I’m listing my ten things to do in Camberwell, London SE5. You’ve probably heard of Camberwell College of Arts. As you’d expect, art is synonymous with the area, especially because of the South London Gallery and the Fire Station Gallery. I’ll also be highlighting the green spaces of Burgess and Ruskin Park along with Camberwell Green. Check out Denmark Hill, Camberwell New Road and Camberwell Church Street for eateries, pubs, and shops. You’ll fall in love with the village vibe of Grove Lane, where you’ll find Theo’s Pizzeria, Grove Lane Deli and The Crooked Well Gastro Pub. Join me as I give you the low down on ten things to do in Camberwell.
Former London and County Bank, Grade II Listed Building, 1899
Ten things to do in Camberwell list:
1. Immerse yourself in the Camberwell Arts Scene
2. Enjoy the beautiful Camberwell parks
3. Tuck into all-day breakfast at Love Walk Café
4. Pop into the Irene artisanal bakery for a treat
5. Dine at one of the many restaurants
6. Book your Sunday lunch at one of the pubs
7. Spoil yourself with deli delights from Gladwells or Grove Lane Deli
8. Buy something adorable from the shops on Denmark Hill
9. Listen to vinyl or a live performance at Dash the Henge
10. Get involved at the Camberwell Library or Leisure Centre
My Ten Things To Do In Camberwell
1. Immerse yourself in the Camberwell arts scene. The area is synonymous with Camberwell College of Arts on Peckham Road. As you’d expect, having an art college on the doorstep, art is part of the fabric of this neighbourhood. The South London Gallery on Peckham Road showcases contemporary art, events and programmes. The Main Gallery is free to view, where you will also find the South London Louie Café, a gift shop and gardens. A little further down Peckham Road on the opposite side is The Fire Station, where you can see free art exhibitions. You may also want to check out the Sim Smith Gallery at 6 Camberwell Passage. Camberwell Arts is a registered charity helping to promote the diverse cultural geographies of Camberwell through festivals and other initiatives, so keep an eye out for those.
2. Enjoy the beautiful Camberwell parks. Camberwell is blessed with ample green spaces. Prominent parks include Burgess, Ruskin, Myatt’s Fields and Brunswick. You’ll find plenty to do, including sporting activities, kids’ playgrounds, and places to eat. There are also some smaller patches of greenery, like St Giles Churchyard and Lucas Gardens. Camberwell’s epicentre is Camberwell Green, a patch of common land. It lies at the intersection of the main roads with shops, restaurants and pubs, Denmark Hill, Camberwell New Road and Camberwell Church Street. You will find the Camberwell Green Weekly Market there from 10 am until 3 pm every Saturday.
3. Tuck into all-day breakfast at Love Walk Café. I stopped there for a latte and the Love Walk Omelette with feta and baby spinach. It was super tasty, and I enjoyed the wood-fired toasted sourdough and a side salad. Other breakfast delights include Full English, Veggie Fry Up, American Breakfast and Eggs Benedict. For lunch, it’s Burgers, Baguettes, Sourdough Sarnies, and Salads. The address is 81 Denmark Hill.
4. Pop into the Irene artisanal bakery for a treat. They have a reputation for their freshly baked sourdough bread. I thoroughly enjoyed my apple frangipane cake with a pot of tea. The address is 31/33a Denmark Hill.
5. Dine at one of the many restaurants for lunch or dinner. Camberwell is brimming with excellent eateries covering every cuisine imaginable. Take your pick from Theo’s (Italian/Pizza), Forza Win (Italian), Good Neighbour (Wine and Small Plates), Noko (Asian Street Food) and Momo (Japanese/Sushi). For cheaper eats, try Nandine (Kurdish), Viet Cafe (Vietnamese) or Manayu (Asian).
6. Book your Sunday lunch at one of the pubs. You’ll find plenty of big boozers in Camberwell. Many serve excellent food, including a roast on Sundays. The Crooked Well, The Camberwell Arms and The Sun of Camberwell are worth checking out.
7. Spoil yourself with deli delights from Gladwells. Wow, this grocery and deli are excellent. You’ll find everything you need to fill your fridge and wine rack. They also have a cute café where you can sample quiches, focaccia sandwiches or cakes. You can also pick up fresh food for lunch from the Grove Lane Deli and larder staples from Lumberjack Café.
8. Buy something adorable from the shops on Denmark Hill. Nunhead Gardener is perfect for house plants and pretty pots. Eleven.SE5 has some cute homeware, textiles and clothing. TTFN is a must for vintage fashion, while Crisis is the place for second-hand clothing.
9. Listen to vinyl or a live performance at Dash the Henge Buy music, merchandise and books at this genre-fluid independent record store. The address is 348 Camberwell New Road.
10. Get involved at the Camberwell Library and Leisure Centre. You can look at the Library if you want to loan a book or get involved in creative writing or poetry groups. It’s also great for mums and kids to learn rhymes and arts and crafts. The address is 48 Camberwell Green. Those wanting to swim or get fit can join the Leisure Centre. The address is Artichoke Place, Camberwell Church Street.
Watch Camberwell Video
Helpful Information About Camberwell London SE5
Camberwell is in the London Borough of Southwark, with the central postcodes being SE5 and SE15. It lies in between East Dulwich, Herne Hill, Kennington and Peckham. Denmark Hill is the best station (Overground and Train) to explore the area.
The Camberwell name refers to the Camber Well, which was purported to be rich in mineral salts and iron, thus helping ailments. Springs and wells were on the southern slope of Denmark Hill/Grove Park. To learn more about history, read the Wikipedia Camberwell page.
As you enter Burgess Park from the Camberwell end, you’ll see a butterfly mosaic on the wall of the Lynn Boxing, which was re-installed from the Samuel Jones Paper Factory on Southampton Way. It pays tribute to the Camberwell Beauty, a rare butterfly in the UK. Two were seen on Coldharbour Lane in 1748.
Camberwell Green is a good starting point to access the main roads for the restaurants, cafes, pubs and shops on Denmark Hill, Camberwell New Road and Camberwell Church Street.
Explore Camberwell Church Street, which is picturesque with a village vibe. Venture into Grove Lane, where you’ll find Theo’s Pizzeria, Grove Lane Deli and The Crooked Well Gastro Pub.
Camberwell has many grand and historic properties. For example, King’s College, the Maudsley Hospitals, the Leisure Centre, and the former London and County Bank. I recommend walking around the area and taking stock of the buildings.
While you are in the area, you might be interested in these relevant articles:
Ten Things To Do In Burgess Park
Forza Win Italian Restaurant Camberwell Review
Irene Bakery Camberwell Review
South London Louie Cafe Camberwell Review
Gladwell’s Grocery and Deli Camberwell Review
Eleven SE5 Lifestyle Shop Camberwell Review
Author: Homegirl London. Photographs: Homegirl London.
