London is such a phantasmagorical place, that’s for sure. And it recycles itself over and over again. Throngs of people – as many as 30 million per year – choose London as a destination. And, that’s not even including those who visit Britain in itself. History is certainly a big draw for most visitors (and that includes the quaint villages that we always see) as well as the huge selection of things to do in Britain.
But, as you move along on your tourist’s path, do you ever wonder what England is like for the residents. Not everyone lives in a castle. And not everyone is a pugilist like Jason Statham. Yes, there are everyday people like you and me who live in everyday homes on everyday streets, doing everyday activities. And that’s even the case in London itself. According to the 2021 Census. Around 8.9 million live in the confines of the city, proper.
We lived outside of London for a long time and, even after visiting the capital more times than we care to count, we’d never heard of a London “suburb” even though it had been hidden in plain sight, as it were. It’s called Thamesmead and you might want to treat yourself to this bit of London history. For reference, Thamesmead is an area of south-east London, England, on the border between the Royal Borough of Greenwich and the London Borough of Bexley.
You’ll see by the map, above, that Thamesmead is not out in the sticks: it’s a genuine part of London. Watch the video above to learn about this urban experiment. See what you think. And, if you’re keen, take the Tube out to have a look around, yourself. We’ll bet most of your friends haven’t seen in, so – there you go! If you do decide to go, you can get there via the Abbey Wood station using Thameslink, Southeastern Rail or the Elizabeth Line.
As ever, Tripadvisor can show you around, in this case, Thamesmead. Click here to choose your tour.
Stay in a Mead House. Spacious, bright and perfect for walks around “hidden” London. Click here.