Brick Lane © Nick Ballon
North London v South London - Cultural highlights
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By Time Out Editors
Posted: Wed May 6 2009 -
Time Out's critics select their top five spots for arts, culture and entertainment on both sides of the river. But which comes out on top, North or South London? Let us know your favourite haunts – they might just swing the outcome one way or the other...
North London | South London
Why North London rocks
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Camden Arts Centre
Arkwright Rd, Hampstead, NW3 6DG
Built in 1897, Camden Arts Centre was originally a library; the grade II listed building was transformed in the 1960s. Following a reburbishment, the centre re-opened to the public in 2004. The galleries are able to display a broad range of work including installation, film and video, light sensitive drawings and sculpture. Read more
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Almeida Theatre
Almeida St, Islington, N1 1TA
Well groomed and with a rather chic new bar, the Almeida Theatre turns out thoughtfully crafted theatre for grown-ups. Under artistic director Michael Attenborough it has drawn top directors like Howard Davies and Richard Eyre, and premieres from the likes of Stephen Adly Guirgis. Variously housing reading rooms, a Victorian Music Hall and a Salvation Army Citadel, the Almeida Theatre has had a rich past. Read more
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Bull & Last
168 Highgate Rd, Kentish Town, NW5 1QS
Forget the fair-to-middling cafés around Swains Lane – the south-eastern side of Hampstead Heath at last has a genuine destination for seriously good, yet informal, cooking. The own-made charcuterie is an impressive turn of rillettes and offally bits (duck liver parfait and more) and worth ordering to share – the fact is, all portion sizes are so huge that attempting a three-course meal here is almost futile. Read more
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Brick Lane
Brick Lane, Bethnal Green, E1 6QL
A veritable treasure trove of some of the best vintage stuff London has to offer. Don't miss Cheshire Street for inspired homewares, and Dray Walk for designer menswear, the hip Rough Trade East shop (with secret in-store gigs) and Sunday's UpMarket for London's best up-and-coming designers (and tasty street food). Read more
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Fabric
77a Charterhouse St, Smithfield, EC1M 3HN
Fabric is the club that most party people come to see in London, with good reason. Located in a former meatpacking warehouse, it's gained a well-deserved reputation as the capital's biggest and best club. Fabric's line-ups are legendary, with the world's most famous DJs regularly making appearances. But be warned – the queues are also legendary – blag your way on to the guestlist or buy tickets in advance unless you want a three-hour wait. Read more
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Why South London rocks-
South London Gallery
65 Peckham Rd, SE5 8UH
On this site for over a century, the SLG became one of the main showcases for the emerging Young British Artists in the 1990s. Still one of the capital's foremost contemporary art venues, the gallery has exhibited work by Gilbert & George, Anselm Kiefer and Gavin Turk. An expansion of the Peckham site is underway and visitors can look forward to new exhibition spaces, a garden and café. In the meantime, the existing gallery is open and its shows of modern British and international art is well worth a visit. Read more
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BAC
Lavender Hill, SW11 5TN
The forward-thinking Battersea Arts Centre, which inhabits the old Battersea Town Hall, has become synonymous with experimental theatre. It's where you'll find innovative companies and new writers cutting their teeth (BAC was where the National Theatre unearthed 'Jerry Springer the Opera') and site-specific companies such as Punchdrunk and Kneehigh presenting groundbreaking work. If you're lucky, you can catch impromptu performances by one of its many resident theatre groups in the cosy bar. Read more
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Masons
38 Ladywell Road, SE13 7UZ
A Ladywell local that would put most Modern European eateries to shame, with their frequently revolving menu of seasonal produce and sense of bonhomie. Packed most nights with regulars, the simple dining room serves simple dishes with a bit of flair – goats' cheese and courgette terrine, elderflower and duck liver pate, deep-fried brie and great moules mariniere. There's Erdinger on tap and a host of fruity Belgian beers; the house wines well-priced and quaffable. Sunday roasts are legendary – it's down south of London where you'll find the best Yorkshire puds this side of, well, Yorkshire.
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Lordship Lane
Southwark,SE22
One-stop shopping street for gifts, homewares and small fashion boutiques. But you need to head to the side-streets to discover East Dulwich's real treasure, like Northcross Road (for Hope & Greenwood's original sweetie shop and Saturday's street market) and Zenoria Street for an excellent indoor market (selling everything from vibrant Spanish rugs and vintage signage).
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Corsica Studios
Unit 5 Farrell Court, Elephant Rd, SE17 1LB
Corsica Studios is an independent, not-for-profit arts complex whose ethos is to breed creativity and culture in areas of regeneration. Its Elephant and Castle home is its latest venture where the onus is as much on producing fine art, music, film and digital media as it is exhibiting it. The space is increasingly being used as one of London's most adventurous live music venues and clubs, featuring acts such as Acoustic Ladyland and Lydia Lunch, and club nights that include the likes of old-schoolers Wang and disco kings Low Life. Read more
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3 comments
born and bread in north east london i really hate going south of the river so when i ended up with a girlfriend living in tooting i tried as much to get her to meet me in the middle but eventually she would drag me south... i must say that even when we did go to battersea and clapham the supposed developing areas i still would rather have been out in stokey or angel. there just feels like there is no history....
The suckiest thing about South London, particularly in the South East, is the really poor transport. Lack of freedom to roam around that area of London and still be able to make it home in time for bed means I won't be living in SE if I can help it.
Born in Notting Hill and emigrated to SW19 as soon as reason began to develop. Those peering over the buttresses of Battersea bridge should breach security and immerse themselves in the sophistication of the deep 'sarf'.
Its a known fact that we have far more green and pleasant parkland than the scarred and parched patches of grass so often depicted in the cinema, poor old Primrose hill and South end green.
A cornicopia of restaurants extend from Deptford to Dartford,
Rotherhithe to Richmond. Culture is in abundance, so is eclectic
architecture and folk still smile in the supermarket.
Don your pith helmet and rucksack, trek south and explore the real London.