I’m listing my ten reasons to visit Walworth Road, London SE17. It’s a traditional London high street between Elephant and Castle and Camberwell. The focus is bringing people together with the Southwark Heritage Centre, Walworth Library, and the new community Town Hall revamp. If you want to experience the Walworth neighbourhood, you can shop with the locals for fruit and veg at East Street Market or dine at one of the inexpensive eateries. Anyone who loves a bargain will appreciate the abundance of discount stores. There are a few compelling shops and eateries for the influx of newcomers spilling over from the regeneration of Elephant and Castle.
Ten Reasons To Visit Walworth Road List:
1. Shop with the locals at East Street Market
2. See where Charlie Chaplin was born
3. Learn about the history of the Borough at the Heritage Centre
4. Get some peace in the Walworth Library
5. Get ready for the Walworth Town Hall transformation
6. Eat dim sum lunch every day at Dragon Castle
7. Hang out at local café and bar, Louie Louie
8. Cheer up your home with plants from Plantsocietree
9. Shop at G Baldwin & Co, one of London’s oldest herbalists
10. Shop at Crisis to help the homeless
My Ten Reasons To Visit Walworth Road
1. Shop with the locals at East Street Market. East Street Market is one of London’s oldest traditional markets where the locals flock for fresh fruit, veg, clothing and more. It’s open from Tuesday to Friday, 8 am until 5 pm, Saturday from 8 am until 6.30 pm, and Sunday from 8 am until 4 pm. Look out for the entrance on Walworth Road.
2. See where Charlie Chaplin was born. On Walworth Road above JD Sports, at the entrance to East Street Market, look out for the Blue Southwark sign saying Charlie Chaplin, 1889-1977, Walworth-born Comic Genius. JD Sports. The address is 227-279 Walworth Road.
3. Learn about the history of the Borough at the Heritage Centre. If you want to discover more about the area, pop into the Southwark Heritage Centre, where you’ll find artefacts and exhibits about local places and people. The address is 147 Walworth Road.
4. Get some peace in the Walworth Library. In the same building as the Heritage Centre is the library where you can loan a book and use the facilities, including a study area and meeting room. The address is 147 Walworth Road.
5. Get ready for the Walworth Town Hall transformation. Although the building is still under construction, I wanted to add it because the plans look fantastic. After being ravaged by fire in 2013, it will get a new lease on life and become a community hub and creative workspace. I can’t wait until it’s completed! The address is 151-155 Walworth Road.
6. Eat dim sum lunch every day at Dragon Castle. One of my favourite restaurants in the area is Dragon Castle, a Cantonese restaurant serving daily dim sum for lunch. If you’re not a fan of dim sum, you can choose from the extensive a la carte menu. In the foyer, they have a pond with fish! The address is 100 Walworth Road.
7. Hang out at local café and bar Louie Louie. They serve croissants and coffee for breakfast; at lunch, you can try a sourdough sandwich or soup; in the afternoon, it’s tea and cake. Weekend brunch includes Eggs Florentine, Blueberry Pancakes and Beigel options. The address is 347 Walworth Road. Another great coffee place is Change Please at 131 Walworth Road, where one hundred per cent of the profits help to change the life of someone in need.
8. Cheer up your home with plants from Plantsocietree. Wow, what an amazing collection of house plants, including cacti, succulents and exotic varieties. It’s a great place to buy gifts such as terrariums, bonsai trees or a plant in a cute pot. You’ll love the vintage cabinets with plants displayed in the drawers. The address is 232 Walworth Road.
9. Shop at G Baldwin & Co, one of London’s oldest herbalists. Browse the extensive collection of herbs, roots, barks, essential oils, tinctures and natural remedies. The apothecary-style cabinets and interiors hark back to bygone days. The address is 171-173 Walworth Road.
10. Shop at Crisis to help the homeless. I always enjoy popping into a Crisis shop because they make a significant effort with merchandising and styling. You’ll find shoes, bags, clothing and some home accessories in the store. The address is 223-225 Walworth Road.
Watch My Walworth Road Video
Helpful Information About Walworth Road
Another thing to mention about Walworth Road is that you’ll find plenty of reasonably priced places to eat, with quite a few Lebanese restaurants (Shawarma Hut, Lebanese Grill, Fes Restaurant). If you want to purchase food ingredients, you can check out the Asian supermarkets (Longdan and Kiki and Miumiu) or the independent veg, fruit, meat and fish stores (Oli Food Centre and AK Fish and Seafood). If you’re on the hunt for a bargain, you’ll find Pound Stretcher, Pound Buster, Poundland and more along Walworth Road.
A few buildings of interest to admire include the Walworth Town Hall, which I mentioned earlier is under renovation to become a community space. The Walworth Clinic at 157-163 Walworth Road is Grade II Listed. Above the door is a stone saying, “The health of the people is the highest law.” If you look down Liverpool Grove as you walk down Walworth Road, you’ll catch sight of St Peter’s Church.
Aside from the Charlie Chaplin Blue Plaque, there is one for “Charles Babbage, 1791-1871. A mathematical genius, astronomer, inventor and father of computing.”
Read the Walworth Wikipedia page for more information about the area and the information about heritage action zones on the Historic England website.
The nearest station is Elephant and Castle. While you are in the area, you may be interested in these articles:
East Street Market Walworth
Ten Things To Do In Elephant And Castle
Best Places To Eat In Elephant And Castle
Where To Eat In Castle Square Elephant And Castle
Dragon Castle Chinese Restaurant Elephant And Castle
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.
