Looking for fun things to do in Peckham? It’s all heading south.
And that’s a very good thing – because it means there’s plenty of interesting ways to spend your time in Peckham, home to amazing neighbourhood restaurants, great bars, classic local haunts and some of the most thriving independent openings in the city.
So in honour of SE15, here are the best things to do in Peckham, from intimate orchestral concerts in a multi-storey car park to hidden cinemas, bustling markets and bars beneath retro games arcades…
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BROWSE THE STALLS AT PECKHAM SALVAGE YARD
Whether you’re in the market for 1940s ice skates or upcycled lamps, you’ll probably find it at Peckham Salvage Yard – one of the most richly stocked flea markets in London. It’s run by the same team behind Hackney Flea and The Big London Flea, and they draw on their extensive little black book of 70+ traders to fill Copeland Park with vintage homeware, furniture and bric-a-brac. There’s music and freshly baked goods to keep you going, but you could always stop off at Oi Spaghetti + Tiramisu across the car park to refuel afterwards.
Details: Copeland Park, Copeland Road, SE15 3SN | Check upcoming dates HERE | £1 entry
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FEEL CULTURED AT THE SOUTH LONDON GALLERY
One of the most eclectic, wide-ranging art galleries in London, the SLG houses a collection of contemporary works by artists from around the globe. It’s free all year round, and as well as the permanent collection boasts a series of visiting exhibitions, two garden spaces, a great café run by the Louie Louie team, and an annexe with even more artwork across the road, in Peckham’s 19th century Fire Station.
Details: 65-67 Peckham Road, SE5 8UH | Open Tuesday – Sunday | Free entry
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GET INSPIRED IN PECKHAM RYE
While in Peckham Rye park in the 1760s, artist William Blake claimed to have seen “a tree filled with angels, bright angelic wings bespangling every bough like stars.” No guarantees on spotting any rogue seraphim today, but there is still quite a lot of very pretty stuff to see in Peckham’s largest park. It’s 113 acres of green that are split between the Park and the Common, and between them they pack in a Japanese Garden, an entire river, a skate park, a cafe, a pond, an outdoor gym, a bowling green, a wildlife garden, an adventure playground, and an arboretum – possibly your best bet for a heavenly visitation.
Details: Strakers Road, SE15 (Entrances at Peckham Rye, Homestall Road, Colyton Road and Strakers Road)
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WATCH THE SUN GO DOWN AT FRANK’S
The bar that launched a thousand spin-offs: Frank’s was the original bar-on-a-car-park-roof. It’s open throughout the summer for Italian spritz cocktails and a brand new menu of small plates and brunch dishes every year, served to a stellar backdrop of the city skyline. And to get there, you’ll need to ascend Peckham’s most famous staircase, drenched from floor to ceiling in millennial pink.
Details: 10th Floor, Peckham Multi-story Carpark, 95a Rye Lane, SE15 4ST | Open Wednesday – Sunday in summer
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…THEN LISTEN TO A CONCERT IN A CAR PARK
Head down that millennial pink staircase to the upper levels, and you’ll find the unexpected home of Peckham’s live music scene. Every summer, artistic collective Bold Tendencies puts on a programme of live shows in the car park itself. You’ll hear from the likes of the Multi-Story Orchestra, who play spine-tingling classical music; spoken word with local poets; and contemporary compositions by visiting performers.
Details: Peckham Town Centre Car Park, 95a Rye Lane, SE15 4ST | See what’s on here | Some free, others from £6
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RECREATE A CLASSIC TEEN DATE AT PECKHAMPLEX
Bex Walton/Flickr
Tickets are £5.99, all day every day, and it’s right opposite McDonald’s. Just saying.
Details: 95a Rye Lane, SE15 4ST | Check screenings HERE | £5.99
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GET COMPETITIVELY NERDY AT FOUR QUARTERS
Street Fighter II was already great when you were 10. The addition of craft beers, 14 other arcade cabs, pinball machines, a room filled with retro games consoles, a secret basement bar and club and a steady stream of hot dogs, loaded fries and grilled cheese sandwiches… is nothing short of genius.
Details: 187 Rye Lane, SE15 4TP | Open Tuesday – Sunday | £2 for 4 quarters (or bring your own), each game costs 1 quarter
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WATCH A FILM UNDER THE STARS AT ROOFTOP FILM CLUB
You know, if you fancy upgrading from Peckhamplex a little.
Details: Block B Rooftop, Copeland Park and Bussey Building, 133 Copeland Road, SE15 4SL | Until 1st October | £12.95+
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BROWSE THE SHELVES AT HOP BURNS & BLACK
For those days when you have an inexplicable craving for craft beer, hot sauce and coffee, no other shop will do. They stock over 350 bottled and canned beers from across the globe, as well as mead, natural wine, and small batch spirits.
Details: 38 East Dulwich Road, SE22 9AX | Open daily
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GET A SLICE OF PIE (AND HISTORY) AT MANZE’S
M. Manze is a London institution, serving traditional Cockney dinners of pie, mash and eels (jellied or stewed). Their Peckham spot has been going since 1927, and is one of only three shops left – and after over almost a century of service, it’s safe to say they’ve got the recipe down.
Details: 105 High Street, SE15 5RS | Open Monday – Saturday
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FLAKE OUT AT ERIC’S
Anton Rodriguez
When one Flor closes, another door opens – and in this case, that door leads to Eric’s, a new bakery from Helen Evans. She was previously head baker at the London Bridge institution that was Flor, and is now pouring her knowledge of delicious flaky goods into her first solo operation. Stop by for confit potato scrolls and mascarpone-topped cinnamon buns, and a bottle of wine to take home.
Details: 20 Upland Road, East Dulwich, SE22 9EF | Open Friday from 8am, Saturday from 9am till sold out
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LEARN SCREEN PRINTING AT SONSOLES
These classes don’t just look good on paper. Join an intro workshop at Sonsoles and you’ll be inducted into the creative world of screen printing, learning to combine stencils, photography and more to create striking images for printing onto posters, tote bags and more.
Details: Unit 11, Print Village, Chadwick Road, London, SE15 4PU | Introductory course from £95
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CHECK OUT COPELAND PARK
Copeland Park is the beating heart of Peckham. A former industrial site, it’s now home to thriving independent businesses; including a tiramisù restaurant in a shed; the CLF Art Café (a classic Peckham night out); Bussey Rooftop Bar and the Rooftop Film Club; the sun-drenched Yogarise studio; and a raft of arts spaces, exhibitions and one-off events, all hosted by locals.
Details: 133 Copeland Road, SE15 3SN | See what’s on HERE
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It may not look like much from the outside (though the ghost sign on the first floor is quite cool), but the Museum of Contemporary Art is one of Peckham’s most colourful spots. Expect site-specific modern art, talks, performance pieces and workshops.
Details: 113 Bellenden Road, SE15 4QY | Open Thursday – Saturday | See what’s on here
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HAVE A THROWDOWN AT KILN ROOMS
This friendly trio of studios are a smashing spot for pottery classes. They run workshops and courses for all levels, including a gentle Sunday afternoon taster where you can while away a few hours slapping clay into shape, and take home three or four finished pieces (once they’ve been fired up). Don’t fancy a career as an artisan pot-maker? Keep an eye out for their ceramics markets where you can scoop up a couple of gems from the professionals.
Details: Peckham Levels, SE15 4ST | Railway Arch 198, Bellenden Road, SE15 4QJ | Unit 9C, Copeland Park, SE15 3SN
Planning a day out? Check out our guides to the Best Restaurants in Peckham and the Best Peckham Bars
