Zone 2 creative hub and family friendly, with a major art, music and foodie scene, along with a thriving mix of independent shops, cafés and restaurants. Del Boy and Rodney will be forever in our hearts but now when it comes to this district in Zone 2, it’s less ‘Trotter’s’, and more Independent Traders as Peckham is dubbed the Hipster Capital of South London.
Vibrant with plenty of green spaces, it’s no wonder that Peckham has been voted the best place to live in London. With its mix of grand Victorian villas, perfectly proportioned terraced houses and open plan contemporary apartments, this area ticks many of a buyer’s/renter’s boxes. There’s something for everyone here; from the multicultural cafes and shops amongst the hustle and bustle of Rye Lane, to the independent shops and cafes on the quieter Bellenden Road.
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There is no Tube in Peckham but its two trains stations are well-served by the Overground and trains.
Peckham Rye and Queens Road Peckham have Overground trains a few stops away from Canada Water — where commuters change for Canary Wharf — and Shoreditch High Street for the City. There are direct links to the East End, Highbury & Islington and Clapham Junction.
There are plans for a multi – million pound overhaul at Peckham Rye station to restore the original 1800 façade and station square into a vibrant public space. Direct trains to London Bridge take 10 minutes; Victoria (12 minutes); Blackfriars (14 minutes), half-hourly trains to St Pancras which take 24 minutes and to Kent.
Trains from Queens Road Peckham go to London Bridge in 8 minutes. The two stations are in Zone 2 and the annual travelcard to Zone 1 costs £1,404.
There are long-term plans for an extension of the Bakerloo line along the Old Kent Road with a station at the junction with Asylum Road which bodes well for property North of Queen's Road.
All but two of Peckham’s state primary schools are rated “good” or better by the Ofsted education watchdog and there are some “outstanding” local comprehensive schools.
Primary
The “outstanding” primary schools are: John Donne in Wood’s Road and Angel Oak in Burcher Gale Grove.
Comprehensive
The “outstanding” comprehensive schools are: St Thomas the Apostle RC (boys, ages 11 to 18 with girls in the sixth form) in Hollydale Road; Harris Boys’ Academy East Dulwich (ages 11 to 18) in Peckham Rye; Harris Girls’ Academy East Dulwich (ages 11 to18) in Homestall Road; Haberdashers’ Aske’s Hatcham College (co-ed, ages three to 18) in Pepys Road in New Cross; and Sacred Heart RC (co-ed, ages 11 to 18) in Camberwell New Road, Camberwell. Newlands Academy (boys, ages 11 to 16) in Stuart Road is rated “good”. The Charter School East Dulwich (co-ed, ages 11 to 18) opened in September 2016 in Southampton Way but moved to its new premises on the site of the East Dulwich Community Hospital in Jarvis Road in January; the school has not yet been inspected by Ofsted.
Private
There is only one private school in Peckham itself — The Villa (co-ed, ages 2 to seven) in Lyndhurst Grove —although the private schools in Dulwich aren’t far. The Dulwich private schools are: Alleyn’s (co-ed, ages four to 18) in Townley Road; James Allen’s Girls’ (ages 4 to 18) in East Dulwich Grove and Dulwich College (boys, ages 7 to 18 with a co-ed nursery and pre-school for ages 0 to 7) in Dulwich Common.
Off Rye Lane there are two rooftop bars which look at each other from either side of the railway — Frank’s Café on top of Peckham Levels, the former multi-storey car park, and Bussey Rooftop Bar at the Bussey Building, now with winter opening hours.
Situated in Copeland Park, Social serves homemade filled flatbreads; Forza Wine has fantastic mini plates, the world famous Frank’s cafe is close by as is the CLF Arts Café which has a stunning terrace. Head up to level 5 at Peckham Levels for a variety of street food and vegetarian restaurant Wildflower.
Around the corner in Peckham High Street, vibrant yellow Persepolis, a Persian store and café run by cookery writer Sally Butcher and her husband, is another Peckham favourite.
On Blenheim Grove there is a branch of the East Dulwich bakery, Brick House, and newly opened French bistro, Levan, the latest offering from chef Nicholas Balfe from Brixton’s Salon, as well as branches of Honest Burger and long-standing Italian restaurant, Il Giardino.
On Rye Lane there's Old Spike Roastery, which roasts its own coffee, some of the best in the whole city according to the Londonist, CN Traveller and ES magazine, and provides employment and training to homeless people; Mr Bao's filled Taiwanese buns; Bánh Bánh for Vietnamese food; the good neighbour and bakery; Yada's Kurdish offerings and Vodoo Ray’s.
A few steps away from Rye Lane, shoppers enter a parallel universe. Along Bellenden Road there is a delicatessen, General Store; an independent bookshop, Review; renowned Thai street food restaurant, The Begging Bowl; pizzeria, Made of Dough; Bellenden florists; butcher Flock & Herd; fine dining Italian restaurant Artusi and Ganapati which offers authentic Southern Indian fare.
Peckham Rye Park and Common has 113 acres of grassland, an ornamental and water garden, a lake and woodland together with a children’s playground and an adventure playground. A refurbished café opened last summer. There are two council-owned swimming pools: at Peckham Pulse Leisure Centre in Melon Road and Dulwich Leisure Centre in Crystal Palace Road in East Dulwich.
Yogarise at the Bussey Building has a variety of classes, including Hip Hop yoga on the rooftop.
Copeland Park is the cultural hub of Peckham with The Bussey Building at its heart. Saved from demolition in 2007 by a community group, the former cricket bat factory is a multi-floored concrete block that has thrived as a warehouse-style club at night and a top arts venue during the day. Events include art- graduate shows, vintage fairs and secret venue for the Masked Ball, an immersive Swan Lake experience.
The CLF Art Café in the Bussey Building puts on a wide variety of events described as “brand-new opera, imagined Greek classics, electronic contemporary music to experimental physical theatre”.
On Rye Lane, you’ll find the recently opened Bo Lee gallery and Peckham Levels, which offers art workshops and exhibitions.
Bold Tendencies is a summer arts programme held on the upper floors of the multi-storey car park. Events include the Multi -Story Orchestra, dance and opera. South London Gallery in Peckham Road is a leading contemporary art gallery. It has recently opened a new space in a former Fire Station on the opposite site of the road.
Voted Best Value Cinema by Time Out magazine and Love London Awards Best Entertainment Venue in SE15, the independent Peckhamplex shows mainstream, art house, foreign language and independent films on its six screens, all at a bargain price of under a fiver! You can also enjoy a film under the stars at the Rooftop cinema at Copeland Park.
