This old Victorian suburb, about six miles from central London, was badly damaged during WWII and has undergone a revival in recent years. It has a wealth of neighbourhood shops, many consistently voted among the best in London.
Rail: East Dulwich
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East Dulwich
Grace & Favour
This eclectic gift shop is a good reason to visit East Dulwich on its own. Adding to the eclectic mix of things to beautify the home is a range of lovely jewellery and some rails of second-hand clothes. A shop it is hard to get out of without buying something you don’t really need.
35 North Cross Road SE22
Tel: +44 (0)20 8693 4400
East Dulwich Deli
This organic delicatessen led the revitalisation of the area and it still feels a surprise to find a shop so good out of central London. It’s a lovely place to browse and soak up the old-time atmosphere. High prices - some justified, some not so much - might put you off buying too much.
15-17 Lordship Lane SE22
Tel: +44 (0)20 8693 2525
Blue Mountain Café
A good place to enjoy a nice coffee and cake while you wait for the queue to thin out at Hope & Greenwood next door. There’s a lovely atmosphere, as everyone in the neighbourhood seems to eventually drop by. And we love the broken china terrace.
18 North Cross Road SE22
Tel: +44 (0)20 8299 6953
www.bluemo.co.uk
Hope & Greenwood
This old-fashioned shop looks as if it has been around for decades, but it is actually a loving recreation of what the perfect childhood sweet shop should have been like. But the queue out of the door is not made up of children. They now have another store in Covent Garden.
20 North Cross Road SE22
Tel: +44 (0)20 8761 7243
www.hopeandgreenwood.co.uk
Liquorish
This style bar serves unusual beers from around the world, has a varied cocktail and interesting wine list, as well as serving a full organic menu, with notable pizzas. A DJ plays hip-hop, house and world on Fridays and Saturdays, while Sunday is for chilling and board games.
123 Lordship Lane SE22
Tel: +44 (0)20 8693 7744
www.liquorish.com
Palmerston
A good selection of wines by the glass, guest ales and a solid British-Med menu make this a popular gastropub. Bookings are essential for weekend nights and Sunday roasts. The seasonal menu changes regularly and the desserts are a treat, although prices are not cheap.
91 Lordship Lane SE22
Tel: +44 (0)20 8693 1629
www.thepalmerston.net
