An essential guide for City wanderers in search of urban adventures in 2019.
Ruskin Park at dusk – Take in London’s City skyline which pokes out above the autumnal trees at Ruskin Park in Denmark Hill, Camberwell. The space, which opened in 1907 looks out at the Shard, The BT Tower, The Gherkin, and the Houses of Parliament alongside an assortment of other metropolitan structures. A perfect place for admiring the dense history of London’s ever changing architectural landscape. It’s also worth noting that it is the setting of Pink Floyd’s first official photo shoot in April 1967 with Colin Prime which captured the original band line up: a young Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, Roger Waters and Richard Wright larking amongst the greenery.
Clapham South’s Subterranean shelter – 180 steps and 37.5 metres below Clapham South you can explore a mile of Subterranean tunnels as part of Transport for London’s ‘Hidden London’ tour. The tunnels were opened as a place of refuge for people in 1944 during The Blitz. They continued to be utilised by those in need, in particular in 1948 housing many migrant passengers who’d been on board the Empire Windrush, until they could find permanent housing. The only vestige of this deep level shelter and its passages which run underneath the timely rumblings of the northern line, are two drum shaped structures that can be seen on either side of Clapham South station.
South Circular walk in Coulsdon -Take one of the Southern orbital walks as part of the 24 part London Loop heading from Coulsdon South to Banstead Downs. Explore the mixed terrain walking through quaint suburban residential areas to Woodcote Park and The Oaks Park with their many countryside views and wildlife.
The remains of the ancient Effra River – Head to the lake at Belair Park on Gallery Road in West Dulwich to see the only remnants of what was once The Effra River, a tributary to the River Thames. The ancient river once flowed North from the hilly regions of Norwood and Dulwich through Effra Parade and Dulwich Road to Brixton and then east towards The Oval joining the Thames at Vauxhall. During the first half of the 1800’s it was polluted by domestic waste and known as the ‘Washway’ but following the industrial revolution it was incorporated into the London Sewage system culverting mainly beneath Brixton Road. The continued modernity and urbanisation of South London means that Belair Park’s lake is the only remaining stretch of The Effra to be viewed above ground.
Dance down The Lambeth Walk – The street is famous for entitling the popular late 1930’s dance/ singing craze which spread across Britain like wildfire. Extending from Black Prince Road to Lambeth Road, this was once a bustling Victorian street market at the heart of working class South London and was populated with 200 yards of food, tool, book and pottery stalls. The road was demolished and redeveloped during the 60’s so nowadays the street is more residential and not quite so lively. However the ode to its musical and cultural history lives on through Oshos Music Gallery – celebrating Britains Black history and providing instrumental piano and guitar lessons to children in the community. A space for art and laughter. Why not pop in and take a look at the collection of art deco furniture, music prints and have a coffee and conversation with Osho too.
Everywhere is South of somewhere 