History
Just under 6 miles from central London lies the London Borough of Lewisham, which become part of London as late as 1965. The main centre was hit by a V-1 flying bomb in 1944 flooring most of the buildings which were rebuilt in the ‘50s. The main shopping centre now consists of Lewisham Shopping Centre and a daily market at the north end of the High Street.
1977 was the year of the Battle of Lewisham, when the area saw the biggest street battle against fascists since the Battle of Cable Street in 1936, when over 10,000 people turned up to oppose the National Front march.
Notable people born in Lewisham include Kate Bush, Gary Oldman, Sid Vicious and Alexander McQueen.
Food and Drink
The arrival of Street Feast’s Model Market put SE13 firmly on the hipster map when it comes to food and drink, and although closed for the winter (check out Hawker House in nearby Surrey Quays ), there are plenty of options on offer.
Cafes:
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Maggie’s: Irish family-run cafe and restaurant that’s been in business for over 30 years, offering ‘make you own breakfasts’ for as little as £6.50
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Saigon Streat , a neighbourhood Vietnamese pop-up has taken residence in Hither Green offering great value noodles, soup and more.
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Good Hope Cafe, Ladywell : Set up in November 2010 in memory of Jimmy Mizen, who tragically lost his life in May 2008. Alongside giving financial support to the charity For Jimmy, the café provides training and work experience programmes and offers work placements in partnership with Drumbeat School & ASD Services for young people with Autism.
Restaurants:
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Bento Oriental Food and Japanese Cuisine: All you can eat Japanese cuisine
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Rox Burger : Tasty burgers at really reasonable prices
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Levante : Nothing flash to look at, but amazing lamb and other Turkish dishes on offer here.
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Toto and Pepe : Authentic Italian in the heart of Lewisham
Bars and Pubs:
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The Fat Walrus: Great name. Great pub!
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The Crown : Great local pub offering gastro-style menu and a huge garden
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Pubs and rooms in Hither Green - January Sale now on!
Outdoor Spaces:
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Hilly Fields : Offering a nature reserve, playground, cafe, enclosed picnic area, cricket pitch, three tennis courts and a basketball court.
Schools:
For a list of Primary and Secondary schools in and around Lewisham, take a look here
