Penge has named London’s coolest neighbourhood to move to in 2025. The lesser known area sits between Crystal Palace and Beckenham but on closer inspection, you can see why it was chosen.
One of the most striking things about Penge is the plethora of street art that is all over the place – there are over 200 pieces, according to Penge Street Art. Shop shutters roll over colourful patterns and geometry in the evening as shops close. Houses have giant faces or birds painted onto the bricks.
There are so many due to the work of the London Calling Blog, a local group that wants to create a platform for homegrown art talent and bring world-renowned artists to the neighbourhood. Residents are encouraged to donate public-facing wall space to be converted into works of art.
The murals bring an unmistakable addition of colour to the neighbourhood streets, though some people don’t really get along with them so well. Alan Murray, of Murray Bros Butchers, which he runs with his brother Dean Murray and friend Scott Ryan on Penge High Street, is one of these people.
He joked about “random artists graffitiing… stupid paintings of pigeons,” but he admitted that he loves Penge after working in the butchers for the last 25 years and praised the “very community-focused” nature of the “good people” of Penge.
Another Penge veteran, Owen Parker, who has run Alexandra Nurseries on Parish Lane for the last 14 years, also commented on the street art. He has worked at the garden centre and cafe since he and his father bought the derelict site and renovated it over the years to become a hub of the community.
He said: “It’s a really nice area; it’s a lovely place to live. The artwork is a big feature; people come to see that. It’s a weird thing because that’s more of a worldwide community because it spreads through the internet and things like that.”
11 coolest areas to move to in 2025, according to The Sunday Times
- Digbeth, Birmingham
- Portrush, County Antrim
- Hoole, Cheshire
- Fittleworth, West Sussex
- Farsley, Leeds
- Newnham, Gloucestershire
- Newlyn, Cornwall
- Newport, Pembrokeshire
- Penge, London
- Hull, East Yorkshire
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