Living in South East London is like being in wonderful a secret club, albeit with a vast, vast membership, that north londoners tend to sneer at without knowing anything about. This is basically because the area hasn't been on the tube so doesn't register with some. Reviewers tend to write things like ' this is a lovely restaurant but you may not want to make the trek out to South London to go there'.

The community of people has been mentioned already, and big landmarks like the Horniman. The things I love about this area too - the hilly green spaces and views, the hidden corners and interesting buildings (places like the Rivoli ballroom); the way Lewisham's rivers are being opened up; the markets, like Deptford and Lewisham; the way new restaurants and coffee places are opening up round the place, some great Indian, Thai, Turkish, Chinese places to eat and there are a good mix of pubs, from the very traditional Blythe Hill tavern - my favourite- to more gastro type places, There's a pub theatre in nearby Crofton Park (Brockley Jack) and there are several comedy night places; I love traveling by overground train, rather than by tube; love being able to get out into countryside easily; love some of the eccentric events and festivals round here. I've lived here since 1975 (with odd years away) - I never meant to stay .