Lady’s Guide to the Best of South London

There’s a lot going on in south London. Since moving to this part of the city, I’ve discovered great London neighborhoods and places to eat, drink, and explore. If you’re wondering where to go in this area of the UK capital, read on for A Lady in London’s guide to south London.

South London

The phrase “south London” refers to the area south of the Thames. It’s a broad term and not always a precise one.

Some areas are technically south of the river, but are considered east or west London. Richmond is a good example of this.

Others are technically north of the river, but because of the bends in its path, they sit farther south than some parts of south London. The Isle of Dogs is one of them.

But generally speaking, anywhere south of the Thames is in south London.

It encompasses a wide variety of neighborhoods and geographies, from the South Bank with its big attractions to up-and-coming areas like Deptford that are popular with hipsters.

North London vs South London

There’s a big rivalry between north and south London, and born-and-raised Londoners will often tell you there’s a cultural divide.

From food to football teams, transport links to trendy bars, both areas claim they have it better. It’s the subject of many a debate, and a lot of locals have strong opinions.

Which is why it’s nice to be an outsider. As an expat, I like being able to see the best in both north and south London. Having lived north, west, central, and south, I also like to think I’ve had a pretty broad experience of the city.

I didn’t spend a lot of time in south London before moving here, but now that I live in the area I’m enjoying discovering a lot of places I didn’t know existed.

How to Get Here

One of the reasons so many parts of south London remained a gap in my knowledge for so long is that the tube doesn’t serve the area as well as it serves the rest of London.

While there are tube stations in places like Brixton, Clapham, and Wimbledon, a lot of south London is off the Underground grid.

But since moving here I’ve discovered that it’s easy to get around by train, bus, and Overground. I wish I hadn’t been so intimidated by venturing off the Underground for so long, but I’m glad I’ve made up for lost time since buying my flat.

If you want to explore south London, it’s easy to use the TFL website, Google Maps, or Citymapper to figure out which transport links are the best for where you’re coming from and going to.

It always surprises me how fast and easy it is to get from central to south London, and how much faster it can be than getting from one place in central London to another.

Where to Go in South London

So where should you go in south London? There are a lot of options for places to explore, from areas with visitor attractions to neighborhoods where you can live like a local.

There are leafy villages and urban hotspots, picture galleries and royal palaces.

South London Neighborhoods

If you want to dig deeper into which parts of south London fit your style best, you can read through my neighborhood guides.

I’ve published a number of them and will add any new ones to this post. You can also take a look at my interactive London map to see them laid out geographically.

Brixton

Brixton is a multicultural area with vibrant markets and a great nightlife scene. It’s your area if you like creative spaces and a good evening out.

Brockley

Brockley is an under-the-radar south London neighborhood with lots of street art and a park with views. It’s your ideal spot if you like to get away from the obvious places.

Camberwell

Camberwell is home to art galleries, parks, and independent cafes. It’s for you if you’re artsy and like a unique coffee shop.

Dulwich

Dulwich is a village with picture-pretty streets, a world-class art gallery, and lovely parks. It’s perfect if you like beautiful houses and want to get away from the bustle of the city.

East Dulwich

East Dulwich has a great high street with lots of shops and restaurants. There’s a fun Saturday market, too. It’s just the place if you want some retail therapy and a good lunch.

Forest Hill

Forest Hill is known for its walrus (trust me). Beyond that, it has fun cafes and gardens. It’s great if you want to see a local area and visit a unique museum.

Greenwich

Greenwich is bursting with maritime history and royal residences.

From the Royal Observatory to the Queen’s House and the National Maritime Museum, it’s perfect if you like museums and history. My self-guided Greenwich walk can show you around, too.

Herne Hill

Herne Hill is known for its Sunday market and big park. It has great pubs and restaurants, too. It’s ideal if you want to experience a local neighborhood and see views of the city’s skyscrapers.

Kingston upon Thames

Kingston upon Thames feels like a town in its own right. It’s on the river and has good historic atmosphere. It’s for you if you want to get off the beaten path.

London Bridge

London Bridge has great restaurants and nightlife, and is conveniently located in the middle of London. It’s ideal if you want to stay close to north London but still get a feel for the south.

Nunhead

Nunhead is an under-the-radar area with an otherworldly cemetery and cool bars. It’s for you if you want to live like a local and explore unique sites.

Peckham

Peckham is one of south London’s hipster meccas. It’s known for its nightlife, including rooftop bars with views of the city skyline. It’s just the place if you like to party.

Richmond

Richmond is an upscale area with lots of shops, riverside pubs, and green spaces. It’s the perfect spot if you like exploring side streets and walking along the river.

Rotherhithe

Rotherhithe is steeped in history. It’s known for being the site from which the Mayflower ship departed London for America in 1620. It’s a great place if you like American history.

South Bank

The South Bank is home to the London Eye and other big attractions. It’s the ideal spot if you want to see the sights or go to the theater.

Vauxhall

Vauxhall is transforming faster than almost any other London neighborhood. It has unique cafes and nightlife, as well as a hidden lavender garden. It’s good if you want to stay central and explore a rapidly evolving area.

Wimbledon

Wimbledon is best known for tennis, but the village is worth a trip at any time of year. It’s perfect if you like a good high street, pubs, and green space.

Self-Guided Walks

If you want to get to know south London beyond the main streets and attractions, I’ve written a number of self-guided walks you can follow.

They include areas like Dulwich, Richmond, the South Bank, London Bridge, and Greenwich.

I’ve put them all in my south London walks blog post, and as with the neighborhood guides, I’ll add new ones to this post as I publish them.

If you want to bookmark or pin this post on Pinterest, you can use it as an easy reference for finding all my past, present, and future south London area guides and walks.

South London Attractions

In addition to places in the areas listed above, south London has individual attractions that are worth visiting.

Eltham Palace is a historic royal residence and Ham House is a National Trust property in London with great gardens.

As far as markets go, south London has some of the best in the city. Borough Market and Maltby Street Market are two of London’s most exciting food markets.

For green spaces, Kew Gardens is one of the world’s premier botanical gardens, Clapham Common is great for festivals, and Crystal Palace Park has a quirky collection of dinosaur sculptures roaming its islands.

South London Areas

I hope this blog post has helped you get a feel for south London and piqued your curiosity to explore it. There’s a lot to do and see, and I’m looking forward to discovering more of the area myself. I’ll make sure to share with you as I go.

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