London Photo Gallery - Peckham

Emerging from the Overground station, Peckham has a very gritty and tired look with graffiti-laden shopfronts. This area feels economically deprived, yet lively with lots of shoppers. Just 3 miles south of London Bridge, Peckham developed into a suburb in the early 19th century as new bridges across the Thames opened and the railways arrived in the mid-1860s. The second half of the 20th century was a period of decline as older residents moved out and were replaced by younger and poorer people, including immigrants. This was coupled with industry decline, with the Grand Surrey Canal's Peckham Branch closing in 1971. Peckham Levels was transformed from a multi-storey car park into an arts community in 2017. Their public area on the 5th floor includes food offerings, karaoke, and a big set of windows offering skyline views.