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Nunhead, Honor Oak, and Peckham Rye walk

Nunhead's Victorian Cemetery, assorted green spaces, One Tree Hill with its viewpoint, Peckham Rye Park and Common, and its culturally mixed centre.

Easy London Short

History

This is a list of previous times this walk has been done by the club (since Jan 2010). For more recent events (since April 2015), full details are shown.

Date Option Post # Weather
Thu, 08-Jun-23 Evening Walk - Sunset Drinks with City Views: Nunhead, Honor Oak and Peckham Rye 10 pleasant evening weather
Thu, 09-Jun-22 Evening Walk - Sunset Drinks with City Views: Nunhead, Honor Oak and Peckham Rye 14 leaden skies
Thu, 19-Aug-21 Evening Walk - Sunset Drinks with Views: Nunhead, Honor Oak & Peckham Rye 8 sullen sky
Sat, 18-May-19 Nunhead to Peckham Rye - Nunhead Cemetery open day 16 morning overcast afternoon sunny intervals
Tue, 26-Jun-18 Evening Walk - Nunhead, Honor Oak & Peckham Rye [New Walk] 19 hot and sunny
Thomas G
Length: 8.0 km (5.0 mi)
Ascent: 170m
Net Walking Time: 2 hours
Meet at Nunhead station by the exit down from the platform at 18.25.
From Central London, either take the 18.07 Dartford train from Victoria (18.17 Denmark Hill, 18.20 Peckham Rye), arriving Nunhead at 18.23,
or the Thameslink service from Kentish Town to Orpington (17.47 St. Pancras via all stations to Blackfriars (17.56) then Elephant & Castle, Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye), arriving 18.13.
From Outer London: take either the 18.03 London Blackfirars train from Orpington (arrives 18.31) or the 17.57 Victoria train from Dartford (arrives 18.36).
Return trains from Peckham Rye: plenty in every direction (Victoria, LBG, Thameslink, Clapham J…).
This south east London route links up several noteworthy green open spaces. It starts by meandering through the atmospheric Nunhead Cemetery, one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of Victorian London and now, after having been resurrected from decades of neglect, a Local Nature Reserve. You then walk along residential streets to Camberwell New Cemetery and the Honor Oak Crematorium in Honor Oak, and on up to One Tree Hill, the most northerly part of what was the Great North Wood and is now a wooded Local Nature Reserve with a magnificent viewpoint.
Walk through the linear Brenchley Gardens Park and past Camberwell Old Cemetery and on to the large green spaces of Peckham Rye Park and Common. From there it is just a short walk past a cluster of cafés and modish restaurants and then along Rye Lane, one of the most aesthetically varied, culturally mixed and unique streets in London, to Peckham Rye station, with a plethora of food and drink options nearby, some of them on roof tops of high buildings...
Tea Options: Plenty en route and near Peckham Rye station, see the webpage or the pdf walk directions for details. T=short.41
  • 10-Jun-23

    10 , pleasant evening weather , great sunset views from the bar at Peckham Levels. Thanks to our local guide for pointing out all the sights

Thomas G
Length: 8.0 km (5.0 mi)
Ascent: 170m
Net Walking Time: 2 hours
Meet at Nunhead station by the exit down from the platform at 18.25.
From Central London, either take the 18.04 Dartford train from Victoria (18.14 Denmark Hill, 18.17 Peckham Rye), arriving Nunhead at 18.19,
or the Thameslink service from West Hampstead to Orpington (17.47 St. Pancras via all stations to Blackfriars (17.56) then Elephant & Castle, Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye), arriving 18.13.
From Outer London: take either the 18.02 Luton train from Orpington (arrives 18.30) or the 17.32 Victoria train from Dartford (arrives 18.07).
Return trains from Peckham Rye: plenty in every direction (Victoria, LBG, Thameslink, Clapham J…).

This south east London route links up several noteworthy green open spaces. It starts by meandering through the atmospheric Nunhead Cemetery, one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of Victorian London and now, after having been resurrected from decades of neglect, a Local Nature Reserve. You then walk along residential streets to Camberwell New Cemetery and the Honor Oak Crematorium in Honor Oak, and on up to One Tree Hill, the most northerly part of what was the Great North Wood and is now a wooded Local Nature Reserve with a magnificent viewpoint.

Walk through the linear Brenchley Gardens Park and past Camberwell Old Cemetery and on to the large green spaces of Peckham Rye Park and Common. From there it is just a short walk past a cluster of cafés and modish restaurants and then along Rye Lane, one of the most aesthetically varied, culturally mixed and unique streets in London, to Peckham Rye station, with a plethora of food and drink options nearby, some of them on roof tops of high buildings...

At Bold Tendencies, we might catch the tail-end of the performance of The Multi-Story Orchestra, while imbibing at Frank’s Café.
There are also some newly commissioned artworks to admire, details here.
Other Tea Options: Plenty en route and near Peckham Rye station, see the webpage or the pdf walk directions for details. T=short.41
  • 09-Jun-22

    There was a proper but short shower around 6 in this corner of SE London, but by the time the group of 13 (incl. 2 first-timers) assembled outside the station, that had stopped. 1 other had missed the trains, and started much delayed after some gremlins then hit the following Thameslink service.

    Most hadn't walked this route before or even ever been to the area. Fine views were enjoyed, especially from One Tree Hill, the cemeteries were still open and Peckham Rye Park and Common very enjoyable.

    1 peeled off just after One Tree Hill, as incoming relatives were getting near her home. All others went up to Bold Tendencies/Frank's Cafe, where one table had food and drinks, and the other just drinks. All had the most glorious panorama, but - of course - no sunset to speak of. A fine evening out. 14 under leaden skies

  • 10-Jun-22

    4 went to Yadas, Green Kitchen, a nice Turkish restaurant where we enjoyed delicious food washed down with a BYO bottle of South Australian red.

Thomas G
Length: 8.0 km (5.0 mi)
Ascent: 170m
Net Walking Time: 2 hours
Meet at Nunhead station by the exit down from the platform at 18.20.
From Central London, either take the 18.04 Dartford train from Victoria (18.14 Denmark Hill, 18.17 Peckham Rye), arriving Nunhead at 18.19,
or the Thameslink service from West Hampstead to Orpington (17.47 St. Pancras via all stations to Blackfriars (17.56) then Elephant & Castle, Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye), arriving 18.13.
From Outer London: take either the 17.32 Luton train from Orpington (arrives 18.00) or the 17.32 Victoria train from Dartford (arrives 18.07).

Return trains from Peckham Rye: plenty in every direction (Victoria, LBG, Thameslink, Clapham J…).

This south east London route links up several noteworthy green open spaces. It starts by meandering through the atmospheric Nunhead Cemetery, one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of Victorian London and now, after having been resurrected from decades of neglect, a Local Nature Reserve. You then walk along residential streets to Camberwell New Cemetery and the Honor Oak Crematorium in Honor Oak, and on up to One Tree Hill, the most northerly part of what was the Great North Wood and is now a wooded Local Nature Reserve with a magnificent viewpoint.
Walk through the linear Brenchley Gardens park and past Camberwell Old Cemetery and on to the large green spaces of Peckham Rye Park and Common. From there it is just a short walk past a cluster of cafés and modish restaurants and then along Rye Lane, one of the most aesthetically varied, culturally mixed and unique streets in London, to Peckham Rye station, with a plethora of food and drink options nearby, some of them on roof tops of high buildings...
Tea: Plenty of options en route and near Peckham Rye station, see the webpage or the pdf walk directions for details.

For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here. T=short.41

  • 19-Aug-21

    8 under a sullen sky

    We got through the cemeteries before they closed for the night, resisting the temptation of stopping at The Ivy House for a swift one, and got to Peckham just in time for a glorious sunset from Frank's rooftop bar at Peckham Levels, only that there was of course a solid cloud cover and the sun not in evidence at all. The skyline was alright though: the City, the West End, the London Eye and - well, Nine Elms...

    1 drink for 7 of us at Frank's (1 local had already turned right to walk home at the end of Rye Common), and later a meal for 5 somewhere else. It was a bit of a struggle to find a place that would have us, but eventually we had a table at Tonkotsu, with all of 5 minutes left to download the menu, register an account, select our items and pay for the order. The stresses of modern life...

    Anyway, gyoza, ramen and katsu we had.

Mike A
A requested walk for the Nunhead to Peckham Rye short

Length 5 miles (8 km)
Toughness 1 out of 10

Getting there

Catch the 10:36 Gravesend train from London Victoria (Platform 7 at the time of writing) arriving at Nunhead 10:51
or
Catch the 10:46 Sevenoaks train from London Blackfriars arriving at Nunhead 11:03

If you are travelling from Victoria, please wait for walkers who have travelled from Blackfriars


Getting back

Peckham Rye Station is served by the East London (Overground) Line, Thameslink and Sutton & Mole Valley services; trains go to Dartford, London Bridge, Victoria, Highbury & Islington, Blackfriars, Sevenoaks, West Croydon, Beckenham Junction and Clapham Junction.

Plan your journey here.


Tickets

Buy an Oyster or Travelcard to cover your starting zone, any zones you will pass through and zone 2


Overview

One of our walkers has requested this walk to coincide with the Nunhead Cemetery open day.
Full details of this annual event may be found here

More details of this walk may be found on the link below
T=short.41
  • Anonymous
    08-May-19

    This is a lovely walk in a not very well known corner of southeast London. Don't miss One Tree Hill, the Ivy House pub and Nunhead cemetery. For those not in a hurry, catch the choirs in the ruined chapel in the cemetery. Rumour has it that a Saturday walker is singing there with the One Tree Hill choir from 12.20 - 12.40!

  • Anonymous
    10-May-19

    More information on the Open day can be found here

    https://fonc.org.uk/2019-open-day.html

  • Anonymous
    13-May-19

    where is "the link below"?

  • 18-May-19

    This comment has been removed by the author.

  • 18-May-19

    16 was the final count with the weather being morning overcast afternoon sunny intervals

    The group visited the Nunhead Cemetery Open Day. There was consternation from some when they were told they were free to stay for the Open Day or continue on the walk themselves. A compromise was reached: anyone who wanted to continue with the group should be at an agreed meeting point in one hour. Thus they were able to enjoy what the event had to offer and then continue with the walk. This reporter decided to stay at the event but I was informed the group had lunch at the Watson Telegraph.

    Was anyone able to identify the “singing SWC walker”?

  • Anonymous
    18-May-19

    Yes I recognised the walker that was singing

    A male standing in the middle just half behind the conductor in his 50s with shiny pate and glasses and stands about 175 and for the life of me I can't remember his name though even if I could I don't think it would be politic to give it here.

    Bridie

  • Anonymous
    18-May-19

    The reason that the street outside Peckham Rye station was blocked with a throng of people and a police wagon with blue lights was not as at first feared a riot but Tyler The Creator about to give an impromptu concert that then got cancelled.

    Man the place was heavin

Thomas G
Length: 8.0 km (5.0 mi)
Ascent: 170m
Net Walking Time: 2 hours
Meet at Nunhead station by the exit down from the platform at 18.15.
From Central London, either take the 17.55 Dartford train from Victoria (18.05 Denmark Hill, 18.08 Peckham Rye), arriving Nunhead at 18.10,
or the Thameslink service to Orpington (17.47 St. Pancras via all stations to Blackfriars (17.56) then Elephant & Castle, Denmark Hill and Peckham Rye), arriving 18.13.
From Outer London: take either the 17.33 train from Orpington (arrives 18.00) or the 17.30 from Dartford (arrives 18.07).
Return trains from Peckham Rye: plenty in every direction (Victoria, LBG, Thameslink, Clapham J…).
This south east London route links up several noteworthy green open spaces. It starts by meandering through the atmospheric Nunhead Cemetery, one of the Magnificent Seven cemeteries of Victorian London and now, after having been resurrected from decades of neglect, a Local Nature Reserve.
You then walk along residential streets to Camberwell New Cemetery and the Honor Oak Crematorium in Honor Oak, and on up to One Tree Hill, the most northerly part of what was the Great North Wood and is now a wooded Local Nature Reserve with a magnificent viewpoint.
Walk through the linear Brenchley Gardens park and past Camberwell Old Cemetery and on to the large green spaces of Peckham Rye Park and Common. From there it is just a short walk past a cluster of cafés and modish restaurants and then along Rye Lane, one of the most aesthetically varied, culturally mixed and unique streets in London, to Peckham Rye station, with a plethora of food and drink options nearby.
For walk directions, map, height profile, photos and gpx/kml files click here.
Tea: Plenty of options en route and near Peckham Rye station, see the webpage or the pdf walk directions for details. T=short.41
  • 26-Jun-18

    1 a bit late, 1 quite a bit late, 17 on time, so 19 in hot and sunny weather. 2 of those were Meetup recruits, at least 2 others were first timers. Jolly good walk with several interesting green spaces and some very good viewpoints. Most walkers had been unfamiliar with the area before tonight and found it very varied and scenic. All but a few finished off at Frank's Bar on the rooftop of Peckham Levels, with views of - well, all of London really. Some went on for dinner at The Montpellier pub (off route).