About this office
The Dulwich branch has been in its current location for more than 20 years and has the advantage of being right next to North Dulwich station, in the station building, just a short walk from the centre of Dulwich Village. The team covers the post codes of SE21, SE22, SE24 and SE27, in addition to the Bellenden Road area of Peckham, Crystal Palace, Sydenham and Forest Hill.
Why move to Dulwich?
Dulwich is a large area consisting mainly of charming Dulwich Village, plus East, West and North Dulwich. It is south of the City of London and famous for the Dulwich Picture Gallery and Dulwich Park which opened back in 1890. Additionally, there is the Dulwich Golf Course and Dulwich and Sydenham Woods, which add to the appeal so that it feels almost as if you are outside London offering an escape from the hectic pace of central London, but still within half an hour’s journey of it. Dulwich is a firm favourite with those looking to commute into central London daily with links to Victoria and London Bridge from its various rail stations. What’s more, there are great restaurants locally as well as in nearby Brixton and Peckham.
A little bit of history
It's a little-known fact that Dulwich was one of the worst affected places in the UK during World War II, when Hitler sent unmanned explosive aircraft across the English Channel: the V1 and V2 rockets. Dulwich was badly hit by these terrible weapons, but there are theories that the British led a misinformation campaign throughout the war, skewing the coordinates of central London to protect the more densely populated centre so that bombs would fall in open areas.
Architecture and property
Dulwich Village has a good mix of large Victorian, Edwardian and Tudor Revival properties which are popular with families. There’s also an enclave of Huf Houses, popular for their excellent light and energy efficiency. West Dulwich has larger Victorian homes, while East Dulwich has Victorian terraces where loft conversions and extensions are popular. In the core Dulwich post codes, there are mostly houses to suit the strong family market and some newly developed flats.
Shopping and amenities
Shops in Dulwich tend to lean towards the smaller and independent end of the market, offering plenty of variety. Dulwich Village feels like a more rural area despite being so close to London, with a duck pond, a Grade II-listed pub and outdoor cafes. There’s supermarket shopping at East Dulwich with a Sainsbury’s and a Marks & Spencer Food.
Going out
East Dulwich has a younger vibe, with a Picturehouse cinema and murals painted on the end of some buildings forming part of the Dulwich Outdoor Gallery. The East Dulwich Tavern and House of Tippler are popular. During the day, the Brick House Bakery is a great locals’ favourite. In Dulwich Village, Roco di Papa serves great pizzas while the Crown & Greyhound has gastropub menus. Brixton has a younger crowd and lively nightlife.
Green space
Dulwich Park has a boating lake, tennis courts, bikes for hire and a community garden and café. Between East Dulwich and Forest Hill is Horniman Gardens, which also has a museum and music gallery. In the Brixton direction, Brockwell Park has a lido and café, while to the south Sydenham Hill Wood has a wilder feel with walking trails and ponds. Crystal Palace Park is also easily accessible.
Schools
Schools in Dulwich are excellent, with three of the country’s best independent schools all within walking distance of Dulwich Village. This includes Dulwich College for boys, James Alleyn’s Girls School and the co-ed Alleyn’s. Popular state schools include Dulwich Village Infants, Dulwich Hamlet Juniors and The Charter School at secondary level.
Transport
Transport in Dulwich is ideal for the city commuter, with the London overground reaching Denmark Hill (where Kings Hospital is located), Peckham Rye, Honor Oak, Forest Hill, Sydenham and Crystal Palace. Gatwick and Heathrow airports are within driving distance, as are the major seaports located on the UK's south coast. Multiple London bus routes pass through Dulwich; particularly popular is the no 3 which has a night service and goes from Crystal Palace, through West Dulwich, Brixton and eventually to Oxford Circus