perks!Brockley area guide
Discover the best things to do, see, eat and drink in SE4
Home to one of London's brightest grime stars and nestled in the trifecta of Lewisham, New Cross and Peckham, Brockley has, over the last decade, come into its own. Those that live in the area champion it like a child, and with good reason. Not only are there lovely open green spaces, such as Hilly Fields Park and Brockley and Ladywell Cemetery, but there are also numerous independent shops, like the brilliant Jones of Brockley, and gorgeous cafés, such as Browns of Brockley.
Food and drink options extend way beyond just cafés, though; Brockley is home to some stellar pubs, bars and restaurants. Or, if you fancy something a little more casual, there’s always the award-winning chippy Brockley's Rock, which is worth its slightly-above-average price tag. On Saturdays, you’ll also find Brockley Market, one of south London’s busiest and best food markets. Then spend the night boogieing away at the iconic Rivoli Ballroom.
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Things to do in Brockley
Bars and pubs in Brockley
London Beer Dispensary
Much like its abbreviation-twin the little black dress, the London Beer Dispensary is practical, reliable and on-trend no matter the season. We're not totally convinced by the ‘no bar’ thing (the kegs are plumbed through a giant serving barrel which staff try to lean on casually while they talk you through the beers; casks are stacked against the walls) but everything else is bang-on, from the burger-led food menu to the cute little garden. Work your way through the handful of well-chosen guest beers or fall back on the solid collection of Late Knights options – the Penge-based brewery owns the pub.
Mr Lawrence Wine Bar
Mr Lawrence's Bar is well stocked with a great selection of wines, all of which (plus a few more to boot) you can purchase via their website too. Anyone wishing to dine with their wine can order form the London Beer Dispensary next door and the food will be brought to your table.
Little Nan's Bar
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 2014 – feels just as euphoric. The ‘EastEnders’ analogy will make sense to those who experienced the pure joy of visiting the bar in pop-up form, as it roamed around London waiting to find a way back to Deptford. It’s a retro living room parody in a railway arch at Deptford Market Yard, with leopard print, china and Pat references aplenty. The little nan in question belongs to Tristan Scutt, who refers to himself as the grandson of this operation. He set up the bar in honour of his late grandmother (who made it to 104), and has been very clear that while it’s all vintage, there’s nothing ‘shabby chic’. Instead, it’s full-throttle ’80s front room fetishism, with cocktail menus hidden inside Charles and Diana memorabilia books, mocktails served in leopard-print mugs, soap stars in photo frames and cat-covered cushions galore. You can order cocktails by the teapot, or go solo and get a cocktail umbrella in the bargain. The drinks are on the sweeter, sillier end of the scale, my Chief Girl of Deptford being a bubbly mix of gin, prosecco, lemon and Morello cherry syrup, which tasted a bit like a boozy cherry Vimto. Snacks are true Brits – from a cracking fish-finger sarnie to hoops on toast if you’re into nostalgia. They even stuck sparklers in our portion of hipster fries (dusted with paprika). If you’re trying to make sens
Hotels near Brockley
Premier Inn London Lewisham
Offering a restaurant, Premier Inn London Lewisham is located just a 5-minute walk from Lewisham DLR and Lewisham Train Station, offering links to London Bridge Station.Each room here will provide you with air conditioning, tea/coffee making facilities and a 40-inch flat-screen TV. The bright, modern bathrooms come with a large shower head, and Hypnos beds.At Premier Inn London Lewisham you will find a 24-hour front desk and a bar. Other facilities offered at the property include luggage storage.Greenwich Park is 1 mile away and Canary Wharf is 25 minutes away via the Docklands Light Railway.
Church Street Hotel
Craftsman José Raido is behind this attractive and original family-run hotel, near Camberwell Green. Funky bathroom tiles in the bright, high-ceilinged bedrooms, for example, come from Guadalajara, and are thus a perfect match for Mexicana such as imported film posters, while the bed frames were forged by José himself. The colours are as vivid as a Mexican sunset. Bathroom products are organic, as are the pastries and cereals served for breakfast in an icon-filled dining room that also operates as a 24hr honesty bar. You pay only £90 for a double with shared bathroom, which is a real bargain, and the hotel tapas restaurant, Angels & Gypsies, has been a big hit locally since opening in 2009.
ibis Greenwich
Just a 10-minute walk from The Royal Observatory, this ibis London Greenwich features a 24-hour front desk, on-site parking and a stylish bar. The O2 Arena is just a 10-minute drive away. The bright, modern rooms each have a work desk and high-speed internet access. All rooms have a private bathroom and a satellite TV, and tea/coffee facilities are provided. Guests can enjoy coffee, wine and light snacks and meals in the contemporary bar. A hearty breakfast buffet is available daily, featuring cooked options, continental cheeses and fresh fruit. The ibis London Greenwich is a 5-minute walk from Greenwich Market and the Cutty Sark. Greenwich DLR and Railway Stations are just 500 metres away, and South Bank is a 15-minute drive.
The Clarendon Hotel
The Clarendon overlooks historic Blackheath and Greenwich Park as well as views of London and offers a village atmosphere just 15 minutes' from central London by train. It is ideal for visiting the O2 Arena, Canary Wharf and the Excel Exhibition Centre in Docklands.All the rooms at The Clarendon feature an en suite bathroom, a flat-screen TV and free breakfast and WiFi.The hotel offers the Meridian Restaurant, Nautical Chart Bar and first-rate room service.There is a car park at the front and back of the hotel with limited space, along with local car parks and on-street parking nearby. The property is equipped with electric car charging facilities.Great bars, restaurants and boutique shops surround The Clarendon Hotel.The nearest train station is Blackheath, reaching Waterloo and central London after a 20-minute journey. The Royal Observatory at Greenwich Park is 16 minutes' walk away.
The perfect weekend in Brockley
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Old Operating Theatre Museum
Britain's oldest surviving purpose-built operating theatre, the Old Operating Theatre Museum is situated in a herb garret in the roof of St Thomas's Church. Built in 1822 for poor women, the theatre has been restored with original furniture and equipment, including a nineteenth-century operating table, surgical instruments and pathological specimens. Visitors enter via a vertiginous wooden staircase to view a pre-anaesthetic operating theatre with tiered viewing seats for students; sanitised reenactments are sometimes held – just as gruesome as the operating tools that look like torture implements. Temporary exhibitions also take place, which often combine art with explorations of pathology.
