Living in Lewisham

Lewisham is a south-east London borough of hills, rail lines and neighbourhoods with distinct identities. It includes Deptford and New Cross beside the river, Brockley and Ladywell's Victorian streets, Lewisham and Catford town centres, Forest Hill and Sydenham on the southern ridges, and part of Blackheath.

The borough has a strong creative and community culture. Goldsmiths, University of London, in New Cross, has influenced art and music across the city, and Lewisham was London Borough of Culture in 2022. Its population is highly diverse, with large Caribbean, African and other communities, and many neighbourhoods have independent markets, cafés, pubs and venues.

Green space is an important part of the borough's appeal. Hilly Fields, Blythe Hill Fields, Mountsfield Park and One Tree Hill offer views across London, while Ladywell Fields follows the River Ravensbourne. The Horniman Museum and Gardens are in Forest Hill, and Sydenham Hill Wood, part of the ancient Great North Wood, lies on the borough's western edge.

There is no Underground in Lewisham. Southeastern and Southern trains serve many stations, reaching London Bridge in around ten to twenty minutes; the DLR runs from Lewisham to Canary Wharf and Bank; and the Overground runs through New Cross, Brockley and Forest Hill. Rents are generally below those in neighbouring Southwark, and the hilltop parks give many streets long views across London, which is a large part of why so many people who move to Brockley or Forest Hill for a year end up staying for ten.