Herne Hill has long been dwarfed by nearby Dulwich and Brixton. While always an attractive area, the pedestrianisation of the area in front of the station has created a focus for the area, which often felt mired by the constant traffic jam at its centre. Now, a charming collection of stores, comprised of a wool shop, butcher, baker, greengrocer, junk shop and bookshop has turned it into a destination. On Sunday's this area gets transformed into a brilliant food and craf market. And yes, you'll still find the obligatory kebab or fried chicken shop, but the restaurants in the area have caught up, too, with many offering delicious modern British cuisine.
Close by in Tulse Hill there are great pubs to be found, as well as a once-a-month street food market in nearby West Norwood. It's certainly worth visiting the boutique Tulse Hill Hotel, which is way more than just another Gastropub.
Mostly, though, the area is dominated by Brockwell Park, an attractive space with a BMX track, miniature railway, walled garden, community greenhouse and lido. Unexpected local features include the velodrome used in the 1948 Olympics, which still hosts races, club training and kids’ classes. The area's piece de resistance, however, is it's 50-metre lido, which can get overwhelmingly busy in the summer months.
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