LONDON

For those in the know, the allure of London is a long way from the familiar tourist sites, department stores and chain restaurants. In fact, the true charm of London is waiting to be discovered in the capital’s network of outlying villages, each with its own unique appeal.

Here, you’ll find everything you need to live your best London life, from stylish home décor to the latest fashions and from gastropubs to restaurants serving authentic global cuisine. In the vibrant streets of Peckham’s Bellenden Village, vintage fashion boutiques rub shoulders with artisan delis, independent bookstores and the renowned Persian shop and restaurant Persepolis. Spend a lazy Sunday cooling off at Brockwell Lido or browsing among the fresh produce, organic food and second-hand collectables at Haynes Lane market in Gypsy Hill.

When it comes to leisure, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Take in an arthouse movie at the East Dulwich Picturehouse or a blockbuster on the giant screen at the Odeon BFI IMAX, just a short stroll from the South Bank complex of performance and exhibition halls. Family-friendly museums, world-class theatres and a host of music venues offer all-year-round entertainment. In a city blessed with vast swathes of green spaces, there are plenty of options for family outings. Your new home is within easy reach of Kew Gardens, Richmond and Greenwich Parks,and Battersea Park Children’s Zoo, to name a few. And with an excellent network of rail and bus services on your doorstep, you’ll have no trouble navigating your way across one of the most exciting and enriching cities in the world.

SYDENHAM HILL

Sydenham Hill and its surrounding areas offer the best of both worlds. Easy access into central London, combined with a village lifestyle surrounded by leafy parks, woods and green walking trails. Just three miles away is Brockwell Park and its famous lido, a favourite spot for year-round open-air swimming and sunbathing.

Head down the hill into Sydenham for independent wine bars, craft beer, vintage shops and gastropubs, or to access the extensive overground rail network. Take a trip into Dulwich Village for its cosmopolitan collection of restaurants, bars and boutiques, or over to Peckham Rye for rustic pubs with welcoming beer gardens and a food market specialising in African and intercontinental fare.

Winner of the best park in South London 2020, Crystal Palace is a wonderful day out for the family, boasting a skatepark, maze, farm, museum and boating lake. While in nearby Sydenham Hill Wood you can explore a network of tranquil trails through the enchanting ancient woodland. For football fans, Crystal Palace F.C., the Premiership football club is a ten-minute drive away.

There is a wealth of culture to experience too, from the masterpieces on display at Dulwich Picture Gallery to the exhibitions, trails and festivals created by Sydenham Arts There is also an abundance of leisure facilities, including Dulwich Golf Club and the historic Herne Hill velodrome, where you can enjoy a drink while watching top-class racing. The restored gothic revival All Saints Church in West Dulwich is a hidden gem, hosting regular services, choral music and concerts.

Sydenham is also a prime location for some of the best schools in the country, a mix of private and state educational facilities, all with exceptional reputations. You really are spoiled for choice in this south London village.

DULWICH VILLAGE

A leafy Victorian suburb in south London, peppered with acres of parkland, Dulwich offers a unique combination of good schools, excellent transport links into central London and a high street bustling with independent retailers.

Dulwich Village is situated in what was once a private holding, now managed by The Dulwich Estate which controls development in the local and surrounding area. One of the main attractions of the area is its green open spaces, most notably, Dulwich Park consisting of 72 acres of conservation and wildlife areas, complete with a boating lake, duck pond, tennis courts and café.

Dulwich Village is famous for its art gallery, The Dulwich Picture Gallery, home to European greats such as Poussin and Rembrandt. In addition to its own collection of old masters, the gallery hosts regular award-winning exhibitions, featuring a highly eclectic range of brought-in material, and holds weekly art workshops. The traditional village atmosphere is further enhanced with small boutique shops, leafy streets and charming white picket fences. There are cafés, delis, organic food shops and a wide range of well-stocked independent stores. The Crown & Greyhound pub and hotel has provided travellers with accommodation and acted as the social hub for the Village since 1911.

Lordship Lane in East Dulwich, just one mile away from the Village, provides a plethora of award-winning independent retailers, bakers, pubs and restaurants, along with the East Dulwich Picturehouse, an intimate three-screen cinema showing major releases and arthouse favourites. At its far eastern end, Lordship Lane also has the inspiringly diverse Horniman Museum and Gardens, founded by a Victorian tea tycoon and filled with an amazing collection of anthropological and natural history exhibits.