Never been to Brockley?

When you enter ‘Brockley is...’ on Google, the first suggested search is ‘...cooler than Shoreditch’. There’s no doubt that this leafy suburb of South London is having something of a creative boom with artisan bakeries, independent stores and quirky cafés and restaurants popping up all over the place. Whether you’re after a day of local beer and authentic food or an evening of jive in London’s last remaining 1950’s Ballroom, Brockley is currently one of best kept secrets in the capital and a place that just has to be explored by anyone who is visiting London.

It’s easy to see why you wouldn’t have heard of Brockley as it’s nestled in a corner away from the busy nights of Peckham and Brixton, the area has gone about its business quietly in order to become one of the hotspots for London’s creative scene. Step off the train and you’re instantly hit with what it represents. Huge murals of street art adorn the buildings with a tribute to the late, great Bob Marley and the area's postcode (SE4) being the stand out features in letting you know where you are.

If you're heading to Brockley

If you’re heading to Brockley on a Saturday, the first thing to do is make a beeline for Brockley Market. A winner of Time Out’s cheap eats in London 2015, the market is full of some of the best street food in London with the butter milk chicken burger from Spit and Roast being one of the most popular items on the menu. Alice, 23 from Greenwich and a regular visitor to the market described it as ‘The best place in London to grab some food on a Saturday morning’ and continued to say the butter milk burgers were ‘the best cure for hangovers’. Once you’re finished eating, wash your down with some fresh pressed apple juice from one of the fruit and veg vendors and you’ll be ready to start your day.

Or if you’re lucky enough to be in London on a rare sunny day, grab a few bits from the market and head up the road to Hilly Fields - a local park with stunning panoramic views of the city from the top of its peak making it the perfect place to grab a fantastic photo of London’s skyline for your collection.

Once you done wolfing down burgers, wraps, ice cream sandwiches and whatever else you can get your hands on, it’s now time to explore the fantastic pubs, bars and other activities that Brockley has to offer. Head over to The Brockley Jack, a small theatre whose programme is a mixture of new and established works. It shares it’s building with a pub or alternatively, you can skip across the road to the London Beer Dispensary for a drink. It's a local tap room where you can sample beers from local haunts such as Peckham and Streatham or even visit Brockley’s very own Brockley Brewery which has a taproom just down the road.

As evening draws near

As the evening draws in Brockley’s restaurant scene comes into its own. Brockley doesn’t do chains, with all restaurants being independent and many focusing on ‘home-cooked’ flavours, so this is undoubtedly some of the best food you will eat during your stay in London. The stand out nominees have to be Masala Wala Café which features a mother and daughter team cooking up authentic Pakistani Food, The Malaysian Deli and Mama Dough Pizzas all of which offer great food at extremely reasonable prices.

After all of this gluttony, if you’d still like to carry on the party then Brockley has a few options for you.
The Jam Circus near Crofton Park is a shabby-chic bar with DJ’s keeping you entertained till 1am. However, you should try and coincide your visit with a night when the Rivoli Ballroom opens its doors for a night of Salsa, Swing or Jive. It is the last remaining 1950’s ballroom and is a true sight to behold, and its prestige and history make it a unique London experience to dance your night away in.

So there you have it, a little London gem unwrapped. If you’re not sure what to do when visiting London or have spare day, then Brockley is a great place to relax, unwind or party the night away in one of London’s most legendary venues.