Lady’s Guide to East Dulwich, London

Today I want to bring you my guide to East Dulwich, London. One of the best things about moving to south London is that I’ve had a chance to explore a lot of London neighborhoods I’ve never been to before. From Herne Hill to Forest Hill, I’ve spent my free time discovering new-to-me parts of the city. One of the ones I’ve fallen in love with is East Dulwich.

East Dulwich

As the name implies, East Dulwich sits in southeast London, pretty much due south of the City of London and The Shard.

With a high street full of independent shops, good local pubs, the tree-studded Goose Green, and lots of colorful doors, the neighborhood has a distinctly village feel.

How to Get to East Dulwich

While not on the tube, East Dulwich is accessible via trains, buses, and the London Overground. A quick train journey from London Bridge will bring you to East Dulwich station, which is in the heart of the area.

There are even better connections via Overground and rail to nearby Peckham Rye station, too. And that’s to say nothing of buses, which serve the area from all over central and south London.

Once you’re here, it’s hard not to fall in love with the place.

Lordship Lane, East Dulwich

First, Lordship Lane is full of surprises. This is the area’s high street, and it’s a great place to discover.

From colorful street art to fishmongers and cheesemongers (there are cheesemongers!), there’s always something to catch my eye or pique my nose.

There’s an independent bookshop, a cool cinema, several stores specializing in succulents (so hot right now), and enough coffee shops and cafes to keep me coming back for a regular caffeine-and-cake fix.

Add to that great pubs like the East Dulwich Tavern and local restaurants like Spinach, and this is one of the top high streets in London.

North Cross Road, East Dulwich

Just off Lorship Lane, North Cross Road is home to even more independent shops and restaurants (including another bookshop, yay!).

But what I really love about this street is its vibrant Saturday market. The North Cross Road Market features everything from sizzling street food to antique chairs and artisan knitwear.

It’s a great place to wander on a weekend morning to take in the scene and get to know the East Dulwich neighborhood.

The surrounding shops are perfect for popping into as well. From florists to clothing stores, there are a lot of good spots to browse and buy.

And that’s to say nothing of the restaurants and cafes. This part of East Dulwich is packed with bakeries, coffee shops, and other places to eat. They all add to the atmosphere of the market each weekend.

Street Art in East Dulwich

Another great way to get to know this part of London is to discover its art.

East Dulwich is one of the host neighborhoods of the Dulwich Outdoor Gallery, a collection of murals painted by celebrated street artists who base their works on Baroque paintings in the nearby Dulwich Picture Gallery, England’s oldest public art gallery.

That means there’s impressive street art all over East Dulwich. Famous artists like Stik have left their mark here, and it’s fun to stumble upon different artworks while walking around Lordship Lane and the surrounding streets.

My favorite piece of street art in East Dulwich is on Spurling Road. It’s a huge Conor Harrington mural of two Baroque-era men boxing, and it takes up the side of an entire building.

There are a lot of other exciting works around the area, too.

Side Streets in East Dulwich

In fact, there are a lot of details to catch the eye in this part of London in general. Given I love exploring side streets, I always make sure to wander down a few.

I love the row of colorful houses and buildings on Crawthew Grove, some with pastel facades and others with geometric shapes painted all over them.

And that’s to say nothing of Crystal Palace Road, which has lovely doors and inviting pubs. In fact, a lot of the side streets in East Dulwich are hiding local cafes and shops. It’s always fun to stumble upon them when I’m out for a walk.

There’s even a side street with a museum. The quirky House of Dreams Museum on Melbourne Grove is set in the home of artist Stephen Wright. Packed with colorful objects that take up every corner of the place, it’s a treasure trove for the eyes.

East Dulwich, London

Which is why I’ll keep exploring this part of south London in my free time.

There are so many places to discover here, and every time I walk around I find somewhere new to get me excited about the area. I hope you feel the same way if you get a chance to visit East Dulwich.

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