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colour palette inspired by peckham levels

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colour palette inspired by peckham levels

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potentially could make it into a sticker?

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https://www.lrt.lt/en/news-in-english/19/1919247/lithuania-celebrates-uzgavenes-in-symbolic-banishing-of-winter

Welcome to my Ips! My current ideas for my future unit 9&10 project, is to mainly focus on my home roots, exploring my Lithuanian culture, country etc.

I want to create a film/documentary or take a series or photos from my trip to Lithuania and translate that into a potential zine, illustrations or even clay work. I have a huge interest when it comes to working with new subjects and I thik this is a great way to to try something new and refreshing.

My main focus would be on folklore/mythology that is rooted in out culture and is celebrated. I most recently discovered a tradition called Užgavėnės (Shrove tuesday), which is a tradition that happens during the seventh week before Easter. I want to specifically focus on the costume aspect of the tradition, where the people hand-make their own masks, using either wood, fabric and it inspired the idea of making my own mask, potentially using clay as my medium. Instead of making one large clay mask, I could make several small ones and from there on develop them into actual clay pieces of human figures?

Since using clay is something I want to try using, maybe looking into artists who work with clay figurines, sculptures etc.

It's a very ambitious idea and I usually have my difficulties when it comes to sticking to my original ideas but I hope this will lead me to try something more exciting in my practise.

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Lithuania celebrates Užgavėnės in symbolic banishing of winter

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On Tuesday, Lithuania is celebrating Užgavėnės, its variation of the Mardi Gras and a symbolic attempt to chase out wint…

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Vitkus , R. (2019) Žemaitiškų ličynų Drožėjai Savo Meistriškumą demonstruos šiauliuose, Lrytas.lt . Ričardas Vitkus . Available at: https://www.lrytas.lt/lietuvosdiena/aktualijos/2019/09/11/news/zemaitisku-licynu-drozejai-savo-meistriskuma-demonstruos-siauliuose-11788525 (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(Vitkus , Žemaitiškų ličynų Drožėjai Savo Meistriškumą demonstruos šiauliuose 2019)

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n/a, n/a (2014) "Kad mus vari par Žagari" (Mardi Gras folk song), Žemaitiška Užgavėnių daina "Kad mus vari par Žagari" (Mardi Gras folk song). Skomante. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Duq1mBXrvyI (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(n/a, "Kad mus vari par Žagari" (Mardi Gras folk song) 2014)

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James, J. (2021) Londoners rank top 10 places they find 'most dangerous' but some reasons are odd, MyLondon. Available at: https://www.mylondon.news/news/local-news/londoners-rank-top-10-places-20419692 (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(James, Londoners rank top 10 places they find 'most dangerous' but some reasons are odd 2021)

n/a, n/a (2017) A brief history of Peckham, South London Club. South London Club. Available at: https://www.southlondonclub.co.uk/blog/a-brief-history-of-peckham (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(n/a, A brief history of Peckham 2017)

n/a, n/a (2022) Peckham levels, The Nudge London. The Nudge. Available at: https://thenudge.com/london-bars/peckham-levels/ (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

n/a, n/a (2023) Folk songs of Lithuania, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folk_songs_of_Lithuania (Accessed: May 7, 2023).

n/a, n/a (2023) Telšiai, Place and See. Available at: https://placeandsee.com/wiki/telsiai (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

Richter, D. (2021) ELEKTRĖNAI: The lost Soviet funfair of a lithuanian power town, Ex Utopia. Darmon Richter. Available at: https://www.exutopia.com/elektrenai-lithuania/ (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

Ritchter, D. (2020) The Hill of Crosses: A monument to the defiant spirit of Lithuania, Deep Baltic. Available at: https://deepbaltic.com/2016/05/21/the-hill-of-crosses-a-monument-to-the-defiant-spirit-of-lithuania/amp/ (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

Salinger , B. (2022) The symbolic meaning of shoes - owlcation, Owlcation. Available at: https://owlcation.com/social-sciences/the-symbolism-of-shoes (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

Tau, I. (n.d.) Žiburinis ghost, Artpoint. Available at: https://www.artpoint.xyz/artworks/ziburinis-ghost-ivona-tau (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

Žemaitis, A. (2022) Lithuanian mythology and folklore: True lithuania, True Lithuania | Sights, cities, culture, history and more. Augustinas Žemaitis. Available at: http://www.truelithuania.com/lithuanian-mythology-and-folklore-3474 (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

Limauro, G. (2023) The 8 most fascinating lithuanian traditions  , Ling. Ling. Available at: https://ling-app.com/lt/lithuanian-traditions/ (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(Limauro, The 8 most fascinating lithuanian traditions  2023)

Marcinkevičienė, N. (ed.) (n.d.) Shrove Tuesday, Lithuanian customs and traditions. Translated by G. Ambrozaitienė. n/a. Available at: http://www.lnkc.lt/eknygos/eka/customs/shrove.html (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(Ambrozaitienė & Marcinkevičienė, Shrove Tuesday n.d)

n/a, S. (2021) “Pancake Day / Užgavėnės,” Baltic Pagan Blog. Skomante, 15 February. Available at: https://balticpagan.wordpress.com/2021/02/15/pancake-day-uzgavenes/ (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(n/a, Pancake Day / Užgavėnės 2021)

n/a, n/a (n.d.) The celebration and traditions of Užgavėnės, Walkable Vilnius. Available at: https://walkablevilnius.com/news/the-celebration-and-traditions-of-uzgavenes/ (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(n/a, The celebration and traditions of Užgavėnės n.d)

n/a, n/a (n.d.) Shrovetide - Vilnius Ethnic Culture Centre, Vilniaus etninės kultūros centras. Available at: https://www.etno.lt/en/shrovetide (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(n/a, Shrovetide - Vilnius Ethnic Culture Centre n.d)

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https://www.exutopia.com/elektrenai-lithuania/

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One gets the feeling that people don't usually go to Elektrėnai on purpose. Traditionally, energy flowed out of - not into - this city. It sits alongside the main road between Lithuania's two largest settlements: Kaunas, and the capital, Vilnius. However, unlike those older cities (founded in the 10th and 14th centuries respectively), Elektrėnai, a city of just 14,000 people, has no history before the 1960s. Ask online travel guides for the "Top 10 Things to do in Elektrėnai," and few of them manage more than two suggestions. What they don't tend to mention is the city's funfair: built in Soviet times and since abandoned, its Ferris wheel, bumper cars and rollercoaster left gathering rust.

Like many Soviet workers' cities, Elektrėnai was designed to offer a good life for employees at the local power plant. But of its twin symbols, the plant and the amusement park - work and play - these days the post-Soviet city is left with only its place of work.

Elektrėnai Power Plant

We turned off the highway into the city, the modern slip road flanked in walls of Baltic birch until directly ahead, to the south, rose the city's symbol, its heart: the three towering chimneys of the power plant, striped red-and-white like 250-metre barber poles. The trees fell back as we entered Elektrėnai proper, hitting the roundabout that marked the beginning of its central thoroughfare, Elektrinės gatvę, or 'Power Street.' The chimneys dominated the horizon, beyond the rows of panel-block apartment buildings, their shapes echoed in a stainless steel monument that rose in the middle of the roundabout. Three spikes decorated with wave-like bursts of power - the monument was erected in 1975, and titled Anthem for Work.

The history of Elektrėnai began on 16 February 1959, when the Council of Ministers of the Lithuanian SSR created a state commission with the purpose of choosing the location for a new 1800 MW thermal power plant. The most economic solution they could find was placing the plant halfway between Kaunas and Vilnius.

Construction began in 1961, near the village of Lekaviciai. The River Streva was dammed, to form a cooling reservoir alongside the building site. Across the fields from Lekaviciai, the twelve homesteads of the neighbouring village of Perkūnkiemis were flooded. Several more villages, 140 homes in total, were similarly drowned beneath the water as the reservoir took shape, while connected to the power plant they built a new, modern city for its workers. On 19 April 1962, this new settlement was given a name: 'Elektrėnai,' derived from the Lithuanian word for 'Electricity.'

Decades later, on 10 November 1999, Elektrėnai would be granted its own symbolic coat of arms. It chose a blue crest, featuring sparks and bolts of electricity in yellow. But the symbol had another meaning - the jagged lightning that divides the crest stood for the waters of the reservoir. The eight-pointed star beneath represented the region's drowned villages, and the star above, the lights of the new city.

The Lithuanian Power Town

Elektrėnai was a city made to plan. Like other new Soviet cities - such as Pripyat, home for workers at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant - it was designed to grow outwards in tessellating urban districts called microrayons. Each microrayon was a self-contained unit, typically featuring residential blocks arranged around a core of shops, parks and other public facilities.

The Elektrėnai city project was led by the architects B.Kasparavičienė and K.Bučas, and they opted for a style that was modern, but functional and subdued. Many of the residential blocks were built from panels, that could easily have been delivered to the site en masse. Only the subtlest stylistic touches were added to the otherwise spartan designs: electric bolt motifs decorating balconies, or etched into the walls of underpasses around the city. Whatever political symbols might once have accompanied these, would have since been removed in line with Lithuania's law on decommunisation.

Amidst the mostly standard-issue architecture of central Elektrėnai, there are just a few eye-catching buildings that stand out - most notably, the white dome of the ice rink. Elektrėnai Ice Palace was designed by the architects A. Juseviciene and A. Domarackas, and opened in 1977. It was Lithuania's first indoor winter sports arena, seated 2,000 spectators, and became the home arena of Elektrėnai's own ice hockey team: SC Energija.

Sat beside the water on the edge of the city centre, the unique design of the Ice Palace's domed roof - stylised and well-maintained - looks almost decadent here, against a backdrop of grey-brown panel blocks.

The other main architectural landmark of Elektrėnai, today, was never part of the original city plan. The Church of the Blessed Mary Queen of Martyrs was designed by architect Henrikas Šilgalis, and constructed from 1990-96. Like many places in the post-Soviet world, the newly independent Lithuania began reclaiming its identity with the creation of new churches - sometimes, as in this case, in new cities that had never seen one before. This Catholic church in Elektrėnai was a striking design, a towering presence in pure white - the only burst of colour coming from the Lithuanian flag hanging down its face. The six pillars and arch that form the facade are together said to represent Lithuania's seven centuries of Christianity.

In her essay " 1990-2000: The Architecture of Freedom," Lithuanian architecture historian Marija Drėmaitė describes how the architects of post-Soviet Lithuania went through a decade of compensation, in which they attempted "to recover all they had been denied during the years of Soviet restrictions." While many panel-block residential districts and former industrial cities saw the new addition of churches, those religious buildings were typically still modest in style, she says; "Given the overall economic situation and the rather conservative views of the principle client." This made the extravagant new church in Elektrėnai something of an exception, and the city administration advertises it now as one of the must-see sights of Elektrėnai.

Even as new symbols are erected in the city, however, others are coming down... and soon the three chimneys that define Elektrėnai's skyline will be gone.

The power plant itself is still alive and well: it's busier than ever, in fact. When Lithuania joined the EU, one of the conditions was that they closed and decommissioned the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant - whose Soviet-built RBMK reactor was of the same type that had malfunctioned at the Chernobyl NPP. The Ignalina NPP had been the largest power plant in the Baltic States, and so when it closed in 2009, Lithuania went from exporting electricity to buying it in. As a result, Elektrėnai Power Plant became a crucial source for domestic electricity.

Out of eight power units in the plant (each of them operating a self-contained process, from boiler, to turbine, to generator, to transformer), the oil-fired Units 1-6 have already been decommissioned and dismantled, rendering their associated 250-metre chimneys redundant. Instead the plant has been transitioning to a more sustainable and efficient model, with the natural gas-burning Units 7 and 8 having been joined in 2012 by a new combined cycle unit with a 445 MW output.

The chimneys of Elektrėnai Power Plant are not the only defining Soviet-era structures that have failed to find a place in the city's future. We were already driving away by the time we spotted it, but then we circled back for a closer look - where, not far from the Ice Palace, just poking above the tree-line, rose the tattered outline of an abandoned Ferris wheel.

Elektrėnai's Abandoned Soviet Funfair

The entrance to the amusement park sat at the end of a wooded lane, just past some kind of police administrative building. The gate was locked, so that the only way in was to hop over the fence. I didn't know Lithuania well enough to feel comfortable climbing over Keep Out signs within direct view of a police station... but when we saw a two-man television crew coming out, passing their camera and microphone one to the next as they climbed back over the fence, we decided this might be okay.

The park was named 'Children's World' ('Vaikų Pasaulis'), and it opened in 1986. Many of the rides were Soviet standards - the Ferris wheel, the carousel and spinning rocket ride were all models I was sure I'd seen before, here and there (though occasionally in a different colour scheme), in fairgrounds scattered across the former Soviet Union. The writing on many of the rides was in Cyrillic here; the ticket desk, for example, was labelled "КАСА." However, in the back corner of the amusement park, perched above the twists and turns of a sprawling abandoned rollercoaster, was displayed a sign in English: "Jet Star 2." According to local sources, the English sign was added post-independence: to reassure visitors that this was Western, not Soviet technology, to which they were trusting their lives. Strangely, hardly a word of Lithuanian appeared anywhere in the park, outside of more recent graffiti.

The Elektrėnai funfair ground to a halt in 2013, when it failed a safety inspection. Rather than pay for a full modernisation the city council opted to close it. Six years later (and just shortly after the photographs here were taken), the Ferris wheel was pulled down to be dismantled for scrap metal. The other rides will be next to go - with a plan, after that, to develop this space as a public park, with a café and amphitheatre.

Elektrėnai feels like a city caught on the cusp between two very different worlds. In its heyday it had a very clear identity: a model Soviet workers' city, festooned with red flags and banners. Citizen-workers went to the Ice Palace, the reservoir beach, or later to the funfair, during their free time - but from almost every place in the city they could see the chimneys of their workplace. Those living in south-facing apartments would wake up to them.

These days Lithuania is independent, and Elektrėnai doesn't have to be just a 'power town' any more; its citizens have more freedom than ever before. The chimneys are coming down, and the newest landmark on the horizon is dedicated not to Soviet engineering, but rather to Blessed Mary, Queen of Martyrs. The city's Soviet-era funfair is being replaced by a new family park. However, whereas for older Lithuanian cities - Kaunas, Vilnius, and the rest - independence meant a chance to restore their former, pre-Soviet identities, Elektrėnai never had a "before." It was designed as a Soviet city, its very DNA is Soviet... so once that Soviet identity is stripped away, it's hard to tell what they're left with here. The opportunity to build something new, perhaps; but until then this city feels pleasant enough, yet peculiarly adrift in time.

Sources

- Elektrėnai Chimneys are a Symbol That Will Soon Become History
- An Abandoned Amusement Park in Elektrėnai is a Place Where Time Has Stopped
- The Ferris Wheel of the Abandoned Funfair in Elektrėnai Has Been Demolished
Arch Fondas - Lithuanian Modernism Lecture with Marija Drėmaitė and Vaidas Petrulis
Kathmandu & Beyond - Children's World (Jet Star 2) Amusement Park in Elektrenai
- 1990-2000: The Architecture of Freedom

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Elektrėnai: The Lost Soviet Funfair of a Lithuanian Power Town

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One gets the feeling that people don't usually go to Elektrėnai on purpose. Traditionally, energy flowed out of - not into - this city. It sits alongside the main road between Lithuania's two largest settlements: Kaunas, and the capital, Vilnius.

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Auctions, H. (n.d.) Leroy Leadfoot , 1973, Artnet. Available at: https://www.artnet.com/artists/bob-peak/leroy-leadfoot-Jk91WcIS8Iq0l7vJlxV73Q2 (Accessed: May 1, 2023).

(Auctions, Leroy Leadfoot , 1973 n.d)

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Bob Peak

Leroy Leadfoot, 1973

29.49 x 20.75 in. (74.9 x 52.7 cm.)

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, 1973

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Mixed media with collage on board

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29.49 x 20.75 in. (74.9 x 52.7 cm.)

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Bob Peak Leroy Leadfoot, 1973 29.49 x 20.75 in. (74.9 x 52.7 cm.) close Artist: Title: , 1973 Medium: Mixed media with collage on board Size: 29.49 x 20.75 in. (74.9 x 52.7 cm.) Description: * Sale: * Estimate: * Price: * Bid Department: * * Subscribe now to view details for this work, and gain access to over 10 million auction results.

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1/05/23 - 5/05/23

2/05/23
This day has been quite overwhelming, in terms of managing how we are planning to sell our artwork, in the exhibition. I’ve realised from these few forums, that there’s a big responsibility that’s been put on us and it’s our job to be communicating with our groups and teams, as for us to move forward, we need to physically be making progress.

Although it’s a learning experience, I feel like there’s so much to do and so little time, especially alongside our main project. It’s been quite hectic and balancing out the two has been challenging but I’ve learnt it the hard way and started to really start putting more time, effort into my work.

Tasks to do:

IPS

logo sticker wellness group

Transport stickers into illustration

Make poster

Research

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Bob peak

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repourposing the lost in peckham

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He is now on a mission to help get more traders involved in preserving Peckham’s architectural heritage.

“I would encourage other shopkeepers to visit my shop and see that behind more recent coverings, there is often beautiful historic features to be discovered and restored,” he said.

“I hope the other traders on Rye Lane might try to make their own discoveries at their shops.

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Khan's Bargain store owner wins Historic England award after restoring Art Deco roof to its former glory - Southwark News

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Historic England says Abar Khan's 135 Rye Lane shop is of national architectural importance after its 1930s vaulted ceiling - similar to one adorning Eltham palace - was lovingly restored.

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London Shopkeeper Stories: Khan's, Peckham  - Last Updated 04 September 2017

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They weren't kidding. Khan's is a real emporium of fruit, vegetables, pulses, spices, dried fruits... even plastic animals, and it is a joke amongst locals that Narnia can be found at the very back, beyond the stacks of plastic tubs and just after the goblin city

They take a comprehensive approach to stocking an item. There’s a ramshackle charm too, though, and a sense that it’s all a bit frantic, which is why Khan’s always raises a smile.

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Helen Graves London Shopkeeper Stories: Khan's, Peckham

Khan's Bargain Ltd. is one of the most famous shops in Peckham. Occupying a prime spot bang in the middle of the main shopping street, Rye Lane, its vast frontage hints at the depths within. Sadly, they've now updated to a snazzy new shiny sign; the old one was much loved by the local population with its tagline inviting punters to "walk in and see the variety".

They weren't kidding. Khan's is a real emporium of fruit, vegetables, pulses, spices, dried fruits... even plastic animals, and it is a joke amongst locals that Narnia can be found at the very back, beyond the stacks of plastic tubs and just after the goblin city.

The shop used to be Holdron's, a swanky department store with a magnificent Art Deco frontage and ceiling, which is now being restored. The owner, Akbar Khan, is working with local architect Benedict O'Looney to rip away the false ceiling and reveal the original vaulted glass light well underneath.

Mr. Khan has constantly adapted the business since he took over, to serve the changing community of Peckham, so the shop stocks ingredients sought out by the African communities, those from the Middle East and also, increasingly, Europe. He founded the shop in 2000, after being forced to leave his native Afghanistan when the family business ran into difficulties:

We had a wholesale business in Kabul, supplying to other cities, but there [were] too many changes from 1988 to 1999... the Russians left the country, then other people came, there was fighting, we had to shift to another city, and then the next government came, the Taliban government, and we had even more difficulty running the business. My father was taken away, so I had to come out.

Akbar found himself wondering how to make a living in London, having arrived with few qualifications, "I couldn't go and apply for the job because I couldn't speak English, plus I wasn't well educated," he says. His only experience was working in business, so he set about finding a way to start over in Peckham, beginning with a small stall, "I started a small business here, right at the front of this store, and then slowly, slowly, I managed to extend my space out." He was part of an indoor market, with many people running stalls, but his break came when the ownership of the building changed hands, and the new owner decided to choose one person to continue trading there. He chose Akbar Khan and the rest is history.

You'll find vegetables at the front of the shop (although they do tend to move around, just to keep you on your toes), including all the usual stuff you find on Rye Lane like yams, pumpkins, onions etc., but there are also massive bunches of herbs, those lovely little Lebanese cucumbers, and a rotating selection of fruit. Pickle enthusiasts will be in clover as the pickle aisle is packed and the beany/grainy/pulse aisle is quite overwhelming. If you need 10kg of ground rice, you know where to go. They take a comprehensive approach to stocking an item. There's a ramshackle charm too, though, and a sense that it's all a bit frantic, which is why Khan's always raises a smile.

Akbar attributes the success of Khan's to "hard work, maybe a little luck" and also his ability to adapt:

That's local business, you have to keep changing... if you just concentrate on one item, you stay behind. That's the only way you can go because in the recession... everybody feels it, whether small businesses, big businesses, but I [felt it] less because I had many different products; if my electronics are not selling, the food is selling, if the food is not selling, toiletries are selling, I always had something to sell.

Many of the shops around Khan's are more specialist, focusing on selling African ingredients and cosmetics. Akbar notes that "10 years ago Peckham was the African food centre, I had customers coming from East London, from North London, even from outside London, and when they come to see their relatives they had to come to Peckham, to buy their food and stuff." Nowadays, the local population is changing, "We have customers who come from Europe, we have customers who move from another area here, they're not looking for the same products... the demand is different."

And what does Akbar Khan like to eat? "Traditional Afghan food. I don't eat from the market...if I can get away for a couple of hours, I would rather go home and eat rather than anywhere else." He likes to eat rice dishes, kebabs, and a special type of pasta called mantou. "At least, that is my favourite dish, but these days I try to focus more on vegetables - because of my belly!"
Khan's Bargain Ltd, 135 Rye Lane, SE15 4ST

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London Shopkeeper Stories: Khan's, Peckham

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Helen Graves London Shopkeeper Stories: Khan's, Peckham Khan's Bargain Ltd. is one of the most famous shops in Peckham. Occupying a prime spot bang in the middle of the main shopping street, Rye Lane, its vast frontage hints at the depths within.

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The shop is a cornucopia of of fruit, vegetables, pulses, spices and dried fruits and there is even one aisle devoted solely to spices

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The mammoth jewel in Rye Lane's crown is Khan's Bargain which sits pride of place at the front of the Modernist 1930s department store facade - originally founded in 1882 by British entrepreneur Harry Holdron. Cut to 2000 and Afghani Akbar Khan - whose family owned a wholesale business in Kabul before he had to flee - opened this famous Peckham grocery shop that has everything you want from a store and a whole lot more.

Khan's is the place to buy all your fruit and veg, household basics and kitchen essentials. The shop is a cornucopia of of fruit, vegetables, pulses, spices and dried fruits and there is even one aisle devoted solely to spices. Khan's has a comprehensive approach to stocking an item - why use one variant of cumin when you have 7 different brands to try?

Famed for its Afghani food and Indian spice section - not seen anywhere in the Lewisham, Brixton environs - people get in their cars and drive from far and wide to stockpile them. The reason for Khan's success is that Akbar adapts the store to meet the needs of the community. As most other grocers stock African ingredients, so Khan's Bargain is the place to find medjoul dates from Palestine, apricots from Turkey and Persian raisins. This is also the place to go if you're having a party or starting a big project as it sells ice, paint-brushes, printing paper, plastic containers, tupperware - you name it, they have it.

Holdrons department store sat behind a magnificent art-deco frontage and, under the watchful eye of local architect Benedict O'Looney and Mr Khan, the shop's suspended interior ceiling was removed to uncover a beautiful, vaulted 1930s ceiling. After a careful restoration, the 1000 glass lenses in the arch - along with the Edwardian lantern skylights - flood the store with daylight throughout the day, making this doyenne of 30s architecture a must-visit. While you're there, make time (about 2 hours) to do some shopping and snap up one of Mr Khan's newly designed 'Store of the people' tote bags.

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Khan's Bargain - Copeland Park & Bussey Building

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The mammoth jewel in Rye Lane's crown is Khan's Bargain which sits pride of place at the front of the Modernist 1930s department store facade - originally founded in 1882 by British entrepreneur Harry Holdron.

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Rye Lane has a long history of being a bustling transport hub

The Building and clocktower still serve as a time-capsule, albeit generally unnoticed, into Peckham’s glorious retail heritage

During the ’70s, Peckham became one of the most deprived areas in Europe, gaining a notoriously bad reputation – not helped by its depiction on television

Thankfully, Rye Lane is thriving once-again with local favourites such as Khan’s Bargains (a one-stop-shop for any Asian and Middle Eastern foods and spices)

numerous chain stores popping up at the top of the street have led to some people claiming that the area is losing its identity – but diversity, in all forms, is what make both Rye Lane and Peckham such fascinating and important parts of London

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Love Peckham? How familiar are you to Peckham's intriguing history? We tasked Sareta Puri with briefly documenting the changes that have occurred on Rye Lane and how the local business community has changed with it.

Back in the '80s and '90s, many people's idea of Peckham was based on the 'rough around the edges' images in TV shows like Only Fools and Horsesand Desmond's. Tower blocks remain, wheeler-dealers are ten-a-penny, and hair-care is still a central part of Peckham life, but there's no denying that the area has changed a great deal in recent years.

Following areas like Notting Hill in the 1980's and, more recently, Hackney, the often undesired gentrification of London has finally seeped South and has made Peckham a highly sought-after location in London.

Anyone familiar with Peckham will know that Rye Lane is where it all happens. Reams of shops selling cheap vegetables from across the globe, an abundance of chicken shops and heaving weekend queues for venues like Canavan's Pool Club and the Bussey building all help make Rye Lane one of the most diverse areas in London, and even the UK.

Rye Lane runs half a mile from Peckham High Street at the north, down to the corner of Copeland Road where The Nags Head sits at the south. It features several Georgian and Victorian buildings which have been protected from demolition through the work of the Peckham Society and Peckham Vision. In 2011, Rye Lane became a Conservation Area in recognition of its architectural and historic interest.

Originally called 'South Street' and now named after Peckham Rye park, Rye Lane is a very different place now compared to the early 1700s, when Peckham was just a village of around 600 people on the outskirts of London. The street then would have been one of the main thoroughfares into London, bustling with market stalls, colourful gardens and rows of orchards growing produce for nearby London's increasingly demanding population.

Back then, Peckham was one of the last stopping points for traders on their way into London, who would have stopped for the night at a local inn - which is perhaps why the area is so well-populated with pubs! Over the years, Rye Lane and the surrounding streets became an area of important industrial activity due to its links into London and access to markets, fields and even docks.

It is now known for being home to several of south London's hippest bars and clubs, nestled among shops and markets that boast decades of heritage. This diversity is a cornerstone of Peckham's distinctive identity, and a reason why so many people are attracted to the area. Rye Lane's most famous venue is the Bussey Building - a multi-storey multi-arts venue that houses CLF Art Café, record shop Rye Wax, Rooftop Film Club, Yogarise and The Yard gym. Named after manufacturer George Bussey, the building was originally a gun factory and shooting range in the 19 th century that became a space for creatives and artists in the '90s and is still home to several art studios. The Bussey also hosts eclectic club nights, exhibitions, markets, screenings and events and is undoubtedly one of the reasons so many people have grown to know Peckham in recent years.

But as with any area of development, buildings like this often come under threat, as property developers strive to get their hands on land to create housing, which once built is often unaffordable to local residents. Thankfully, a campaign citing Bussey's cultural importance and heritage saved the building in recent years when it faced this danger - for the time being anyway.

This isn't the first time the building came under threat. In 2009 it was saved from demolition to make space for a tram depot that was part of a plan to regenerate Peckham, but which never came to be. Instead, the Overground (known affectionately as the Ginger Line to many a South-Londoner) was extended in 2012, linking Peckham to Clapham Junction in the west and Highbury and Islington in the north. Rye Lane has a long history of being a bustling transport hub. In the 1850s buses replaced horse-drawn carriages as Peckham's locality to London became recognised. Not long after, towards the end of the 19 th century, the railway was opened granting yet more access to the City and resulting in a population boom that saw any remaining fields being turned into housing.

As Peckham became a sought-after area, Rye Lane developed into a major shopping destination (often referred to as the 'Golden Mile') which even rivalled the likes of Oxford Street. In 1867, Jones & Higgins opened a store on the corner of Rye Lane and Peckham High Street that went on to become one of south London's best-known department stores until its closure in the '80s. The Building and clocktower still serve as a time-capsule, albeit generally unnoticed, into Peckham's glorious retail heritage.

Other notable shops that made Rye Lane a shopping hotspot included Holdron's Department Store, which included an outlet of Selfridges, and branches of popular stores such as Lipton's and Dunn's. Today, Holdron's Arcade (as it is now known) is home to several exciting start-ups including; YAM Records; Wavey Garms; One Organic and , a vegetarian & vegan cafe specialising in nut-based vegan cheese. There is also talk of re-developing the Holdron Arcade, with plans to link the indoor shopping area to the now-famous Copeland Park square at the rear.

During the '20s and '30s, Peckham continued to thrive despite the economic downturn, and shops including C&A, BHS (now Primark) and Sainsbury's (now Clarks) all opened. However, the closure of Holdron's in 1949 marked the start of the retail decline. A small section of Holdron's art deco frontage is all that remains.

Although Rye Lane managed to survive the Second World War, perhaps due to its distance from more central targets, other local areas started to become well-linked to central London, leading to more shops closing and some industries relocating. During the '70s, Peckham became one of the most deprived areas in Europe, gaining a notoriously bad reputation - not helped by its depiction on television and the murder of ten-year-old Damilola Taylor, on the North Peckham Estate in 2000.

However, during the '90s, the European Union ploughed considerable investment into the area - initially to redevelop the North Peckham Estate, followed by the building of Peckham Library, which sits as a colourful beacon near the top of Rye Lane.

Thankfully, Rye Lane is thriving once-again with local favourites such as (a tiny, almost-hidden stall that serves cheap and filling naan wraps) and Khan's Bargains (a one-stop-shop for any Asian and Middle Eastern foods and spices); Asian Takeaway Roya Textiles (a more recent venture providing colourful fabrics for both Peckham's out-spoken fashion crowd and the more traditional garments of African & Asian origin) - showing that independent businesses still play a crucial role in the community. What remains to be seen, however, is how this independent business community will fare in the face of investment from London's big property magnates and the gentrification that inevitably comes with it.

Gentrification is not, contrary to some local opinion, necessarily a bad thing in itself; as long as local people & business owners can hold onto their slice of the pie by adapting and developing to changing demands, then all stand to benefit from the influx of affluence. Take (the locally-owned restaurant, not the betting shop) as an example. Formerly known as the vibrant Lerryn's -a cafe famous for it's fun, simple decor, affordable food, battles with the council and coffee 'n' cocktails 'til late- this quirky local restaurant & bar is a development of its former self, and is still owned, in part, by Lerryn.

Sure, the arrival of a bar from shabby chic pub crew Antic and numerous chain stores popping up at the top of the street have led to some people claiming that the area is losing its identity - but diversity, in all forms, is what make both Rye Lane and Peckham such fascinating and important parts of London. It's not hard to see why so many people love it, Del Boy included.

Words by Sareta Puri

What is the South London Club?

The South London Club is a community of people who care about South London. We're committed to supporting independent businesses and craftspeople because of the value they bring to our lives and societies. That's why we were recently awarded with Social Enterprise status.

With your South London Club membership card, you'll not only have a guide to discovering the best independent businesses South London has to offer, but access to hundreds of exclusive discounts.

Tagged: Rye Lane, South London History, Bussey Building, Holdrons Arcade

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A Brief History of Rye Lane - Peckham - South London Club

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Love Peckham? How familiar are you to Peckham's intriguing history? We tasked Sareta Puri with briefly documenting the changes that have occurred on Rye Lane and how the local business community has changed with it. Back in the '80s and '90s, many people's idea of Peckham was based on the 'rough around the edges' images in TV shows like Only Fools and Horsesand Desmond's.

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a quick collage responding to my outing in Peckham - lively, vibrant and expressive - three words corresponding to how I view the area

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https://www.vogue.com/article/peckham-london-travel-guide-art-district

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In heaving, sprawling, trend-setting London, areas don't stay fashionable for long. The west lost its cool cachet decades ago, the north is too expensive for any artist not on display at the Tate Modern, and Shoreditch is filled with ageing hipsters and cocktails in jam jars-so London's creative set is now heading south.

Two train stops down from Victoria or a 10-minute drive from Brixton and Camberwell, Peckham has always had a bit of a reputation. Until recently, most Londoners would probably associate it with the hit '80s sink-estate show Only Fools and Horses and gang-led crime. So, not your ideal vacation spot then. But in the past five years, Peckham has become one of the city's most important art hubs and an essential destination for anyone interested in the contemporary British gallery scene.

It all started with Bold Tendencies, a creative space spread over an abandoned multistory car park that boasts summer installations, sculptures, concerts, poetry readings, and a buzzing rooftop bar. This led to a slew of new galleries-and when the art scene arrives, the restaurants and bars soon follow, and the result is a square-mile of loud, intense, colorful creativity that is unmistakably English.

This is how to do Peckham in five hours:

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A Perfect Afternoon in Peckham: The Williamsburg of London

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In heaving, sprawling, trend-setting London, areas don't stay fashionable for long. The west lost its cool cachet decades ago, the north is too expensive for any artist not on display at the Tate Modern, and Shoreditch is filled with ageing hipsters and cocktails in jam jars-so London's creative set is now heading south.

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https://www.cktravels.com/things-to-do-in-peckham-london/

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This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you.
Peckham stands proud in South London, a marvellous melting pot of authentic and inexpensive international cuisine, arty alley-ways and cool rooftop spaces.

The repurposing of Peckham's industrial enclaves has been a game-changer with Peckham home to some of the best dive bars and breweries in London plus creative, community spaces.

From Peckhamplex to Peckham Levels and retro arcades to colourful parades, here are the top things to do in Peckham, south London in 2023.

Things to do in Peckham

Peckham's Rooftops

Right now, Peckham's rooftop scene is off the charts, renowned for its range of roof raves (try saying that after several cocktails), all with stunning views of the London city skyline.

Easily one of the things to do in Peckham in the summer months, the best rooftops include:

The original and most popular rooftop bar and social space in Peckham, Frank's (Cafe) is situated outside on the top floor of a car-park building. Whilst this may not sound like a prime Peckham pastime, the views and bar set-up at Franks speak for themselves - just awesome!

Not a lot has changed at Franks since it opened in Peckham in 2009 other than its popularity; visit Peckham on any sunny summer afternoon and you'll be hard pushed to find a spot to sit at Frank's, such is its appeal.

With an island bar, cool views and a smattering of seats (plus ample tarmac), enjoy a cold beer or nifty negroni at Frank's for one of London's best sunset sessions.

We love the Peckham Bussey Rooftop building set-up with its 360 degree views and highest viewpoint.

Whilst sometimes seen as a plan B destination if nearby Frank's Cafe is too full or crowded, Peckham's Bussey Rooftop Bar has a character all of its own and if anything, the vista here is better. You can also see everyone enjoying the sunset at nearby Franks with views of Peckham and south London.

Alas the Bussey Rooftop Building bar isn't open all year round so do check their website before venturing out, if you are visiting Peckham especially.

Hoping to rival Franks and the Bussey building as the most radical rooftop and hip hang out in Peckham, Skylight is open all year round, with igloos at Christmas and alfresco floral decks in the summer months.

From bottomless brunch weekends to live music and performances plus hot desking and co-shared workspaces in the week, Skylight has it all (plus they have a sister site at Tobacco Dock in Wapping).

One of South London's most popular and well-known tap-rooms, Brick Brewery (near Peckham Rye station) has a wide range of craft beers with an outdoor seating area and a smaller indoor area.

Founded in Peckham in 2013, Brick Brewery has over 20 of their own (and guest) beers on tap, this taproom used to be their brewing operation but has since moved down the road.

We've been to Brick Brewery in Peckham a couple of times and it has always been heaving, particularly in the summer when the beer garden at the front has been full of friends and families. Brick Brewery also have a Greek street food stall in the garden - Mikos Gyros.

Peckham's Brick Brewery is one of our top London breweries and taprooms >

A little taste of Japan in the heart of Peckham, we first discovered Kanpai ('cheers' in Japanese) London Sake Brewery taproom one Saturday afternoon in the summer, managing to grab the last remaining tables outside.

We weren't sure what to expect at Kanpai London Sake Brewery as we don't really drink sake, but they also have Japanese beers on tap.

Founded in 2016 by a husband and wife team after a trip to Kyoto and billed as the UK's first sake brewery, Kanpai taproom in Peckham is located on an industrial estate near the Bussey building.

You can't miss Kanpai - just look for the striking street art outside the main doors.

Kanpai sake brewery tours are also available on Saturdays and selected Fridays.

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2023 UPDATE:Peckham Riviera is now permanently closed
Based between the bridges of Peckham Rye station, Peckham Riviera brings a spot of sunshine to South London. With a green as oasis of a courtyard and an awning to ensure all weather drinking is on point, Peckham Riviera has the feel of a work-in-progress garden centre that does a sideline in serving craft beers and cocktails.

Fancy the flicks or catching up on your cinema releases? Peckhamplex in Rye Lane is one of the cheapest cinemas in London (independent as well), with tickets starting as low as £4.99 for the earlier sessions as at 2023.

Opened in the early 90s and with 6 screens and up to 15 different movies a week, you can clearly see why the locals love Peckhamplex so much. Head to Peckham and grab some popcorn at Peckhamplex!

A space for the local community, artists and independent sellers, Peckham Levels is a bustling, seven storey building (part of a car park), home to numerous stalls, pop-ups, bars and restaurants.

Half the fun at Peckham Levels is exploring as you never know what to expect around each corner. Just pick a floor at random when you jump in the lift (although levels 5 and 6 are where most of the fun happens).

Home to over 100 small businesses and eateries, Peckham Levels street food highlights include Indian street food from Boxwallah, middle eastern fare from Nadine and juicy as joy from Plantain Kitchen.

Every time we go, we discover something new from Plonk Crazy Golf (now sadly closed down) to new tattoo or yoga studios.

The newest additions to the Peckham Levels street-food scene who opened new kitchens here in February 2023 are Senegalese soul food favourites Little Baobab and popular sourdough pizza peeps, Well Kneaded.

A creative community hub of buildings, studios combined with bars, restaurants and street-food start-ups, Copeland Park and the Bussey Building are home to some of the best things to do in Peckham.

Every day of the week, you'll discover events, activities or drop-ins aimed at all ages and abilities.

One of the highlights is Holdron's Arcade, an alleyway of assorted stalls, shops and pop-ups (they bill themselves as Peckham's 'corridor of wonders' - cute!).

The Bussey Building Rooftop bar also sometimes has a pop-up cinema with sublime sunset views of south London to accompany the silver screen.

With three London locations (Peckham, Hackney Wick and Elephant and Castle) plus Bristol and Newcastle, sites the combination of vintage arcade and gaming machines with craft beers is definitely on trend and 'game on'' - '.

Peckham Four Quarters was the first, and London's original arcade bar. With over 15 gaming machines dating from the 1970s to the early 2000s, enjoy a pint with Pacman or an ale with Asteroids - just don't put your glass down or it might get Tekken etc...

Housed in the Copeland Park and Bussey Building industrial estate area, the Salvage Yard is South London's largest indoor flea market selling all manner of retro and vintage fare.

With between 40 and 50 stalls selling an amazing array of furniture, homeware, collectables and clothing, have a rummage and go home with a bargain.

Markets at the Salvage Yard generally happen on selected Saturdays and Sundays.

What is better than a Peckham pub? A Peckham pub with its very own 30 seat screening room - welcome to the Montpelier on Choumert Road.

As well as fine British fare and craft beers galore, the Montpelier has its own Back Room Cinema - we wonder if they do pub themed showings like Ale's Well That Ends Well or The Hangover?!

A local backstreet boozer that prides itself with an organic and locally sourced menu, time to pop in for a pint at the Montpelier pub next time you're in Peckham.

Tucked away on a leafy street just minutes away from the hustle and bustle of central Peckham lies this hidden gem of a Thai restaurant.

Named after the alms pots (or begging bowls) that Buddhist monks carry, the Peckham Begging Bowl serves creative Thai inspired food with a modern spin.

The Begging Bowl Thai menu has around 14 small plates options that are designed for sharing (they recommend ordering 5 dishes between two people) and has an excellent range of vegetarian and vegan options.

You can order unlimited jasmine and sticky rice at The Begging Bowl in Peckham for just £3.50 per person which is a nice touch (prices correct as at February 2023).

We loved the flavours and textures from the vegan banana blossom dish which is served with white asparagus, enoki, peanuts and chilli jam dressing, and we also enjoyed the fresh and zingy cured cod, green mango, lemongrass and citrus chilli dressing plate.

The Pandan Daiquiri cocktail is worth a try and has hints of fresh Thai basil and lemongrass.

Service is super friendly and we highly recommended booking ahead as The Begging Bowl is always packed!

A free to visit contemporary art museum in Peckham with displays, exhibitions, performances and screenings, the South London Gallery's emphasis on new work by emerging international and British artists often by those who have yet to open a solo show in London previously.

Established in 1891 on its current site on Peckham Road, the South London Gallery has expanded in recent years to include Art Block - a space for community art on the Sceaux Gardens estate and the Fire Station gallery (also on Peckham Road).

'Pot-ty' about Peckham? Well, we all know ceramics are cool so why not combine your south London adventure with a trip to the Kiln Rooms.

Primarily located at Copeland Park, with several ceramics studios and classrooms (also at Bellenden Road Arches and Peckham), the Kiln Rooms are aimed at all different abilities from newbies to experts.

With a strong community spirit and well loved by Peckham locals, The Kiln Rooms has a big impact on the local arts scene and several times a year, exhibitions of members' work are also held across their various sites.

London has some of the best street art in the world and Peckham is no exception.

Recently, Japanese art trio Fate, Imaone and Suiko created a huge vivid and vibrant mural on the side of the Copeland Park and Bussey Building, near to the aforementioned Kanpai brewery street art mural.

In October 2021, French born London based street artist Zabou also painted an incredible mural of local legend Leanne Pero, which can be found at Peckham Levels.

All around in Peckham, particularly around the High Street, Peckham Levels and Bussey, awesome street art is abound so keep your eyes open when you visit.

An inexpensive culinary gem located on Consort Road, Peckham Bazaar offers the best Middle Eastle fusion of Turkish, Greek, Iranian and Albanian dishes all home cooked over an open charcoal fire.

With marvellous mezze and a menu that changes daily, combine your meal with their legendary Peckham Negroni which includes Greek vermouth.

Did you enjoy our Things to do in Peckham London blog post? Let us know in the comments or by sharing it on social media. You can follow CK Travels on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube!

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17 Things To Do In Peckham, London (2023 Guide) - CK Travels

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This post may contain affiliate links to tours and hotels. These help us earn a small commission at no additional charge to you. Peckham stands proud in South London, a marvellous melting pot of authentic and inexpensive international cuisine, arty alley-ways and cool rooftop spaces.

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https://thenudge.com/london-bars/peckham-levels/

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Transforming a South East London car park in a hub of creativity, street food and arts? There's levels to it. 6 levels, in fact. That's how the story goes at Peckham Levels where a team of intuitive individuals have breathed new life into a previously abandoned multi-storey car park. They've turned the floors underneath Frank's Café into a culture and events space where you can eat, drink, shop, perhaps get a tattoo and observe niche art, all while supporting the local community. You won't get told off for loitering here and you definitely don't need a ticket to stay either. Wins all around. Here's what's going down (and up)...
THE TOP LEVELS
Starting from the top, aka levels 5&6, this is where you'll probably want to head first if you're feeling... peckish. That's because there's raft of street food kiosks parked up on the 6th floor. Right now: Neapolitan pizzas from 081 Pizzeria; roadside-inspired Indian eats from Boxwallah; Korean from Green Choy (including the show-stopping soft shell crab burger with kimchi mayo); West African food from Plantain Kitchen; and specialty coffee and cake from Peckham Levels' very own cafe, Percolate.

Down the Insta-famous multi-coloured flight of stairs, you'll find a few options for reinventing yourself /enabling a midlife crisis like getting a tattoo from Dog & Bone, a fresh trim from The Scissors of OZ and some new bling from Behô, who make unique rings with natural gemstones. Regular weekly events take place here too, which flit between sports screenings, design and poetry shows, rolling art exhibitions, concerts and um, speed dating (because who says carparks can't be romantic?).
THE MID-LEVELS
In other words, levels 1-4. This is where over 80 independent small businesses hang out - most of which are from Peckham. There's design studios, social initiatives, co-working spaces and a community dance group, with each given their own separate car parking slot. Rent these days is a killer, as we all know, so it's a cost-effective (and creative, of course) way to provide creatives with a space to get their stuff done. Some of the occupants even offer courses, including pottery classes (where you make your own claypots) from The Kiln Rooms .

Keep an eye out for the markets that happen regularly here as well, usually packed to the brim with handmade wares, vintage clothes, records, accessories, food and live music. Just no cars...
NOTE: Peckham Levels is open daily from 10am-11pm (1am Thurs-Sat). You can find out more on their website HERE. Want to explore Peckham more? Check out our Peckham Area Guide
Peckham Levels | Peckham Town Centre Carpark, 95a Rye Lane, SE15 4TG

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Transforming a South East London car park in a hub of creativity, street food and arts? There's levels to it. 6 levels, in fact. That's how the story goes at Peckham Levels where a team of intuitive individuals have breathed new life into a previously abandoned multi-storey car park.

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https://secretldn.com/peckham-rye-train-station-art-installation/

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A Victorian-Era Train Station Waiting Room Will Be Transformed Into An Immersive Art Installation

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The immersive train station art installation will mark the re-opening of the waiting room, which has been shuttered for fifty years.

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food and culture? - I love to see how inclusive and vibrant peckham really is once you research more closer into the commmunity and hopw the strength of the community people, is what keeps Peckham - Peckham.

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https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/jun/24/discovering-peckham-art-scene

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The beautiful south: a walking tour around Peckham’s art scene

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Laura Barnett takes a whistlestop trip around a set of London galleries thriving away from the spotlight

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https://theculturetrip.com/europe/united-kingdom/england/london/articles/london-culture-guide-peckham-for-art-lovers/

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Explore the thriving contemporary art scene and galleries in London’s ever-trendy Peckham with our culture lover’s guide to London.

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Although the weather wasn't the brightest, I had a really enjoyable time exploring Peckham. Initially, I wanted to search up locations but I ended up just walking my way around and letting my feet take me to places I found interesrting

forza wine
charity shops
cafe

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nerijus - vibrant, melting pot, exciting
angel - food, community and greggs

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peckham marketplace (open sat 10-2pm)

peckhamplex cinema

general Store (peckham Rye Overground)

cafe hopping! - nola cafe, old spike peckham, well & fed

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The search for the best specialty coffee and places to visit in London and on my travels to NYC and further afield.

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i haven't personally explored peckham in my time studying at camberwell but naturally i have this idea of peckham being an 'unsafe/dangerous' place, hearing it from students at uni.

i would like to see how my exploration of peckham area can change that stereotype and maybe find something that i might find new/interesting - make me change my views of peckham

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https://www.mylondon.news/news/local-news/londoners-rank-top-10-places-20419692

filled with "yuppies"

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(Image: Google Images)

London is a fantastic place to live in general but like any large city it has its downsides.

Despite the best efforts of the Metropolitan Police, Londoners still carry a chance of encountering criminal activity on the streets of the capital.

And some Londoners reckon the chances are a lot higher you'll be caught up in crime if you live in certain areas compared to others.

On the reviewing website Top 10, Londoners have posted their stories and explanations of why particular areas are dangerous, ranking each place according to the cumulative number of 'likes' given to the different accounts of life there.

These are the top 10 most dangerous areas of London according to residents, though some of the reasoning is frankly a bit odd.
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1. Peckham

Peckham is apparently the most dangerous place to live in London, if you believe the testimonies of these Londoners.

Among the areas problems, gang activity seems to be the biggest factor in its lofty ranking.

One person wrote: "I have lived there for 2 weeks and moved straight away! Horrible place, so many mugs and gangs!"

Another came out in force to condemn the entire area, writing: "Peckham is a disgusting place. If you live there you're basically done out.

"It's an awful city and I don't understand why anyone would wish to live there. It is a horrible place, it's a dump, it stinks."

But others disagreed, stating that Peckham couldn't possibly be the worst place in London as it was filled with 'yuppies'.

They said: "No way number one it's just a bunch of yuppies everywhere."

2. Brixton

Surprisingly, the vibrant South London town of Brixton was named the second most dangerous location on the list.

According to one Londoner, it is risky to even look someone in the eye in the borough.

They said: "I live in Brixton and I don't really go out at night anymore because I don't want to get approached by gangs.

"In Brixton it's literally a big thing to make eye contact with someone, an argument could start from a small thing like that."

Another claimed that he was mugged in the area on a 'daily basis' which slightly stretches the credulity this reporter is willing to grant his testimony.

It wasn't all bad though, one person said that despite it's reputation Brixton was actually a very safe place.

They said: "Big up Brixton! Good place to live, most safest place in London by far!"
See the crimes that have been reported in your area with In Your Area.
3. Tottenham

Tottenham was unlucky enough to come third on the list of London's most dangerous areas.

One person was so damning in their criticism of Tottenham they advised people never to visit it.

They said: "I would honestly say Tottenham is by far the worst in London.

"The area is filled with gangs, estates, drugs and much more. It is an area where if your not from there you shouldn't really be visiting."

Another opined that the area hid behind the reputation of the football club.

They said: "It is a failed area full of gang culture, but doesn't get the recognition as it is known to be where the football club is."

But one person disagreed with the slander and mounted an impassioned defence of the area.

They wrote: "This was the only way I could find to post my opinion.

"Reading the comments and releasing what negative connotations people have or Tottenham nearly brought tears to my eyes.

"I have lived in Tottenham all my life and have felt a sense of community; I also feel lucky that due to the cultural diversity in Tottenham I have learnt about other cultures - broadening my horizons."

4. Hackney

Hackney came fourth on the list but had been mentioned in many of the top 3's grievances often as a comparison.

One user denigrated the entire concept of living in the area.

They opined: "Crime, street fights, graffiti, murder, drug dealing are literally the Hackney features. Is going there, living there let alone safe?

"Not in the slightest. I would love to know the percentage of people that love it, I would hazard a guess, it's quite low."

But one person disagreed and said Hackney was no more dangerous than any other London area.

They stated: "I'm moving to Hackney soon, I know people that lived there all their life and it can be dangerous but it's getting better and like most places just be careful where you walk alone and at night, avoid dark streets and with few people, if you can just drive where you need, you'll feel safer and it's safer.

"Otherwise during daylight it is relatively safe."

5. Croydon

Rounding out the top five was Croydon with most user complaints stemming from the perceived mugging culture that had sprung up on street corners.

One person lamented the lack of police action to stem the tide of 'muggers'.

They said: "Kerb crawling is not responsible thing to do it can get you arrested by police so if you are doing this

"Kind of activity please be aware that it is classed as anti social behaviour which police do not tolerated it will land you in serious trouble by being arrested."

Another gave the town an ignominious title.

They said: "Croydon is an antisocial muggers paradise!"

But as ever, there were some people who disagreed with the slanders directed at the area.

They said: "Croydon isn't rough at all it's the same as any other place in London."

6. Edmonton

Edmonton also suffers from a poor reputation from Top 10 users.

One person was so angry with the area they proposed a radical solution.

They wrote: "Nuke Edmonton. It is a useless London area with too many illiterate, materialistic, money-obsessive wannabe gangsters run by a useless Labour MP."

Another recounted a terrifying story of being mugged twice in the same night.

They said: "Do not go there I'm from hackney and I thought hackneys dangerous not after I went to my mates house at Edmonton.

"Nightmare I only got robbed twice and been victim of a knife once and it was all in Edmonton and I've only been there five times."

Another resident then appeared to defend the area in a backhanded way: "Edmonton isn't that bad. I live there and it's quite OK, despite the fact it's a bit dangerous and a bit unsafe. Better if you stay indoors most of the time."

7. Stockwell

Stockwell had fewer accounts posted than many others on the list.

But there was still room for hyperbole, with one screaming: "Stockwell is worse than Brixton believe me!" whilst another lamented the 'war zone' aesthetic of the area.

However perhaps a fairer assessment of the area can be found in the account of an American lady who recently moved to Stockwell.

She wrote: "I find Stockwell a charming community with an identity, a small town feeling of sorts.

"I've walked the streets of Stockwell at all hours, including coming home from clubbing in the wee hours of the morning.

"Never once have I felt threatened or uneasy."

8. Stonebridge Estate Harlesden

The Stonebridge Estate in Harlesden came in for special commendation on the list securing an entry irrespective of the town it was situated in.

One person raged: "This should definitely be in the top 5. One of the most hated ends in north-west London."

The reasons for the area's notoriety were noticeably thin on the ground in the comment section, with most pointing to the spectre of gang violence.

The fairest comment read: "Its calmed down since it was rebuilt, but the area is still bad with the gang crime that goes on there."

9. Tulse Hill

The penultimate entry onto the list of 'dangerous' London areas was South London's Tulse Hill.

According to users, the Lambeth district has a problem with youth crime.

One person wrote: "Full of youth crime youth violence and young gangs. Not a good environment for a young person to experience life!"

Another admitted that the area had a gang problem, but that on the whole they behaved better than other gangs, writing: "In general the gangs in Tulse Hill are kinder than other areas."

10. Custom House

Closing out the list of 'dangerous' London areas was the area around Custom House, which sits on the banks of the Thames near the Royal Victoria footbridge.

On the surface the area looks quite ordinary, but residents are convinced their are darker things going on below the surface.

One user wrote: "Definitely the grittiest part of London, most involved borough in the Newham postcode war."

This alleged gang warfare is again referenced by another user who recounts a harrowing story.

They explained: "The area is known for homicides, shootings & drive by shootings.

"Have had tit for tat gang warfare coming up too a decade."

Strangely, this was also the only area on the top 10 list that attracted no positive messages in rebuttal.
Do you agree with the Top 10 list or do you think the areas have been judged unfairly? Let us know in the comments here.

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Londoners rank top 10 places they find 'most dangerous' but some reasons are odd

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London is a fantastic place to live in general but like any large city it has its downsides. Despite the best efforts of the Metropolitan Police, Londoners still carry a chance of encountering criminal activity on the streets of the capital.

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