Peckham

Like all the Rooftop Film Club venues, you get state of the art outdoor cinema at The Bussey Building, with comfy director chairs, blankets and wireless headphones. There is also a stunning 360 degree view out across London from the roof of the warehouse-style arts venue. Film-wise, it’s a mix of recent hits (like ‘The Imitation Game’), cheeey ’80s classics and golden oldies.
Top promoters consistently bring in some of the best names on the cutting-edge, underground and alternative dance scenes, across pretty much any genre you care to name, but leaning primarily towards house, deep techno, garage and disco. The Bussey also hosts regular nights that offer more accessible sounds, including Zonk Disco and The South London Soul Train, making it one of the best venues in London for funk and soul club nights. All of which means that it’s one hell of a draw the whole year round, but especially in the summer, when the roof gets thrown open for alfresco parties.
The Bussey Building may have tipped the spotlight onto Peckham’s musical wares, but those looking for a more intimate, underground and, dare we say it, authentic location for their beats and bleeps can often be found trekking further up Rye Lane to Canavan’s. It’s a functioning pool hall and local-ish boozer on most nights, but those with a keen eye will spot the occasional (and increasing) night of deep dance delights, showcasing a selection of underground DJs and producers at nights like Rhythm Section, currently Canavan’s most regular party.

Few cinemas evoke quite as much misty-eyed fondness among South London film fans as the PeckhamPlex. It ain’t fancy, and you’d struggle to describe the décor in entirely favourable terms, but this rough-around-the-edges Peckham institution, which recently celebrated its twentieth anniversary, has character and charm in spades. The only thing you really need to know about this place is that tickets are just £4.99 – or £5.99 if you want to see a film in 3D – all day, every day of the week.

Local tube stations include Queens Road Peckham (Overground and Southern lines) and Peckham Rye (Overground and Southern Lines) – the latter also provides National Rail routes on the Southeastern service and also Thameslink which is a main line route running 225 km from North to South through London from Bedford to Brighton. Local bus routes include routes 78, 63, 363, 381, 177 and 345 which will take you to the likes of Crystal Palace, Waterloo, Thamesmead and South Kensington.

Peckham High Street, and it’s direct neighbour Rye Lane, host a number of shops and convenient stores including a large Morrisons, a Lidl as well as a number of smaller local convenience stores including Khan’s Bargain, located near Peckham Rye tube, which is a local Legend. At the weekends, you have to visit Rye Lane Market where you will be overwhelmed by the aromas of pulled pork, craft beers and that satisfying scent of fresh leather.