Deptford Street Voted One of the Coolest in the World!

When you imagine the locations with some of the coolest streets in the world you’re probably picturing the hustle and bustle of New York, the unique and innovative sights of Tokyo or the brightly coloured landmarks in Havana, right? But what about a little closer to home? 

London is a metropolitan paradise with a myriad of streets dedicated to luxury shopping, hipster back alleys and secret side lanes, some of which are pretty iconic across the globe: Bond Street, Brick Lane and Neals Yard - to name a few. This year, however, it is a different street, located in south-east London that has been named one of the 33 coolest streets in the world, following a vote by Time Out magazine.

At number 17, Deptford High Street in Lewisham, the 2022 borough of Culture, has been celebrated as the "the most alive street in London". Located near Greenwich on the Thames, Deptford is an up-and-coming area, perfect if you’re into pop-up restaurants, quirky cocktail bars and railway arches bursting with independent coffee houses. There’s a reason this part of the city has become so popular in the last couple of years with locals and visitors alike: from the Iconic full throttle 80’s decor and cocktails of Little Nan’s, operated by Tristan Scutt, who set up the bar in honour of his late grandmother, to the retro Scandinavian chic of Mouse Tail Coffee, it has everything you could possibly need, without the overwhelming crowds of the iconic hotspots.

Independent stores, tattoo studios, hairdressers and the famous Deptford Flea Market have also regenerated the high street, giving the town a new lease of life. Kids Love Ink Tattoo Studio, Bearspace Gallery and Rag N Bone Vintage Clothing are testament to the creativity and vibrance of Deptford’s community but this accolade still came as a surprise, albeit a welcome one, to locals business owners, many of whom have struggled to keep their businesses afloat through the covid-19 pandemic.