For us, none other than the amazing tradition of Christmas markets is what gets us in the Christmas spirit, and so we have gathered some of the fantastic Christmas markets in South London that are definitely worth checking out in your local area this year!
As the sun finally begins to show its face, we’re bringing you a list of the best spots to don your sunnies, slap on the suncream and settle in for an afternoon of cold ones in the London sunshine. From riverside sundowners to boozy lunches on the terrace, Putney’s got an exciting little assortment of al fresco possibilities and we’ve rounded them up just in time for the Bank Holiday.
With the gradual, yet steady closing-down of local cinemas and theatres that has been happening in Britain for decades, we thought it a good idea to use our platform to pay homage to one of the oldest theatres in South London that has survived this unfortunate decline in entertainment venues, and continues to showcase cutting edge theatre and events to this day....
Season's greetings! There is no better way of getting into the Christmas spirit than by attending your local christmas markets. Wrap up warm with the family or a few friends, stroll down to your local market and enjoy the rich warming smells of mulled wine and mince pies, whilst trying to remember the lyrics to your favourite carols. We've got the round-up; check out where your local market is happening and make sure you're there!
Run your fingers along their spines, cast your eyes up and down the shelves, flick through the pages and sit cross legged on the floor engrossed in the words resting in your lap. Escape the dull, uniform, needlessly clean chain bookshops that are a stalwart part of any high street or soulless shopping centre. South London has its fair share of independent bookshops where hidden treasures can be found, prices are right and the shelves hold countless stories to lose yourself in.
Us Brits love a Sunday Roast and have finessed the art of the home cooked roast dinner over the years. But sometimes you don’t want to fire up the oven for hours and slave away in the kitchen. Autumn Sundays in London are always special, so why not get out of the house, wander round the park to work up an appetite and then indulge in one the best Sunday lunches on offer South of the river? Fortunately, we’ve done the hard work for you and rounded up the crème de la crème of roast dinners.
The summer is over and you’re feeling a little resigned to indoor life, where after binge-watching that new show, you feel a little useless. Now there is no shame in that because we’ve all been there, but we are here to inject some enthusiasm into your evenings and weekends. There’s loads going on in South London that will help you learn some new skills and try some new things. This is a list of activities where you’ll probably say ‘I’ve always wanted to try that’ and some where you might say ‘I never thought of doing that’. We imagine you’ve given up on your well-intentioned New Year’s resolutions, to which we say: why not make an end of year resolution? That way when Christmas comes around you can feel accomplished and perhaps have a new skill to show off to family and friends. Expect something to suit all South Londoners, including the artsy, sporty and adventurous!
As people arrive back from their holidays and are launched back into the routine of cooking their own dinners, they begin to miss the fantastic food they tried on their travels. Sometimes it is easy to forget the delicious cuisine surrounding you that can perhaps match your holiday dishes, but we're here to remind you. Hither Green is a hub of divine food, offering fantastic burgers, authentic Vietnamese, classic British dishes and fragrant curries. Have we got your attention? We thought so. Banish those holiday blues, scrap packed lunches and cooking and head out for a treat.
If the walls of Eltham Palace and Gardens could talk, they'd have some colourful stories to tell. Luckily for you, we can tell some of them in a brief history of the palace that has hosted royals, millionaires and even trainee gardeners! Nowadays it is visited by thousands of people each year who want to enjoy the scenery of the gardens and grab an insight into a life of decadence whilst admiring the art-deco interior. But the history of Eltham Palace starts all the way back in the 11th Century and since then it has told a story full of parties, war and even pet lemurs!
When you were first handed the keys to your home you had visions of a perfectly executed interior design that wouldn't look out of place in a showroom. Instead, you've managed to accumulate random pieces of furniture and decorations that somehow make up the patchwork of where you now live and you think it is time for a change. Maybe you want a full-scale renovation and need the full works, or maybe you want to change up the colour scheme with fresh carpet and blinds. Or perhaps you just want a new piece to add charm and sophistication to your indoor vista. Whatever you want or whatever your style, you don't have to trek to IKEA to look at the same old items and get insanely stressed in the process. South London's independent shops are here to help you create the home of your dreams.
Wine has been enjoyed as early as 7000 BC and has never gone out of style, remaining the most popular alcoholic drink in the UK. You can choose between Red, Rosé, White or Sparkling and all of these can be enjoyed in different ways. Sure, you can still grab a cheap bottle from the off license, but it will never be the same as enjoying a cold glass of extra special wine in the bustling streets of London. Wine also complements food better than any other beverage, making it a popular choice amongst restaurant goers. Sure, Britain might not be the host of fantastic vineyards like those in France and New Zealand, but we are good at collecting the best from all over the world and putting it in one place for you to enjoy. We’ve done something similar here, collecting the best spots to enjoy these wines from all over South London and put them all in one place, this blog.
South London is the kind of place you can only fully understand from the inside. Outsiders may just see South London as ‘suburban’ and ‘rough’ but there is a complex culture that manifests among these chicken-shop lined roads. Among that are some characters that populate every South London post code and we’re here to whittle them down to 8 stereotypes. This is all very tongue in cheek and isn’t meant to be exhaustive, so let us know if there are any we’ve missed!
Hands up who is needing coffee to get through this week after the bank holiday? Us too. Coffee has its humble roots as a popular drink in 15th Century Yemen, originally used for staying awake for religious rituals. Well, flashforward to the 21st Century and coffee has fast become the best friend of the perpetually tired and occasionally hungover. Coffee has not just become a popular drink, it has taken on a life of its own, with coffee chains relentlessly lining every high street to give people their caffeine fixes. But here at the South London Club, we think it’s the hidden gems on the high street that provide the best roast, rather than Starbucks or Costa. Thus our guide to getting coffee at the best independents was born. We’ve got you covered for every sort of day. Those days when you’re dashing along the London streets, takeaway coffee cup in hand, the days when you’re tapping away on your laptop in the window of an indie coffee shop, sipping on a latte and even the days you’re downing espressos at a rate to rival teenagers in Ibiza. So without further ado, it’s time to find your new favourite cup of coffee in South London. Expect latte art photos that will make your mouth water.
As September approaches, it is time to accept that Autumn is upon us. As it gets a little colder and darker, it's easy to retreat into your living room for 6 months. But Autumn 2017 South of the river is looking to be packed with stuff to do, and we wouldn't want you to miss it. Whether you're into art, music, cooking or socialising, we've got you covered. So throw on your scarves and rally up some friends, because Autumn is the new Summer in South London.
