As a rather big fan of the capital city (and having lived here for the entirety of my adult life), it’s pretty rare for me to encounter an area of London that I know next to nothing about. But it does happen, folks. And a corner of the capital city that my knowledge was not up to scratch on until mere moments ago is Thamesmead. This manmade (and extremely unique) little spot is perched over in south east London, nestled between Greenwich and Bexley, and is currently undergoing a rather hefty regeneration. So, if you’re interested, please allow me to tell you a little more about it.
Thamesmead
The idea of Thamesmead was dreamt up in the 1960s by the Greater London Council as a rather futuristic ‘town of tomorrow’ and the UK’s first attempt of building a new town inside a city. It was created in an attempt to solve the central London social housing issues, and many families were relocated to Thamesmead from the inner-city slums in the late sixties. Thamesmead is now home to around 47,000 people, and that number is rapidly increasing.
Thamesmead is certainly unlike any other spot in the city. It’s home to 5 lakes, around 240 hectares of green space and 7km worth of canals. It’s a far cry from the chaos of the capital city, with a surprisingly calm feel to the area, and plenty of scenic and serene spots to walk, cycle, and indulge in the nature.
Thamesmead is where you’ll find Crossness Pumping Station (the best-looking sewage station you’ll ever lay your eyes on), and the area is also home to a whole host of bold, brutalist buildings. In fact, when the town was first created, it was considered as one Britain’s boldest modernist designs. The area has long-attracted photographers and filmmakers, and Thamesmead was firmly plonked on the map when one of its waterways (Southmere Lake) was used as a filming location for A Clockwork Orange.
Whilst its undeniable that Thamesmead has its allure, it’s a notoriously terribly-connected London neighbourhood. There is currently no train station and no Tube stop, so residents have to rely on buses to take them to the nearby likes of Abbey Wood, Woolwich Arsenal and Plumstead. But it’s not all bad, because TfL have recently confirmed that they’ll be extending the DLR to Thamesmead and work to do so will commence next year. Alongside the DLR extension, 15,000 new homes are set to be built in the area over the coming years, And I, for one, am excited to see what the future of Thamesmead holds.