Sydenham - Geography

Geography

Sydenham

Sydenham is the over all area but the central part is just referred as Sydenham. The central area includes Sydenham Road or Sydenham High Street by locals and is the main shopping area. The main railway station is called Sydenham which links to Croydon, Penge, Forest Hill, New Cross, Shoreditch, Dalston and the major terminii London Bridge and London Victoria. Sydenham is served by bus routes 75, 122, 176, 194, 197, 202 & 450. Sydenham is also home to a Co-operative, originally Safeway, more recently Somerfield supermarket on Sydenham Road.

Sydenham Hill

Sydenham Hill is to the north of Sydenham and there is also road called Sydenham Hill. It includes three postcodes (SE26, SE23 and SE21) and is partly in the London Borough of Southwark and the London Borough of Lewisham. The London Borough of Southwark area is part of the "College ward". Sydenham Hill has direct links to Herne Hill, London Victoria, Bromley and Orpington. The area is served by bus routes 202, 356, 363 and the 450. Local amenities include Dulwich and Sydenham Hill Golf Club and Sydenham Woods.

Upper Sydenham

Upper Sydenham is North West of Sydenham. It has the same postcode of SE26 and in the London Borough of Lewisham, but is included in the Forest Hill ward. Upper Sydenham is served by bus routes 122, 176, 197, 202 & 356. Local Parks are Wells Park and Baxters field. A Tesco Express Store opened in June 2009 on Kirkdale. There was a former station in the area called Upper Sydenham railway station.

Lower Sydenham

Lower Sydenham is in the East of the area. It has the same postcode and is in the London Borough of Lewisham and a small part in the London Borough of Bromley. The Crystal Palace District Gas Company was founded in Lower Sydenham in 1854, supplied with coal by newly opened railway. The Company supplied gas to the relocated Crystal Palace and defined Lower Sydenham as a working class area. Gas production stopped in 1969, but the South Eastern Gas Board continued to be based there and gas holders still remain. Most of the site was redeveloped in 1996 as a Savacentre (as this was its original name) by locals, Sainsburys 'Sydenham' is one of the largest Sainsbury's store in the UK. Lower Sydenham has its own railway station Lower Sydenham which links to Hayes, Lewisham, Catford, London Bridge and Charing Cross. It also has Home Park which boasts an Adventure playground and is situated next to Sydenham Library, funded by Andrew Carnegie in 1904. Further down towards Bell Green is The Old Bathhouse (now an antiques reclamation yard). The area is served by bus routes 181, 194, 202, 352, 356 & 450.