A Day in Peckham: Three Must-See Spots in the Area

Peckham is a good fit if you’re in Shoreditch for a tattoo appointment but looking to explore a laid-back, rarely hyped neighborhood. Located about half an hour from Shoreditch, it’s home to one of the largest creative communities in the region and, like its more famous neighborhoods, has a wealth of classic craft beer pubs and trendy restaurants anyone will love.

Read on for a lowdown on some must-see attractions in Peckham and an overview of the area’s history.

Three Must-See Spots in Peckham

Make sure you stop by the following spots if you only have a day or half of it in Peckham:

Rye Lane

If you only have time to do one thing in Peckham, explore Rye Lane.

Originally known as South Street, Rye Lane stretches half a mile from Peckham High street to Copeland Road and has everything from a chapel, open green spaces, a cinema, a leisure center, and even a library.

Besides the mentioned, Rye Lane is a hub of activity, thanks to loads of indie shops selling everything from clothes, homeware tech, fruit, and veggies to raw meat and even Afro-Caribbean cuisines. The whole street is also lined with outdoor market stalls dealing with fruit, veggies, clothes to accessories.

Having a bad hair day? Worry not, as you’re sure to find a hairdresser here too. No wonder it’s always nominated for awards, including Urbanism’s Great UK Street award.

The Peckham Pelican

Nothing beats a good bagel, and at the Peckham Pelican, you’ll get loads of them. Initially, a coffee shop, this Bohemian spot is an art gallery and a live gig venue serving some of the most delicious bagels for only €1.50. They also serve salads and cakes, and if you happen to be around in the evening, incredibly scrumptious pizzas and great live music.

Bussey Building

London is home to the most number of historical buildings and landmarks in the UK, and the Bussey Building is among the most notable in Peckham. Located only 150m from the Peckham Rye tube station, the Bussey Building is over a century old. It today houses nearly everything you might need for entertainment, from bars, restaurants, cinemas, and art galleries to gig venues you’ll love if you enjoy theater, musicals, or live performances.

History of Peckham

Peckham means the village of River Peck in Saxon but appears in the Oxford Dictionary of English Pace names as Pecheham to mean homestead by the hill.

The district dates back to the Roman era but came into the limelight when King Henry I gifted it to his son, the Early of Gloucester, as a royal hunting ground.  The earl continued to hunt here for a while, giving rise to an annual fair held to celebrate the sport. As with most fairs, it turned into a public nuisance pretty fast and was abolished during the late 1820s.

Peckham was a popular commercial center throughout the 18th century and had market gardens and orchards productive enough to provide fresh produce supplies to the nearby London markets. It grew exponentially between the 1850s and the 19th century, after the arrival of rail and tiling buses.

Modern-day Peckham now features art galleries, public art projects, and additional hipster streets like Bellenden Road.

Getting to Peckham, South London

Peckham is connected to the London Underground via the Peckham Rye Station. It’s also connected to the  London Overground, and if coming from Central London, the area is also served by London Bridge trains.

Official Peckham website:https://www.peckham.org/