Property for sale in Whitburn Road, Ladywell, London, SE13

Our area guide for Lewisham offers a brief overview of the town and its attractions, properties, schools, history, council tax and public transport links.

Overview

Lewisham is located in the London Borough of Lewisham and covers the whole SE13 postcode. It’s bordered by Catford, Hither Green, Forest Hill, Crofton Park, Brockley, St Johns, Blackheath, Deptford and New Cross, and sits centrally off of the south circular. There’s a good spread of people and nationalities based in and around Lewisham, from young families to retirees, and this gives the town a balanced feel. The town’s most recognisable landmark is the clock tower, which dates back to 1897 when it was built in celebration of Queen Victoria’s diamond jubilee. Actor Jude Law and TV personality Louise Redknapp were both born in Lewisham, and comedian Spike Milligan and former footballer Ian Wright have both resided within the area.

Shopping

Lewisham Shopping Centre, formerly the Riverdale Centre, is the main shopping facility within the borough. It is located in Lewisham town centre and is accessed via the High Street. The shopping centre is home to a number of large retail names such as Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, WH Smith (which contains the town’s main Post Office), Argos and Boots. Lewisham High Street is also home to the town’s open street market, which is open seven days a week. It sells everything from fresh fruit and vegetables to clothing and household goods.

Attractions

Lewisham boasts a surprising number of open green spaces, including Mountsfield Park, Lewisham Park, Manor House Gardens, Ladywell Fields and Hilly Fields. Both Ladywell Fields and Hilly Fields also have nature reserves within them. The Borough of Lewisham also benefits from a number of other attractions including Horniman Museum, Ladywell Leisure Centre, a bowling alley and the Broadway Theatre (which is located in nearby Catford).

Food and Drink

Lewisham boasts a huge array of eateries, which includes all the big ‘fast food’ chains such as McDonalds, KFC and Nando’s as well as the well known Something Fishy fish and chip restaurant. It also has a number of public houses that serve good hearty food along with traditional beer. There are many take-away outlets offering Indian, Chinese, Greek and many other international cuisines. Should you desire more fine dining then head to nearby Blackheath, where many of the restaurants are award-winning.

History

Lewisham was originally a village stretching along Lewisham High Street from the present railway station to the ancient parish church of St Mary. King James I, impressed with the length of the High Street, remarked 'On my soul, I will be king of Lusen'. This spelling suggests that the name was then pronounced Loos-am, whereas now it is Loo-ish-am. The clock tower was completed in 1900 to celebrate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria, which took place three years earlier. The town centre was devastated by a flying bomb in 1944 but had recovered by the late 1950s. In 1977 the shopping centre was built, and in 1994 the High Street in the town centre was pedestrianised.

Property Market

Property in Lewisham is mainly made up of Victorian and Edwardian properties, many of which have been converted into flats. Also on offer is an array of ex-council properties along with many new build developments such as Renaissance, Meridian South and The Silk Works. Surrounding Hilly Fields Parkis in the Brockley Conservation area, and some of the most spacious flats and houses in Lewisham can be found along these tree-lined streets. They range from one-bedroom flats up to eight-bedroom houses, some of which have gardensup to 150ft in length andcommand spectacular views across London. The rental market in Lewisham is thriving as the town offers a good base for commuters into Central London, Canary Wharf and The City.

Council Tax

Lewisham town is in the London Borough of Lewisham and these are the council tax valuation details for the year 2011/2012.

Education

Schools in Lewisham and surrounding areas include:

Primary schools

• Ennersdale Primary School
• Hither Green Primary School
• Lee Manor Primary School
• Lewisham Bridge Primary School
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School
• St Margaret’s of Lee CofE Primary School
• St Mary’s Lewisham CofE Primary School
• Torridon Junior School

Comprehensive schools

• Addey and Stanhope School
• Deptford Green School
• Forest Hill School
• Haberdashers' Aske's Hatcham College
• Haberdashers' Aske's Knights Academy
• Prendergast School
• Sedgehill School
• Sydenham School

Sixth form colleges and further education

• Christ the King Sixth Form College
• Crossways Sixth Form
• Lewisham College
• Goldsmiths, University of London

Independent and public schools

• Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
• Sydenham High School
• St Dunstan’s College
• Colfe’s

Hospitals

University Hospital Lewisham is situated on Lewisham High Street. It is one of the few hospitals in London to have a separate Children’s A&E department.

Transport Links

Lewisham is one of the best connected towns in south-east London. The train station offers a mainline service to London Bridge, Charing Cross, Victoria and Waterloo East, all of which can be reached within approximately 12 minutes. The station also has a DLR service, which connects with the Jubilee line, making Canary Wharf accessible in about 10 minutes. There are also good bus links to central London and other local areas. The A2 is within a few minutes’ drive of Lewisham and provides access to Central London and Canterbury.