Borough of Southwark

Camberwell is an area in South London, in the Borough of Southwark. It is bordered by Peckham, Kennington, East Dulwich, Herne Hill, and Brixton. Camberwell is a popular area. Ruskin Park has a recently restored Victorian bandstand and has been awarded a Green Flag Award, while Myatt’s Fields Park has recently completed a £2.6 million renovation funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

 

Did you know?
  • There are a few theories about where the name Camberwell comes from. It may come from the Old English words Cumberwell or Comberwell, which translates to ‘Well of Britons’. This may refer to the few Celtic inhabitants in an area largely populated by Anglo-Saxons. Another theory is that the name may refer to ‘Cripple Well’, as many sickly people were sent to Camberwell from the City of London for treatment by the church and the ‘healing’ waters from the wells and springs around Denmark Hill and Grove Park.
  • John Ruskin, Victorian art critic, and watercolour artist lived at 163 Denmark Hill from 1847. However, after the newly built railways spoiled his views, he moved out in 1872. Ruskin helped design a stained glass window in St Giles Church, as well as Ruskin Park being named after him.
  • There is a butterfly named after Camberwell, The Camberwell Beauty, which is very rare in the UK. It was named after Camberwell and the first two examples of it were found there. There is a beautiful mosaic of the butterfly on the Lynn Boxing Club on Wells Way.

 

Look out for

Camberwell Baths – Locals fought hard to save the Camberwell Baths which is housed in a fine Victorian building dating from 1892

Blue Elephant Theatre – A small theatre with a range of performances including dance, performing arts, theatre and storytelling

Lucas Gardens – A small but lovely paved and landscaped garden

South London Gallery – After Tate Modern, the South London Art Gallery on Peckham Road is South London’s leading contemporary art gallery

Camberwell College of Arts – Part of the University of the Arts, it is one of the best art and design institutions in the UK

Camberwell Arts Festival – This long-running festival celebrated 20 years in 2017

Burgess Park – This large park in Camberwell used to be housing but was converted into a park in the Abercrombie Plan to bring more open spaces to London

 

Shopping

Butterfly Walk Shopping Centre has a Morrisons, Superdrug, and Holland & Barrett among other stores. Other independent shops in Camberwell include Rat Records, Pesh Flower Shop, Mens Traditional Shoes, Jim Dandy Vintage, Sophocles (a Greek bakery), while Cowling and Wilcox claim to be the biggest art shop south of the river.

 

Eat

Theo's Pizza – Stone baked Neapolitan style pizzeria

Silk Road – Northern Chinese restaurant with simple communal tables

Zeret Kitchen – A traditional Ethiopian restaurant 

Viet Cafe – Restaurant serving traditional Vietnamese food such as Banh Mi and summer rolls

FM Mangal – Turkish cafe with a great local reputation

 

Drink

The Camberwell Arms – A independent pub great for a drink and an award-winning Sunday lunch

The Crooked Well – A modern pub with a good selection of beer and dining options

The Tiger – A large Victorian pub with a terrace overlooking Camberwell Green

Stormbird – Great for craft ales and getting taster ⅓ pints

The Sun of Camberwell – A pub with a warming open fire and quirky beer garden

Good Neighbour – A new restaurant and wine bar in Camberwell

 

Properties

Properties in Camberwell are a mixture of relatively well preserved Georgian and 20th-century housing, including a number of ex-locals and new developments. Sought after areas include Camberwell Grove, Grove Lane, and Addington Square which have some of London's most elegant and well-preserved Georgian houses.

 

Trains

Denmark Hill to London Victoria in 12 minutes

Denmark Hill to London Bridge in 14 minutes

Denmark Hill to St Pancras in 23 minutes

Loughborough Junction to St Pancras in 19 minutes

 

Other Transport

Camberwell is also very well served by buses with most routes going either via Kennington or Elephant and Castle which offers connections with the tube.

 

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