//
London south of the River Thames, in England
Photo: Mkimemia (talk), Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
South London is generally defined as any part of London that is south of the river Thames. However, this guide only covers the outer South London boroughs, namely Bromley, Bexley, Croydon, Kingston-upon-Thames, Sutton, and parts of Merton. Though geographically within this region, the areas of Richmond & Kew and Wimbledon are covered by separate articles due to the number of attractions, as are the inner South London boroughs - see London#Inner London.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
A major building of the history of the 'Arts and Crafts style' and of 19th century British architecture. Has some interesting textile displays. William Morris lived here, the architect was Philip Webb, with wall paintings and stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones.
A truly stunning yet under-visited park, next to Welling, that features a mansion house (Danson House) and boating lake.
Historic area for both ship and weapon-making. The Arsenal (of which the football club derives its name from) is little left, although there is an Artillery Museum and parade ground with attached garrison for soldiers which is sometimes used. Was used for hosting several events for the Olympics of 2012.
A Jacobean manor house. Formerly housing a museum and archives, the mansion is now a community centre, and much of the former pleasure grounds are parks.
as the name suggests, woods with a now-ruined Lesnes abbey. Green chain walk passes through.
Four vast elaborately decorated beam engines that pumped Victorian London's poop; they were too heavy to remove when decommissioned. One of them is occasionally set in motion. check website for open days.
London Butterfly Gardens is a tropical butterfly attraction located in the Main Glasshouse at Hall Place & Gardens in Bexley, southeast London. It features a carefully controlled tropical environment with high humidity and warm temperatures to support hundreds of free-flying tropical butterflies and the nectar-rich plants they rely on, giving visitors a chance to walk among these colourful insects and learn about their life cycles and behaviour.
It’s ideal for nature lovers, families, and educational visits, combining a tranquil garden experience with insights into butterfly ecology.
A seriously underlooked attraction, the caves are not in fact caves but a twenty-mile long network of passageways, carved from the chalk deep under Chislehurst . Used as a massive air-raid shelter during World War II, the Caves are now a local tourist attraction. Tours often last for an hour, where you'll learn the fascinating history as well as hear ghost and horror stories.
The only villa open to the public in Greater London. It was inhabited from about AD 140-400 and was the centre of a large farming estate. Today you can see the remains of 10 rooms protected inside a public viewing building. Remains include tiled (tessellated) floors and the under-floor heating system (hypocaust).
It was at Down House that Charles Darwin worked on his scientific theories, and wrote On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, the book which both scandalised and revolutionised the Victorian world when it was published in 1859. Built in the early 18th century, the house remains much as it was when Darwin lived here. The rooms on the ground floor have been furnished to reflect the domestic life of the family and the first floor offers an interactive exhibition on his life, his research and his discoveries. English Heritage has restored the gardens to their appearance in Darwin's time.
designed by George Porter and built in 1840–1841 by the Company of Watermen and Lightermen of the City of London. The residents moved out in 1973 and the almshouses became private houses.
Form a fine Tudor courtyard. The almshouses now provide sheltered flats for elderly locals.
A museum highlighting Croydon in the past and present includes the Riesco Gallery. Also exhibitions on the gifted black composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor (1875-1912) who lived most of his life in Croydon. His works include The Song of Hiawatha, a great favourite (before World War II) at the Royal Albert Hall conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent. The impressive Town Hall is adjacent.
Visit for a villagy experience and go to the Joiner's Arms or Beehive pubs for a pleasant drink or meal.
London's former main airport, now disused and is now a tourist attraction.
Restored and the only surviving windmill in Shirley.
18th century mansion in Addington.
Arts venue, opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
The famous UK headquarters of Nestlé, one of the tallest towers in England.
Arts centre, which opened in 1962, frequently used for BBC recordings.
Summer residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury for over 500 years.
Most famous for the gravestone of Derek Bentley, wrongly hanged in 1953.
Partly in the borough, shared with Sutton and Merton, this massive green space is good for quiet walks when the weather is nice and sledding when there's snow on the ground.
Whilst not full of sights, an item of some interest is the coronation stone, on which seven English kings from Edward the Elder to Aethelred the Unready were crowned. The stone is located outside the Guildhall, and is close to the market.
Kingston borough redeveloped the riverfront, and it is an extremely pleasant way to spend a summer day. It can get very busy, and to avoid the crowds you can cross over Kingston Bridge and walk along the quieter Richmond side.
For a good photo opportunity seek out the phone boxes, a sculpture by artist David Mach in Old London Road featuring a number of disused red telephone boxes leaning against each other like dominoes.
Kingston's old parish church near the marketplace goes back to the sixteenth century on earlier foundations. Inside, for those interested in military history, is a chapel dedicated to a former local regiment, the East Surreys.
Historic Anglican church with a very ancient history. The church's website states that the church's tower in all likelihood dates from before the Norman conquest, and the first nave was probably built around 1150, though most of the present-day church was built in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Offers a range of theatrical performances, including touring productions, performances by (very good) local amateur groups, and pantomime during the Christmas and New Year period (usually starring somebody who used to be in Neighbours). Bromley Little Theatre is close to the North Station. Bromley also has a medium-sized Odeon cinema.
a laser-tag arena, which is good fun for the kids or a rainy afternoon.
Theatre / Arts centre.
Performing Arts and Technology school owned by the BRIT Trust (known for the BRIT Awards).
Entertainment Venue. Includes a large 11-screen Vue Cinema, The Milan Bar (a Wetherspoons chain pub), Reflex 80s Bar and Disco, Nando's and Tiger Tiger restaurant and nightclub.
The London Borough of Croydon has 120 parks & open spaces which you can visit freely.
Palace play soccer in the Premier League, the top tier. Their stadium is Selhurst Park, capacity 26,309 (all seated), where it has been based since 1924. The women's team were promoted in 2026 and play in WSL, their top tie, usually at Sutton United's VBS Stadium.
"The Addicks" play in the Championship, the second tier. Their stadium is The Valley, 27,000 all-seater capacity. The women's team were promoted in 2026 and play in WSL, their top tier, also at The Valley.
Surrey County C.C is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English domestic cricket structure. They play four home games away from the Oval (Kennington, Lambeth/South London) each season. Two of these games are played at the Whitgift School, the other two games are played in Guildford.
One of the largest baseball clubs, actually located at Roundshaw, just in the Borough of Sutton. They boast two diamonds and often host the London Baseball Tournament in August. They have a team in the highest division of baseball in the UK, which is still amateur. Similarly, there is Richmond Flames, which sport several sides in different leagues and play further afield in south-west London.
Follow the Thames path to Richmond upon Thames, Kew (home of the botanical gardens) and beyond into Barnes and Putney. In the opposite direction you will find Hampton Court, which has open air picnic concerts during the summer months.
Theme park, zoo and sea-life centre.
Football enthusiasts can catch two clubs that play at Kingsmeadow, also known as the Cherry Red Records Fans' Stadium due to a commercial sponsorship deal.
Founded in 2002 by former fans of Wimbledon F.C. when that club received approval to move from London to Milton Keynes, where the club is now known as Milton Keynes Dons. After a series of promotions in the following years, AFC Wimbledon are now in Football League Two, the fourth tier of England's professional club system.
Formed in 1885, playing in the Ryman Premier Division, three promotions away from AFC Wimbledon.
Stylish Indian restaurant not far from the town centre.
Italian.
There are live opera performances on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and live folk music on Saturdays. There are interesting murals on the toilet walls (at least in the men's) which might not be suitable for children!
A Fuller's "Ale & Pie" house serving up fresh, homemade pies and other pub classics, along with a great selection of cask conditioned ales.
Traditional feel, friendly staff and good ale, albeit a bit on the pricey side. Shepherd Naeme pub.
Allegedly the only pub named after George II's son, Poor Fred, Prince of Wales. It has managed to retain its traditional feel by maintaining separate saloon and lounge bars. A good choice of ales and lagers but no food. Greene King pub.
Some christen this the best pub in Bromley. A friendly atmosphere, good quality ales and decent, affordable pub food make this an excellent choice. Greene King pub.
Pub with an eclectic but very good natured crowd. Live bands and DJs some nights of the week.
An elegant old-time place, that has been taken over now by Best Western.
Luxury hotel.
Built in 2003, new and modern.
formerly Jury's Inn
Modern hotel.
Hotel which offer warm and cosy rooms.
Hotel which offer warm and cosy rooms.
Cheap and modest.
formerly intu Bromley
The bulk of the better-known stores are in this area.
Does not get many shoppers.
Shopping centre opened in 2004, situated on 4 floors. Shops include House of Fraser, Next, Zara, H&M, French Connection and Aldo. The Food Gallery is on the top floor of centre and includes a wide variety of restaurants.
The shopping road in Croydon.
A retail-heavy road including large stores such as IKEA, a B&Q warehouse, TK Maxx, Vue, Megabowl, Argos Extra, and Sainsbury's. Retail parks include Valley Park, Purley Way Retail Park and Croydon Collonades, Waddon Goods Park.
Include, in Croydon, Sainsbury's (Whitgift Centre), Tesco's (on Brighton Road 5 min walk from town centre), Lidl (West Croydon), Marks & Spencer (Whitgift Centre), Waitrose (East Croydon), Tesco's (Purley), John Lewis (Purley Way).
Market which has a Royal Charter dating back to 1276 linking it to the Archbishop of Canterbury.
Main shopping centre, situated on 3 floors and used to be biggest shopping centre in Europe. Shops include Marks & Spencer, Boots, WHSmith, Sainsbury's Central, Mothercare and Books Etc. Various restaurants and cafes throughout the centre.
A little Bulgarian supermarket selling various inexpensive Eastern European foods. If you can't read Cyrillic you may have to guess what you're buying.
Biggest shopping mall. Four-storey mall, which is anchored by a multi-level department store, Bentalls, which sells high-end fashion, home ware and specialty food products. John Lewis is the other main department store in town and is noted for quality. It has a branch of Waitrose supermarket in the basement.
Several clothing boutiques.
The marketplace was historically at the heart of Kingston's prosperity, benefiting from a Royal Charter forbidding any other markets within seven miles. Today it mostly sells fruit and vegetables, although there are some other stalls. There are also occasional visiting markets from France and Germany that sell regional produce and takeaway food and drink.
By London Overground
The London Overground links West Croydon and Crystal Palace stations to East London, primarily at Whitechapel station, and North London at Dalston Junction.
By train
South London is served by several train services from Central London stations. Check the London Transport maps for the correct station as the layout of the lines is rather confusing in places.
Bromley
The M25 sits on the southern edge of the borough. Junction 4 (Bromley/Orpington) quickly connects with the A21, though for Chislehurst and areas it may be quicker to use Junction 3.
Croydon
Transport for London (TfL) operates the London Overground Windrush line (formerly East London Line (ELL)) from Highbury & Islington to West Croydon.
Croydon
Croydon is mostly pedestrian friendly, North End the main shopping parade was closed for traffic over 10 years ago and most places can be easily reached on foot.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
London · International · LGW
Loading places around the airport…
Articles and travel topics about South and United Kingdom.
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Check eligibility, the £20 fee, application steps, and transit rules.
7 min read
Travel tipsComplete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
Travel tipsFind the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
Travel tipsA complete guide to taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. Learn about check-in times, border controls, baggage limits, ticket tiers, and booking tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.