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Things to do in London Borough of Lewisham, Greater London

Awaiting photographs of London Borough of Lewisham

Location:

The London Borough of Lewisham is on the south bank of the River Thames, between The London Borough of Southwark and The London Borough of Greenwich.

Facts and Figures:

The Borough of Lewisham covers an area of 35km. and is the most sparsely populated of all the London boroughs. It has 249,000 residents of whom 66% are White and 34% are of Black or Mixed Ethnicity. It has the highest proportion of Caribbean residents in Inner London.

The borough has a young population with an average age of 35, compared to the national average age which is 39.

Lewisham is one of the few councils which have an elected mayor.

The main A2 runs through the borough from London to Dover and was once frequented by highwaymen, especially around Blackheath.

Lewisham has many famous residents. The former Prime Minster, James Callaghan and special envoy to the Archbishop of Canterbury, Terry Waite, both lived in Blackheath.

Description:

The borough's main town is Lewisham but the council is based in Catford.

The London Borough of Lewisham has always been associated with recreation. Blackheath was where medieval fairs were held and it is still a popular area for sports and leisure activities. The annual London marathon starts from Blackheath. Each year on or around November 5th it puts on London's largest free fireworks display to celebrate Bonfire Night.

Blackheath is considered the main centre of the borough of Lewisham. It still has a village-like atmosphere with small local shops, pubs and restaurants. The architecture reflects that it was a fashionable area for wealthy city merchants from the 17th century and there are many grand houses surrounding the heath itself.

Lewisham is sadly remembered for being the site of one of the worst train disasters in Britain. In 1957 a crowded steam train hit a stationary electric train in thick fog. The impact caused an overhead bridge to collapse onto the wreckage and 90 people were tragically killed.

Borough Attractions:

The Horniman Museum is one of Lewisham's best attractions. It includes a Living Waters Aquarium, an eco-building housing an environmental centre and it has a lovely 16-acre garden. The museum is located in Forest Hill.

The Albany Fringe Theatre is also a poplar place to visit, in Deptford.

Lewisham has eight Green Flag parks including the expansive green area of Blackheath.

Major landmarks in the borough of Lewisham include the All Saints Church in Blackheath, the Citibank Tower in Lewisham and the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Church, also known as Sydenham's German Church, in Forest Hill.

Getting There:

The Borough of Lewisham is served by the East London line of the Underground. It is also well served by buses and trains. It has stations on the Docklands Light Railway, a metro service which serves the East End of London and the Docklands area. The southern terminus of the railway is in Lewisham.

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