Description
Leafy streets with amazing views across London combined with houses primarily ranging from Victorian to 1930s make Forest Hill attractive to families. Improved transport via London Overground now brings young professionals to the area. The Horniman Museum is a major attraction providing an amazing range of natural history and art and craft collections.
History
Forest Hill was rural until the 19th century and was part of the Great North Wood which was oak forest covering much of modern south London. The railway came in 1839 and the removal of the Crystal Palace from Hyde Park to Sydenham in 1854 coincided with the construction of grand houses in the area. In 1884 London's oldest surviving public swimming pool was built in Forest Hill and the Horniman Museum was opened in 1901. Ted Christmas was a famous local builder from the 1900s to 1930s and 'Christmas houses' are renowned in the area. Art Deco influence is shown in the1929 Capitol cinema (now The Capitol pub) and the mansion blocks e.g. Taymount Grange, built in the 1930s.
Leisure & Amenities
Places to go and things to do:
- Horniman Museum
- Canonbie Road - for the view of London
- Forest Hill Library
Active Life:
- Nature reserves
- Forest Hill Pools
- Horniman Gardens
Eating and drinking ideas:
- Dartmouth Arms
- St Davids Coffee House
- Bona Sourdough Pizza
- The Capitol pub
Transport
- Forest Hill station for London Overground and Southern trains
- South Circular Road
- Numerous bus routes to central London and elsewhere in south London