Horniman Museum
An anthropological museum set in 16 acres of landscaped gardens, which provides extensive facilities for families.
Forest Hill benefits not only from direct Overground links to Shoreditch and Dalston, but also from its proximity to Sydenham, Lordship Lane and achingly trendy Peckham. However, it's also way more than just a transport hub in a good location. Like nearby Brockley, the area is popular with artists and actors. Then there's also those defecting from East London in search of the capital's next hot location, which could very well be Dartmouth Road, the half-mile stretch linking Forest Hill proper to the fringes of neighbouring Sydenham.
Still, it's managed to retain its genteel heart. Families benefit from one of London’s most eccentric and child-friendly museums, the Horniman (its gardens have some of the best views across London and a bijou farmers' market), and a fairly recently refurbished swimming pool and leisure centre.
Neighbouring Honor Oak – named after a tree in the nearby woods – is overall quieter, but it too has seen a smattering of restaurants and independent shops cropping up.
Recommended: London by area
