When I think of Bermondsey I have visions of Ray Winstone’s terrifying role in Nil by Mouth, and Millwall fans throwing rocks at horses. It is also another place where I have lived, albeit for one night. An old uni friend said I could stay in his flat, as long as I behaved. On the first night (a Tuesday) I went out, didn’t come home and left the front door open. So I was ungraciously ejected from the flat. But what a 24 hours…Bermondsey it’s been emotional.
Anyway, this bit of South London was derelict for many years, but after the area’s wharves were developed the area changed beyond recognition. It has some unbelievable restaurants, bars and coffee houses, busy every night of the week. A lot of areas this central are like ghost towns on the weekend, around the Barbican for example.
Bermondsey Street, Maltby Street and around the Grange have uber cool loft apartments, which if you can afford to buy, I envy/hate you, so please stop reading this now. Light some scented candles with £50 notes, and throw them at the peasants below.
Famous for
It was from the Bermondsey riverside that the painter J.M.W. Turner executed his famous painting of The Fighting “Temeraire” Tugged to her Last Berth to be Broken Up (1839), depicting the veteran warship being towed to Rotherhithe to be scrapped…and Millwall fans.
Positives
Central, great bars, restaurants, coffee houses, schools…
Negatives
Like all of London, poverty and wealth live cheek-by-jowl, but it is very obvious here. Do the two mix in a SE1 utopia? Well no, it’s doubtful they do.
Transport Links
Zone 1, but only Bermondsey Station (Jubilee line: Canary Wharf 10 minutes away, Bond Street 15) and average bus routes serve it.
Schools
Primaries: St James CofE, St Joseph’s RC and Southwark Park all “outstanding”. Secondaries: St Michael’s and the Harris Academy are both “outstanding”.
Drink/Eat
Around Maltby Street; giving Borough Market a run for its money. Eat at Village East of Bermondsey, Jose, Pizarro… Drink at the Hide bar and Woolpack. Just a coffee? Go to Bermondsey Street Coffee.
Property All properties correct via www.zoopla.co.uk on 8th October 2014
To buy £715,000 2 bedroom apartment with windows on 3 sides and large terrace
To buy in Bermondsey click here
To rent £1,430 pcm (£330 pw) two bedroom split-level hose, with off street parking and garden
To rent in Bermondsey click here
Photocredit Wikipedia