A few bevs on a rooftop, some sunset views, an afternoon of films at a nostalgic cinema, and some absolutely cracking Middle Eastern food.
These are just some of the sights you can expect to find in Peckham, which has just been named the coolest neighbourhood in London for 2025.
SE15 – perhaps most famous as the setting of Only Fools and Horses – just topped a new list of the hippest areas in the Big Smoke, touted as a charismatic spot for both tourists and locals that shows the true spirit (and grit) of London in equal measure.
Ladbroke Grove was also given its flowers by The Telegraph’s new ranking, as well as Bethnal Green, Leyton, Deptford, Tooting, and of course, Walthamstow (affectionately known by locals as Awesomestow).
As the old Samuel Johnson saying goes, when one is tired of London, one is tired of life.
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And there’s certainly plenty of life going on down here.
Things to do in Peckham
If you’re new to the area and looking for inspiration on the coolest things to do, it’s a good idea to try exploring everything that Peckham has to offer – not just the highlight reel that you might see on social media.
To start off, try out an absolutely classic part of Peckham’s culture with a trip to Peckhamplex cinema. It’s barely been touched since it first opened in 1994, so it has all the feel and nostalgia of a childhood trip to the pictures more than 30 years ago – slightly uncomfy seats included.
Plus, it’s super affordable, as tickets are £5.99 all day, every day. Unless, of course, you want to bring out the big guns and watch something in 3D, in which case you’ll be charged an extra pound.
For an extra helping of culture, there’s also the South London Gallery – which is free to visit – hosting everything from artist talks to film screenings, zine fairs and exhibitions. There’s also an in-store café, the South London Louie, that’s beloved among locals.
There are plenty of culinary sights to explore too, including Persepolis, an Iranian-owned grocery store and vegetarian restaurant. Order the full feast for £30 a head and you won’t be disappointed.
We’re talking all the houmous and falafel you could ever dream of, plus Persian pastries, coffee and Turkish Delight to finish.
Tipples aplenty are available on tap at The Prince of Peckham pub or the Nag’s Head (although it’s a little different to the watering hole you’ve seen on Only Fools), while Mr Bao serves up, you guessed it, bao buns and pork belly galore.
And if you can stretch to it, get yourself to Forza Wine up on the rooftop on Rye Lane. It’s a a slightly more expensive meal out, but this spot cult status even north of the river. Expect cocktails, their famous small plates, and beautiful terrace views.
Then, for a spot of fresh air to blow away the cobwebs, Peckham Rye Park is completely free and showcases the gorgeous greenery of the area – plus, at this time of year, the leaves on the trees start to turn a gorgeous autumnal brown.
How has gentrification shaped Peckham?
While Peckham is now attracting younger crowds, it’s worth remembering that – much like Brixton – many locals feel that the area has changed beyond recognition in the past few years.
Gentrification has taken hold, which has started to price many lifelong South East Londoners out – and some have claimed that Peckham is now losing its authentic edge as a result.
A recent study from Trust For London identified 53 neighbourhoods that it classed as having been gentrified over the last 13 years – and three parts of Peckham were highlighted.
The research – which defines gentrification as ‘the influx of more affluent residents in lower income areas, relative to the residents that were already there, and the displacement of the previous population’ – showed a 14.4% rise in average income in Peckham North between 2012 and 2020, from £29,012 (adjusted to 2020 prices) to £33,200.
Similarly, Peckham North West saw an increase of 13.7% and Peckham Park Road the figure stood at 9.7%.
So, while some have hailed the area’s influx of trendy bars and coffee shops over the last few years, it can’t be ignored that these changes come with a price tag – andit’s one which many long-standing Peckham locals simply can’t afford.
What locals say about Peckham
On the London Reddit page, Peckham resident @toronado explained why they ‘absolutely love’ the area, commenting: ‘Rye Lane is full of creativity, pop up bars and restaurants. Every week there’s something new. The Nigerian community adds a lot of life and character, it’s like travelling in your own city. The grime and dirtiness is part of it and Peckham will lose part of its soul when it eventually gentrifies fully.’
‘Bit rough around the edges, but fun,’ wrote another user, while on a separate thread, @PM_ME_VAPORWAVE praised its ‘thriving arts scene’ and ‘large multicultural food scene’.
‘I’ve lived in every corner of the city, but Peckham has really got its hooks into me,’ added @Bongo305.
‘I love the sense of community here. It’s obviously not as buzzing as you find around London Bridge or Borough but the street parties and knowing so many of my neighbours was definitely worth the trade. Plus there’s enough local bars and restaurants to tide us over if we don’t fancy heading into town.’
Transport links in Peckham
There might not be a Tube station, but don’t let that put you off: Peckham Rye Station boasts a direct overground train link that’ll get you into London Bridge in 10 minutes.
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There’s also the Windrush Line, which directly connects both Peckham Rye and Queens Road Peckham to the likes of Highbury and Islington, Whitechapel, and Canada Water.
Housing in Peckham
As previously mentioned, housing in Peckham doesn’t come cheap these days. Data from Rightmove shows that over the last year, prices averaged out at £595,894 – which towers over the national average (£270,000, according to Zoopla’s latest House Price Index) but is still slightly lower than the London figure of £667,477.
It’s not looking much better in the world of renting, either, as ONS data shows that in July, private rents in the borough of Southwark rose to an average of £2,343, up 4.9% from the 12 months before.
So, it’s safe to say that while it might be cool, it certainly necessitates a few extra pennies these days.
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