Named as one of the best places to live by The Sunday Times, East Dulwich continues to be one of London’s most coveted neighbourhoods.
Nestled between the south east London neighbourhoods of Telegraph Hill and Crystal Palace, East Dulwich has much to offer, from its strong art scene to its walking spots, local cinema and streets lined with period homes.
But aside from that, this area has convenient travel links to London, with a train from East Dulwich to London Bridge taking just 13 minutes, whilst still feeling like a leafy suburb.
But it’s not just its history and art that makes this area special, according to its locals it’s also the “strong community”.
For Helen Evans, the owner of popular bakery Eric’s, which recently celebrated being named as one of the UK’s top 50 bakeries, East Dulwich was the “perfect” neighbourhood to set up shop, on account of its “super friendly” atmosphere.
Helen said: “East Dulwich is super friendly – lots of young families, lots of children, and I’m in a very residential area.”
“There are lots of young families, good schools and nice independent shops as well.”
Helen also added that its strong business scene in areas like Lordship Lane, where you can find a mix of both independent and commercial retailers, was a real “asset” to the area.
Helen explained: “You’ve got great cheesemongers, butchers, fruit and veg shops and independent boutiques. That’s something East Dulwich should cherish – you don’t see it everywhere.“
That sense of mutual care and familiarity is something echoed by many in the community.
“There’s a real community feel,” Helen continued. “We’re learning customers’ names, they ask how we are, we ask how they are.”
Alastair Christian, manager over at Planet of the Grapes, echoed Helen’s sentiments, describing the area as having a “great community feel.”
This new wine business opened in East Dulwich last year, and already Alastair says the business has gained a “diverse mix of customers”, reflecting the vibrancy of the area.
Alastair said: “It’s got a real community feel to it, I suppose, and we’re the latest addition in a bunch of different wine places in the area, which I think is great.”
The growing cluster of independent bars, eateries and artisan stores is testament to the area’s evolving but grounded identity – welcoming new ventures while remaining proudly local.
A retail worker from a nearby florist also pointed to the unique blend of small businesses that draw people in.
“It’s mixed. There’s a lot of really nice independent shops here, and that draws people in from other areas as well,” she said. “it’s the mixture of shops and things around here that I think make it so special.”
The ”popular” Saturday market was also given a special mention, which “draws people in” to explore the community of independent businesses.
In a city often thronging with large-scale commercial businesses and eateries, East Dulwich is an example of one of London’s thriving communities, where the local businesses are an integral part of it.
