection of stuffed animals and a new aquarium. The fascinating exhibitions and events held within bring to the south of London a unique and valuable contribution to the culture of the city. For most of 2009 the museum hosted an amazing exhibition entitled The Robot Zoo which was truly breathtaking in its intricacy and detail, and a must see for any fan of science fiction. Check it out here.

For more in Forest Hill try here

Peckham

Most famous as the home of the Trotter family, Peckham is a multicultural bustling area of south London. A trip down Rye Lane will pass you by such a repetition of nail parlours, hair dressers and butchers that you’ll lose count, but Peckham also holds its fair share of history and culture. The John Latham Museum stands at the home of conceptual artist John Latham who died in 2006 and made his name in the seventies with his esoteric and intriguing event-based art. The public are invited to pore over a collection of his work in his home separated into rooms he named fittingly The Face (his front room), The Brain (his office) and The Hand (his studio). An inspection of his strange body of work, such as acid blanched and disfigured dictionaries and work relating to his theory of ‘flat-time’, can provide an interesting afternoon of artistic edification. Have a look here.

More in Peckham here

So next time you drift south of the river, why not set your sights slightly further afield than the Southbank and take a trip into the heart of south east London, where a fascinating corpus of history and culture can be found.

For more things to do in London, click here.

SamGould