Camberwell & South East London guidebook
Food and cafes
This lovely cafe does great coffee and homemade cake. It's run by my cousin and is near the bus stops into central London for sightseeing.
65 locals recommend
Fowlds Cafe
3 Addington SquareThis lovely cafe does great coffee and homemade cake. It's run by my cousin and is near the bus stops into central London for sightseeing.
A local family run Kurdish Restaurant with a few small branches in South London. The Camberwell Church St branch is 5 mins from our flat and is great for lunch and dinner.
15 locals recommend
Nandine
45 Camberwell Church StA local family run Kurdish Restaurant with a few small branches in South London. The Camberwell Church St branch is 5 mins from our flat and is great for lunch and dinner.
Incredible Chinese food from Xinjiang region, very reasonably priced (two can eat for £20). Try the spicy cucumber salad, belt noodles and broths. You will need to book, its v popular.
176 locals recommend
Silk Road
47 Camberwell Church StIncredible Chinese food from Xinjiang region, very reasonably priced (two can eat for £20). Try the spicy cucumber salad, belt noodles and broths. You will need to book, its v popular.
Great affordable vegetarian and vegan crepes. Relaxed atmosphere. Good tea,
41 locals recommend
Maloko
60 Camberwell Church StGreat affordable vegetarian and vegan crepes. Relaxed atmosphere. Good tea,
Affordable Lebanese food - local favourite, good for families. I recommend the mixed mezze platter for £4.50.
30 locals recommend
Falafel & Shawarma London
27 Camberwell Church StAffordable Lebanese food - local favourite, good for families. I recommend the mixed mezze platter for £4.50.
Francesco's
73-75 King StReally affordable and tasty overfire pizzas in Camberwell
FLADDA Fish & Chips
55 Camberwell Church StTheo's
2 Grove LnFM Mangal
54 Camberwell Church StGood food served at lunch and dinner in a pub setting - good in the day for families!
87 locals recommend
The Crooked Well
16 Grove LnGood food served at lunch and dinner in a pub setting - good in the day for families!
Clubhouse Cafe
Lovely park in a cafe serving coffee cake and toasties next to tennis courts.
Clubhouse Cafe
Sightseeing
A 10 minute walk away you will find the South London Gallery - a beautiful contemporary gallery split over two sites, both with free entrance. It has a shop selling art books and gifts and a good cafe for brunch. There is also a garden out the back for sunny days.
215 locals recommend
South London Gallery
65 Peckham RdA 10 minute walk away you will find the South London Gallery - a beautiful contemporary gallery split over two sites, both with free entrance. It has a shop selling art books and gifts and a good cafe for brunch. There is also a garden out the back for sunny days.
Horniman Museum and Gardens
100 London RoadA 3 story space of galleries, restaurants, bars and shared work space in Peckham (in a converted car park). Brilliant views of London. Good place to have a drink if you have kids.
118 locals recommend
Peckham Levels
95a Rye LnA 3 story space of galleries, restaurants, bars and shared work space in Peckham (in a converted car park). Brilliant views of London. Good place to have a drink if you have kids.
Peckham
Gorge Victorian park with a community cafe, historic bandstands and great kids play area. Less than 10 mins from ours.
53 locals recommend
Myatt's Fields Park
12 Calais StGorge Victorian park with a community cafe, historic bandstands and great kids play area. Less than 10 mins from ours.
Great space for families and all on the south bank of the rivers. Has a food market outside and often has free concerts.
436 locals recommend
Southbank Centre
Great space for families and all on the south bank of the rivers. Has a food market outside and often has free concerts.
Tate Modern
BanksideEasy to get to from our place, free and good for families
Very easy to get to from ours (take the 36 or 185 bus) and you can spend a whole afternoon exploring this gallery
656 locals recommend
Tate Britain
MillbankVery easy to get to from ours (take the 36 or 185 bus) and you can spend a whole afternoon exploring this gallery
National Maritime Museum
Romney RoadGreenwich Market
5B Greenwich MarketIncredible views of Canary Wharf skyline from this cute, community-run city farm. They have Christmas markets in December.
89 locals recommend
Surrey Docks Farm
Rotherhithe StreetIncredible views of Canary Wharf skyline from this cute, community-run city farm. They have Christmas markets in December.
Barbican Centre
Silk StreetArt, library, theare and cinema in a modernist building
You can sometimes get last-minute cheap tickets from their website. Definitely worth trying!
8 locals recommend
National Theatre
You can sometimes get last-minute cheap tickets from their website. Definitely worth trying!
Secret museum in South London - not many people know of it and it is really incredible.
19 locals recommend
Cinema Museum
2 Renfrew RdSecret museum in South London - not many people know of it and it is really incredible.
Neighbourhoods
Our apartment is in Camberwell - a wonderful neighbourhood with lots of restaurants with food from around the world and for all budgets. There are good local pubs and cafes and also lots of parks. Camberwell Art School and South London Gallery are a 10 min walk from us.
36 locals recommend
Camberwell
Our apartment is in Camberwell - a wonderful neighbourhood with lots of restaurants with food from around the world and for all budgets. There are good local pubs and cafes and also lots of parks. Camberwell Art School and South London Gallery are a 10 min walk from us.
Historic area of London on the Thames, just a 20 min bus from our place. You can visit the Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory.
541 locals recommend
Greenwich
Historic area of London on the Thames, just a 20 min bus from our place. You can visit the Maritime Museum and Royal Observatory.
Peckham High Street
Peckham High StreetWaterloo
South Bank
Bars and pubs
The Camberwell Arms
65 Camberwell Church StGood drinks, high-end tasty food and music in the evenings.
The Hermits Cave
28 Camberwell Church StTraditional local pub with a fire in the winter
Great place to have a drink or coffee, especially if you have a pram as its set back from the road so there's space to spread out at the front.
32 locals recommend
The Pigeon Hole
2 Datchelor PlGreat place to have a drink or coffee, especially if you have a pram as its set back from the road so there's space to spread out at the front.
Stormbird
25 Camberwell Church StPopular bar with specialist beers and good atmosphere
The Chateau
29-33 Camberwell Church StLGBTQ bar and club with cool live performances and friendly vibes
Live jazz music every Friday night in the Crypt of a local Church
15 locals recommend
Jazzlive at The Crypt
Camberwell Church StreetLive jazz music every Friday night in the Crypt of a local Church
Friendly local pub with a young crowd. Good food at lunch and dinner. Gets the evening sun outside for after work drinks.
26 locals recommend
Grove House
26 Camberwell GroveFriendly local pub with a young crowd. Good food at lunch and dinner. Gets the evening sun outside for after work drinks.
Cinema
Peckhamplex
95A Rye LnAffordable local cinema - only £4.99 per film
Specialist cinema on bank of the Thames - nice cafe and bar too. Pricey but cool.
109 locals recommend
BFI Southbank
0 Belvedere RdSpecialist cinema on bank of the Thames - nice cafe and bar too. Pricey but cool.
Swimming
Original 1930s Art Deco style open air swimming pool. Book via their app 7 days in advance during the summer as it is popular. Surrounded by Brockwell Park. Onsite cafe plus lots of places to eat in nearby Herne Hill and Brixton.
162 locals recommend
Brockwell Lido
Dulwich RoadOriginal 1930s Art Deco style open air swimming pool. Book via their app 7 days in advance during the summer as it is popular. Surrounded by Brockwell Park. Onsite cafe plus lots of places to eat in nearby Herne Hill and Brixton.
Traveler advice
Traveling with kids
Use buses rather than tubes if you have a pram
London's buses have much easier pram access than the tubes, and they go all over the city. You can use your contactless card to pay directly on the bus so you don't need to buy a ticket.
Getting around
You can use contactless card payment on all buses, tubes and trains in London
The fee is automatically taken and capped at the day rate once you have swiped enough times. This is by far the most affordable & hassle-free way to pay for London travel. No need for tickets or Oysters!
Traveling with kids
Museums and galleries are mostly free in London
So they are a great day out for families. The Tate Modern, Tate Britain, Hayward, Southbank Centre and South London Gallery are some of my favourites.
Ways to save
Spend time eating and going out in residential neighbourhoods like Camberwell and Peckham
There is loads going on and you will avoid the tourist traps this way.
Customs and culture
London is big, diverse, friendly and cosmopolitan
Try and explore residential areas of the city, not just the centre, to get an insight into London life. It's made up of a spiral of villages that merged together as the centre grew.