Description
Sydenham homes range from grand villas to terraced houses and converted flats in a leafy suburb with many parks and open spaces. It is close to Crystal Palace and, in fact, part of Sydenham came to be called Crystal Palace once the exhibition moved there. As well as Crystal Palace Park, residents are spoiled for choice with Mayow Park and Sydenham Wells Park. Kirkdale and Sydenham Road are busy shopping streets with many independent shops (including Turkish supermarkets selling delicious Mediterranean food) and there is retail park at Bell Green.
History
There is evidence of a hamlet called Sippenham in the 13th century but the area remained rural and unknown until the 1640s when the local water was discovered to have medicinal properties and visitors and residents were attracted to the place and its wells. The Croydon Canal in 1809 and the railway coming in 1839 led to a further increase in population and Sydenham was an affluent area. This was sealed by the erection of the Crystal Palace in 1854.
Leisure & Amenities
Places to go and things to do:
- Bell Green retail park
- Kirkdale Bookshop
- Sydenham market
- Sydenham Arts Festival
- Lovely Gallery
- Monthly Sydenham Film Club
Active Life:
- Mayow Park
- Sydenham Wells Park
- Tennis club
- Cricket club
- Golf club
- The Bridge Leisure Centre
Eating and drinking ideas:
- Calabash of Culture - shop & cafe
- Brown & Green Brunch Kitchen
- Dolphin - pub
- Golden Lion - pub
- The Wood House - pub
Transport
- Well served by railways, Sydenham station has the London Overground and trains to London Bridge, Victoria, and Croydon. Sydenham Hill station provides trains to Victoria and Lower Sydenham station serves Charing Cross, Waterloo East, Cannon Street and London Bridge.
- Numerous bus routes run through the area.