Lewisham: Culture, Nature and Trails

Lewisham: The Horniman Museum and Gardens in Forest Hill is a free, family-friendly attraction. It features internationally significant collections on anthropology and musical instruments, as well as an aquarium, a butterfly house and a natural history collection. The gardens were officially opened to the public on 1 June 1895.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Lewisham, you can compare travel dates, room category and cancellation policies on the relevant listing page; the desired length of stay and the focus on culture, nature or cycling routes can also be considered as separate planning factors.

Culture

The Broadway Theatre in Catford is a Grade II listed building with a long history of variety, comedy and Black theatre productions. It houses a historically significant Compton organ from 1932, which was designed for classical concerts, community concerts and theatre operations. The Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art is a free public gallery in a redeveloped Victorian bathhouse in New Cross.

The Albany is located about 250 metres from Deptford station, which is served by National Rail. As a leading arts centre in Deptford, The Albany hosts music, theatre and family performances as well as other events every year.

History

Lewisham Heritage has more than 500 years of Lewisham’s history; the earliest entry dates from 1476. The reading room of Lewisham Heritage is located in Catford Library. Historical maps, photographs, local history books, microfiche records and electoral registers are available there.

Nature and Landscape

Beckenham Place Park is the largest green space in the borough of Lewisham, covers 98 hectares and contains large areas of ancient woodland suitable for woodland walks. The entrance to Beckenham Place Park is less than a five-minute walk from the station. Sue Godfrey Nature Reserve is free and open to all year-round and can be entered from all four sides. Over the past 15 years, more than 200 species of wildflowers, shrubs and trees have been recorded there.

Dacres Wood Nature Reserve contains ponds and wetlands that originated from the former Croydon Canal and are of great importance for nature conservation. In the northern area of Ladywell Fields, the diversion of the river created a natural-looking space. With a little luck, you can spot resident kingfishers and a heron there. The upper part of Telegraph Hill Park offers views across London.

Downham Woodland Walk is a narrow strip of predominantly ancient woodland, most of which is probably primeval, and stretches for just over one and a half kilometres. Creekside Discovery Centre protects and enhances unique river and wildlife habitats.

Trails and Cycling

The Green Chain Walk runs along Downham Woodland Walk between Beckenham Place Park and the Hither Green Grove Park nature reserve. The Waterlink Way runs from Deptford Creekside to Beckenham Place Park and is an almost car-free route for walking and cycling. The Waterlink Way between Ladywell Fields and Lower Sydenham is recommended for relaxed family cycling as well as for people using wheelchairs, handcycles or pushchairs. At Beckenham Place Park, quieter on-road and off-road cycle routes run near or through the park.

Creekside Discovery Centre offers a Low Tide Walk in Deptford Creek.

Markets and Local Produce

The historic Lewisham Market on Lewisham High Street sells fresh food, fabrics, clothing and household goods. Brockley Market in Lewisham offers fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, seafood, cheese, doughnuts, cookies and fresh bread.

Other destinations:Sutton, City Of London, Bexley, Waltham Forest, Hammersmith And Fulham, Richmond Upon Thames, Bromley and Lambeth.

A free weekly 5-km event takes place every Saturday at 9 a.m. in Mountsfield Park, where you can walk, jog, run, volunteer or watch.

For the higher-level travel overview: Greater London.