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Best buildings in London: st pauls deptford
© Andrew Warran

Deptford area guide

From cut-throat pirates to cutting-edge culture, Deptford has a long history of edgy cool. Here’s your guide to a unique corner of south-east London

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Tucked between touristy Greenwich and rough-and-ready Bermondsey, Deptford has an atmosphere all of its own. Once blighted by post-industrial neglect, Deptford’s twenty-first-century renaissance has been swift and – for some locals – sweeping. New bars and restaurants seem to open weekly, amid fears that the area’s unique character could disappear for good. What sets Deptford apart from its arty eastside counterparts is its strong south London identity and its maritime history – clues to the area’s past as a major dockyard can be found around every corner, and only add to its quirky charm. Add Deptford to your London to-do list: read on for our guide to things to do in SE8, including its stand-out restaurants and best places to drink.

The best bits of Deptford

Restaurants and cafés in Deptford

London Particular

London Particular

  • 5 out of 5 stars

Food, described as ‘classic English with a modern twist’, is treated with respect at this tiny café just by New Cross station. Particular by...

London Velo

London Velo

  • 4 out of 5 stars

Okay. Let’s put this on the table, then get it cleared away. London Velo will be seen as evidence of the G-word. To be fair, Deptford has supposedly been...

Archie's Bar

Archie's Bar

  • 4 out of 5 stars

Having spent a rather a lot of time lingering in front of The Cheese Truck’s stall in Maltby Street Market, watching them hand out obscenely oozy toasties...

The Brookmill

The Brookmill

  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4

The Brookmill is a pub that makes an impression before you even step inside. Located on a parkside road between Deptford and Lewisham, the curves of the...

Deptford highlights

Albany Theatre

Albany Theatre

The roots of The Albany date back to 1899 when it was founded to encourage wellbeing in the poverty-ridden Deptford community. The 1970s saw the institute host...

Little Nan's Bar

Little Nan's Bar

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4

Remember when Pat Butcher came back from the dead? The homecoming of Little Nan’s Bar to Deptford – it originally opened in 2013 and was forced to close in...

Bars and pubs in Deptford

Amersham Arms

Amersham Arms

The nexus of south-east London's live music scene, the Amersham Arms brings together the character (and prices) of a trad pub with a souped-up soundsystem and...

Big Red

Big Red

  • 3 out of 5 stars

Quite how a No. 30 double decker ended up in Deptford is anyone’s guess – Toto, we’re not in Hackney anymore – but it seems to be...

Dog & Bell

Dog & Bell

  • 4 out of 5 stars

It’s perhaps not all the better for the refurb a little while back – whatever happened to that Empire-era map of India? – but the good old Dog & Bell still...

New Cross Inn

New Cross Inn

  • 3 out of 5 stars

Without the attraction of regular live music or the guarantee of an easy drink after midnight, this large corner bar close to Goldsmiths would be as it was ten...

Love London Awards: last year's winners

Big Red

Big Red

  • 3 out of 5 stars

The Big Red is currently home to a pop-up called Wünderlust Quite how a No. 30 double decker ended up in Deptford is anyone’s guess – Toto, we’re not in...

Deptford Market

Deptford Market

Most of Deptford Market is your standard south/east London fare: three-pack pants, timber wolf fleeces, Duracells and lighters. Halfway down its...

Old Tidemill Wildlife Garden

Old Tidemill Wildlife Garden

A volunteer-run community garden in Deptford. It's open to all on Saturdays and there are regular gardening and cooking workshops on Fridays.

Little Nan's Bar

Little Nan's Bar

  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • price 2 of 4

Remember when Pat Butcher came back from the dead? The homecoming of Little Nan’s Bar to Deptford – it originally opened in 2013 and was forced to close in...