"Deptford" Deptford by deptlads

Deptford Travel Guide: 3 reviews and 8 photos

Map showing Deptford and surrounding areas

Where is Deptford?

Deptford is in the London Borough of Lewisham. It lies between the A2 Dover Road (the Roman Watling Street) to the South, and the River Thames to the North East; with the Ravensbourne River forming Deptford Creek (and the boundary with Greenwich) to the East, Rotherhithe and the Surrey Commercial Docks to the North, and the railway viaducts to the West.

Less than half a mile from Greenwich, Deptord is just in the Western Hemisphere (by about 1½ arc seconds, or 0.025 of a degree of longitude). Opposite the Isle of Dogs, Deptford's riverside is on Greenwich Reach (a "downward" limb of the River) and about 2 miles from Tower Bridge and the City of London.

Historic Deptford

Moon over Deptford

Deptford has very strong associations with the river and the Navy, the railways and 19th century industrialisation, and 20th century urban development. Deptford has also had an important part to play in social and cultural development.

There are plenty of famous Deptford associates, including Samuel Pepys, Christopher Marlowe, Czar Peter the Great of Russia, Grinling Gibbons, Sir Francis Drake, Vic Reeves and Jools Holland. But Deptford also has its less well-known heros, such as John Evelyn, Rachel and Margeret McMillan and Sebastian de Ferranti.

Deptford Today

Misty morning over the Thames at Deptford

Today, Deptford is a busy inner city district with some 70,000 residents of a very broad ethnic mix. The housing is mostly late 19th century terraces and 1960s amd 70s high density council estates, although there is some new housing thanks to Government initiatives such as Deptford City Challenge and the Deptford Creek regeneration project. There is a fair amount of industry, much of it based around distribution (warehousing, paper and timber import, scrap and recycling industries etc), which hark back to the importance of the River and the railways.

Deptford certainly has more than its fair share of social and economic problems (and has been on the receiving end of virtually every Government aid programme devised over the past 30 years), but it is not an unpleasant or unrewarding place to live, and the historical associations are an added bonus. I have lived in Deptford for over 15 years, and would certainly prefer to be here than in the bland suburbs a few miles to the south

Intro Updated Sep 28, 2005
Add to Trip Planner (?)
Report Abuse

Reviews (3)

Deptford Creek with Laban Centre in background - Deptford

Up The Creek! Off The Beaten Path (1)

If you want a nice, fun, up-close river experience, we can recommend the low tide walks in Deptford Creek which are run... more travel advice

Fun local Restaurants (1)

A godsend for an area that has been a bit of a desert when it comes to eating out. OK the area's not as atmospheric as... more travel advice

Laban Dance Centre Things to Do (1)

If you are in South East London (Deptford or Greenwich), you ought to visit the Laban Dance Centre . This highly unusual... more travel advice

Have you been to Deptford? Share your travels with the world!

Comments (5)

Reply
- Report abuse
starship Sep 14, 2006 at 6:08 PM

I was drawn to your VT name and this page because we have our very own "Deptford" right here in New Jersey, USA! Yours sounds interesting so hope you add more to this page.
Reply
- Report abuse
zizkov Jan 20, 2006 at 9:17 PM

Deptford Fun City!
Reply
- Report abuse
Janani Oct 7, 2005 at 4:42 AM

Ah, I always wondered what that building was, as I go past on the train, I’m glad it’s not something dull like a warehouse! Thanks for the info!
Reply
- Report abuse
sarahjayn Jun 10, 2005 at 3:56 PM

that creek walk sounds fun!
Reply
- Report abuse
Mariajoy Mar 19, 2005 at 10:54 PM

Who'da thought Deptford was so interesting?? I shall look at it with new eyes next time I am here! Thanks D&A :))