Forest Hill Area Guide
A locals' guide to Forest Hill
Where do Forest Hill locals go?
Le Querce
The finest Italian restaurant I have ever been to, with a varied and fresh menu that caters for everyone from meat eaters to vegans and all in between without seeming to try! I book for anniversaries, birthdays, visits from friends - any excuse to attend the best restaurant I know of. It may not look particularly salubrious, but it is child-friendly by day and romantically candle-lit by night. I cannot recommend it highly enough!Read more
The Shop Revolution Marketplace
The Shop Revolution Marketplace host lots of unique events like poetry and craft nights, with all the items they sell produced by independent designers and jewellery makers. This picture was taken at a Miss Victoria's Floral Emporium flower arranging workshop.Read more
Why not explore the nearby areas of
catford,
east dulwich,
nunhead,
peckham rye,
sydenham,
lewisham,
upper sydenham,
lower sydenham,
dulwich,
and new cross
Did you know?
"In 1602 Elizabeth I picnicked with Sir Richard Bulkeley by an oak tree at the summit of a tree in Lewisham. It became known as the Oak of Honor, which is where the name Honor Oak derives from."
Forest Hill's elevation ensures outstanding views towards the centre of the capital!
Jennifer Purchase
Everything that you need; a gym and supermarkets by the station, villages bakers, lovely pubs and beautiful parks...
Michael Schult
I often pop into Pavilion Cafe in Dulwich Park - it's the perfect spot to take in the beautiful surroundings and they serve delicious food too.
Dominic Butler
Explore Forest Hill
What locals say about Forest Hill
“Loads of indie cafes and shops, great pubs, and a fab little museum and park!”
Margaret
“Quite, leafy, good traffic connection and not too expensive.”
Gordon
Activities near Forest Hill
What a Gay Day! The Larry Grayson Story by Tim Connery
directed by Alex Donald presented by The Bridge House Theatre The award winning Bridge House Theatre are delighted to be returning to The Jack Studio theatre with their new show. Shut that door! Larry Grayson, one of the countrys best-loved light entertainers, is back from The Other Side (no, not ITV) to tell the story of his extraordinary life. Larry was the camp stand-up who, with his innuendo-laden tales, told stories of friends like Everard and Slack Alice. In this fusion of autobiographical reminiscing and stand-up, Larry reveals all. From his birth in 1923 to an unmarried mother at a time when such things brought nothing but shame, to his fostering by a hard-working miner and his family, Larry maintained an incredible drive to become a variety star at a time when variety was dying. Drag artist, comedian, song-and-dance man, Larry did it all, but he was consigned to showbusiness oblivion by an early TV appearance. No one, least of all Larry, expected him to become a major light entertainment star later in life, with his shows watched by over 20 million people on Saturday nights in the 1970s and 1980s. A gay man at a time when homosexuality was illegal, he was marginalised by his own sexuality, but was also bizarrely targeted by the Gay Liberation Front for not being what they wanted to promote. The camp comic who paved the way for so many others, he is now in danger of being forgotten. So spend an evening with Larry, his hilarious friends, his anecdotes and catchphrases, and the humour of the decades he lived though, and find out what he did in the Rolls Royce that he could not drive. Tuesday 26 Saturday 30 August 2025 at 7.30pm No performances: Sundays and Mondays Tickets: 17, 15 conc, suitable for 13+ Terms and conditions apply when booking. Our concessionary price tickets are for: full-time students, over 65s, registered unwaged, under 18s and Equity Members. Please bring proof of status.Read more
Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine & Kirkdale Bookshop Present: Writers for a Free Palestine
Crystal Palace Friends of Palestine and Kirkdale Bookshop present an evening of readings fundraising for PalMusics emergency fund for Gaza. The event will feature short readings from a range of writers (full line-up tbc) including: Olivia Sudjic, Lucia Osborne-Crowley, Keiran Goddard, Nathalie Olah, Susannah Dickey, Tice Cin, Amy Key, Ella Frears, Sharan Hunjan, Lamorna Ash, Hafiza Ibrahim and AK Blakemore . Ticket price of 20 includes refreshments (+ a small booking fee) All profits will go to PalMusics emergency fund for Gaza which, in association with the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, provides music and artistic activities for children and their families in Gaza, as well as providing food and drinking water whenever possible. HOPE IN THE DEIR AL-BALAH REFUGEE CAMP The story of seventeen-year-old Samih Al-Madhoun, a young Oud player who studied at the Gaza branch of the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, has touched our hearts. Displaced from his home, Samir has been playing the Oud and singing at his tents entrance at the Deir Al-Balah Refugee Camp. His songs resonate with the people, bringing joy and a sense of belonging to their Palestinian homeland. Through music, both children and adults can momentarily escape the traumas of war and embrace the beauty of life. Read the full story here: https://wearenotnumbers.org/making-music-and-rediscovering-joy/Read more
Summer Comedy Gala
Join hostess Kate Smurthwaite for a fabulous night of live comedy featuring our headliner, the wacky and surreal Richard Todd and silly songs with special guest JB Carter, plus Donatas Staneikas, Phoebe Taylor and Dick Denham. Tickets can be reserved online for £12 (plus ticket agent fee) until 7pm on the day of the show. Door price tickets are £15. PLEASE NOTE: We are an intimate boutique comedy theatre bar, so TICKET HOLDERS MUST ARRIVE BEFORE 7.45 in order to get your drinks and be seated for the smooth running of the show and everyone's enjoyment. Anyone arriving after 8pm will interrupt the show and may be turned away. SEATING IS FIRST-COME FIRST-SERVED, so early arrival is recommended. PARTIES OF 3 OR MORE are strongly advised to arrive at 7pm so that you may be seated together. Fresh hot popcorn, sweets and snacks are available at the bar. We do not accept cash at the bar or box office, CARD PAYMENTS ONLY. Line-ups are subject to change. We are a woman-owned, gay-friendly, trans-inclusive venue where everyone is welcome. Our comedians are carefully curated to reflect our inclusive principles, and we ask that guests respect the comedians by not interrupting the performances. Hecklers will be removed with no refunds offered. Filming during the show is not permitted. We have installed a new state-of-the-art ventilation system which delivers 500 litres of fresh air per second, making us one of the best ventilated small venues in the country. We do ask that if you are feeling unwell or test positive for Covid, please stay at home and we will be happy to reschedule your visit up to 3pm on the day of the show.Read more
SongFest
An evening of song showcasing young singers from across Lewisham's schools and the community. Concert starts at 5pm. Audience entry from 4.30pm. Concert is free but limited to one ticket per family.Read more
Tinlicker In The Park 2025
The multi-gold AND multi-platinum Dutch powerhouse known for their emotive dance floor anthems and diamond-sharp production, take you on an extended journey through their progressive and euphoric sound LIVE this August. With a lineup of special guests to be announced soon. Set in one of South London’s spiritual homes of live music, Crystal Palace Bowl, with 150 years of musical history, the venue has seen legends like Bob Marley, Pink Floyd, Elton John and The Beach Boys grace its stage. Full access information can be found at: https://southfacingfestival.com/accessibility/ If you require a complimentary PA ticket, please only purchase 1 ticket and complete the Access Requests Form to redeem your PA ticket: https://bit.ly/407XJae Please note refunds will not be offered in the circumstance where a PA ticket is purchased in advance of South Facing. VIP Premium Ticket is our superior option which includes access to the main concert arena as well as the below benefits: ★ Fast track entry into the arena ★ VIP Lounge with comfortable furnishings ★ Ample picnic benches and high tables ★ Exclusive premium bar offering ★ Premium flushable toilet facilities ★ Souvenir VIP event lanyard Presented by FreeFromSleep. This is an 18+ eventRead more
The Light of Day: In Conversation at the Dawn of Gay Liberation
THURSDAY 3rd JULY 7:30pm Sir, we are homosexuals . . . So began the letter penned by Roger Butler and sent to several British newspaper editors some of whom were so shocked they thought it was a hoax in June 1960. Writing such a letter seven years before the decriminalisation of homosexuality was a radical and dangerous move. It was a risk that set a major milestone in the fight for gay rights one that has been almost entirely forgotten. We welcome Christopher Stephens & Louise Radnofsky to chat at the bookshop with our very own Freddie Butler-de Lacy about this extraordinary story of the first man to come out voluntarily, using his own name, to the entire British public, a decade before activists started petitioning gay people everywhere to come out proud. Taking us through a criminalised underworld of gay pubs, parties and activist meetings, The Light of Day charts how Roger helped bring about the legalisation of homosexuality, but soon found himself marginalised from the movement he kickstarted after losing his sight in his early 30s. Your book is the really good book. Just one that Roger Butler would have wanted Sir Ian McKellen "Miraculous. The Light of Day reclaims a forgotten hero of the struggle for queer civil rights in a story that is a testament to courage, determination and love across generations." - Dr Will Tosh, author of Straight Acting: The Many Queer Lives of William Shakespeare Tickets are 5 (+a small booking fee) Includes admission and refreshmentRead more
Morcheeba
JOY. present Morcheeba \+ support This is a 14+ Event. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult 18+ Any under 16s attending the venue must be accompanied by an adult, 18+. The accompanying adult will be required to show ID (valid driving licence or passport) and provide their contact details at the door. The under 16 and accompanying adult will be required to wear a wristband while on the premises. Failure to comply with this policy will result in refusal of entry, without the option for a refund. Presented by JOY. This is a 14+ Event. Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult 18+Read more
About Forest Hill
Forest Hill is a district of south London, located in the London Borough of Lewisham. It is situated between Dulwich and Sydenham. The area has enjoyed extensive investment since plans to extend the East London Line to Forest Hill were unveiled in 2004. Like many London suburbs, Forest Hill was only sparsely populated until the mid-19th century. The name Forest Hill came from 'the forest with a big hill', which was coined by a developer in the 1790s, and referred to the remaining area of Forest on Sydenham Hill which was originally part of the Great North Wood. Forest Hill has a large residential population and the area is becoming increasingly desirable as a peaceful, leafy suburb with good transport links into the centre of town.
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Feedback about living in Forest Hill has been submitted directly by the public and may not necessarily reflect the views of Foxtons. The description of Forest Hill was modified from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons licence. Land Registry data is Crown copyright. All the views and contributions contained within Foxtons Local Life are those of the contributors. All content is assessed before publishing for taste, however free opinion is encouraged. Foxtons accept no payment or sponsorship for content that is posted about Forest Hill.