Caro’s guidebook
COFFEE SHOPS
All of these are within 5 - 20 minutes' walk and are highly recommended for tea, coffee, breakfast/brunch, and cake
Arlo & Moe
340 Brockley RdFred's
358 Brockley RdBrowns of Brockley
5-6 Coulgate StCool Beans
2 minutes' walk away, great coffee & pastries
RESTAURANTS
Mamma Dough - Ladywell
40 Ladywell RdThe best pizzas on the planet, arguably
The Orchard London
5 Harefield RoadJust outside Brockley Station, with good food and live music on Friday evenings
21 locals recommend
parlez
16 Coulgate StJust outside Brockley Station, with good food and live music on Friday evenings
People travel from far away to come to this exclusive Indian restaurant. Not to be missed. Book an early or late table for off-peak discounts, normally 50% off main course.
69 locals recommend
Babur
119 Brockley RisePeople travel from far away to come to this exclusive Indian restaurant. Not to be missed. Book an early or late table for off-peak discounts, normally 50% off main course.
Meze Mangal Restaurant
245 Lewisham WayThe best meze restaurant around
PUBS
Fancy a pint and a bite? All of these are great!
Proper old fashioned pub, pop up pizza van on Friday nights, otherwise no food. Irish music some nights.
10 locals recommend
Blythe Hill Tavern
319 Stanstead RdProper old fashioned pub, pop up pizza van on Friday nights, otherwise no food. Irish music some nights.
The Chandos
56 Brockley RiseThe best pizzas, half price on Monday evenings and at lunchtimes.
Brockley Jack pub (not theatre - that's next door) is a Greene King pub with reasonable food - nothing special but cheap and cheerful.
30 locals recommend
Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
Brockley Jack pub (not theatre - that's next door) is a Greene King pub with reasonable food - nothing special but cheap and cheerful.
Proper gastro pub where you won't get much change from a tenner for a large glass of Malbec. Their pub quiz on a Wednesday at 8 pm is highly recommended. Book a table though!
29 locals recommend
Ladywell Tavern
80 Ladywell RdProper gastro pub where you won't get much change from a tenner for a large glass of Malbec. Their pub quiz on a Wednesday at 8 pm is highly recommended. Book a table though!
The Brockley Barge
184 Brockley RdClassic 'Spoons - very cheap, often cheerful
ENTERTAINMENT
Small theatre with fantastic productions that never disappoint - and less than 10 minutes' walk away. Have a bite to eat in the Jack Pub and catch a play. Always recommended.
30 locals recommend
Brockley Jack Studio Theatre
Small theatre with fantastic productions that never disappoint - and less than 10 minutes' walk away. Have a bite to eat in the Jack Pub and catch a play. Always recommended.
If you fancy a jive or a bit of ballroom, or even sometimes a classic movie, the Rivoli Ballroom is a world famous dance hall that appears on loads of TV shows and Hollywood movies. And it's at the end of the road!
29 locals recommend
Rivoli Ballroom
350 Brockley RdIf you fancy a jive or a bit of ballroom, or even sometimes a classic movie, the Rivoli Ballroom is a world famous dance hall that appears on loads of TV shows and Hollywood movies. And it's at the end of the road!
PARKS
Great for views over the City of London, and Pistachio's is a nice little coffee shop. Free tennis courts, children's play area including sand pit.
103 locals recommend
Hilly Fields Park
Great for views over the City of London, and Pistachio's is a nice little coffee shop. Free tennis courts, children's play area including sand pit.
Blythe Hill Fields
42 Blythe Hill LnGood for views over London, children's play park etc.
Recently re-developed, Ladywell Fields has a little river, lovely wooded walks, children's play area, cafe.
39 locals recommend
Ladywell Fields
Recently re-developed, Ladywell Fields has a little river, lovely wooded walks, children's play area, cafe.
Beckenham Place Park
Beckenham Place Park3 train stops from Crofton Park
PLACES OF INTEREST
Stunning grounds and brilliant museum often with fantastic temporary exhibitions - great for children and adults, and only a few stops on the P4 bus from the end of Manwood Road.
395 locals recommend
Horniman Museum and Gardens
100 London RoadStunning grounds and brilliant museum often with fantastic temporary exhibitions - great for children and adults, and only a few stops on the P4 bus from the end of Manwood Road.
Don't come to SE London without spending a day in Greenwich - it has everything - stunning park, The Royal Observatory with incredible river views, the Maritime Museum, the Cutty Sark, a boating lake for children (or adults!), fantastic market at the weekends... the list goes on.
541 locals recommend
Greenwich
Don't come to SE London without spending a day in Greenwich - it has everything - stunning park, The Royal Observatory with incredible river views, the Maritime Museum, the Cutty Sark, a boating lake for children (or adults!), fantastic market at the weekends... the list goes on.
Some of the best art in London, plus regular exhibitions, great cafe and grounds, on the P4 bus route. Close to Dulwich Park which is also beautiful with a boating lake, cafe, gardens, children's play park etc.
271 locals recommend
Dulwich Picture Gallery
Gallery RoadSome of the best art in London, plus regular exhibitions, great cafe and grounds, on the P4 bus route. Close to Dulwich Park which is also beautiful with a boating lake, cafe, gardens, children's play park etc.
RETAIL THERAPY
Proper South East London shopping centre with market and lots of multi nationals - take the P4 or 284 bus
75 locals recommend
Lewisham Shopping Centre
Molesworth StreetProper South East London shopping centre with market and lots of multi nationals - take the P4 or 284 bus
Take the train from Crofton Park to Bromley South for a slightly more upmarket shopping experience than Lewisham - all the big multi-nationals
68 locals recommend
The Glades, Bromley
64 High StTake the train from Crofton Park to Bromley South for a slightly more upmarket shopping experience than Lewisham - all the big multi-nationals
The best little boutique shop for gifts, cards - your host would love anything from there (just sayin'). Very near Brockley Station.
6 locals recommend
Magi Gifts
193 Brockley RdThe best little boutique shop for gifts, cards - your host would love anything from there (just sayin'). Very near Brockley Station.
Jumping Bean London
45 Honor Oak ParkGreat for little quirky gifts
Gently
46 Ladywell RdBeautiful gifts - not cheap but nevertheless beautiful! And only 5 minutes' walk away.
There wasn't a link to Peckham High Street but if you go to Rye Lane Peckham you will find a smorgasbord of Afro-Caribbean shops. If you want a very cheap movie go to Peckham Multiplex for £4.99 a ticket. 2 stops from Crofton Park.
20 locals recommend
Peckham Rye
Peckham RyeThere wasn't a link to Peckham High Street but if you go to Rye Lane Peckham you will find a smorgasbord of Afro-Caribbean shops. If you want a very cheap movie go to Peckham Multiplex for £4.99 a ticket. 2 stops from Crofton Park.