Hi all,
I'll be moving to Sydenham, pretty much right on top of the rail station, in a few weeks. For what I've seen of the area (one short visit), it looks like a nice place to be! I was wondering about the local walking-distance facilities which one needs in life. Is it correct that Somerfields is the nearest decent supermarket, also for someone living on a tight budget? I'm also curious about any cheap but decent take-away food places, as well as any gym/pool/dancing class facilities. In addition, since our place is scarcily furnished, are there any nice furniture stores in the area, as well as second-hand markets? As we also don't yet have a washing machine, is there a place to do our laundry for the time being?
Thanks in advance for any tips and recommendations!
Some general tips for a new Sydenham resident-to-be
First, welcome to Sydenham!
Furnishing a new home the way you like it can be very expensive. My daughter chose to use Lewisham Freecycle to get the basics for free (included cooker, fridgefreezer, TV, tables, chairs & two sofas). Of course nothing matched, some stuff was dented. But it created an instant home and the opportunity to save up what you really wanted one bit at a time. Its all a bit hit & miss but very environmental and people friendly:
http://www.freecycle.org/group/UK/London/Lewisham
Shopping. I quite like Somerfield and some its stuff is very good value. Lidl goes more on value. If budget is vital a combination of both (plus a relatively short walk home) should suffice.
You are right on top of two Gyms. I use LA Fitness on Kirkdale as being a bloke Gymphobia on Station Bridge Approach is banned to me. LAF is a bit scruffy but good value compared to most commercial Gyms and wins on convenience. (Driving to a Gym is kinda pointless?). But it is still about £35/months which is steep if on a budget. You can exercise locally much cheaper than that. I joined the Crystal Palace Fun Runners. £8 a year for some very good group running etc for people of all ages and abilities (or none).
http://www.crystalpalacefunrunners.co.uk
Admin
Furnishing a new home the way you like it can be very expensive. My daughter chose to use Lewisham Freecycle to get the basics for free (included cooker, fridgefreezer, TV, tables, chairs & two sofas). Of course nothing matched, some stuff was dented. But it created an instant home and the opportunity to save up what you really wanted one bit at a time. Its all a bit hit & miss but very environmental and people friendly:
http://www.freecycle.org/group/UK/London/Lewisham
Shopping. I quite like Somerfield and some its stuff is very good value. Lidl goes more on value. If budget is vital a combination of both (plus a relatively short walk home) should suffice.
You are right on top of two Gyms. I use LA Fitness on Kirkdale as being a bloke Gymphobia on Station Bridge Approach is banned to me. LAF is a bit scruffy but good value compared to most commercial Gyms and wins on convenience. (Driving to a Gym is kinda pointless?). But it is still about £35/months which is steep if on a budget. You can exercise locally much cheaper than that. I joined the Crystal Palace Fun Runners. £8 a year for some very good group running etc for people of all ages and abilities (or none).
http://www.crystalpalacefunrunners.co.uk
Admin
Just to add that there is a massive Sainsburys in lower Sydenham whilst the Somerfield store is on the main high street in Sydenham. You might also want to go shopping for cheap food in nearby Penge. There are also various allotments in the area - not sure what the situation is there if this is of interest.
The pool in Forest Hill (but close to the border with Sydenham) closed about 3 years ago and plans for its replacement are currently being discussed (see relevant thread). There is also a pool in Crystal Palace park, which again is closed but should be open in a few months (this is also subject to a thread elsewhere).
Plenty of cheap take-aways in the area - not sure how great they are though!
Good luck with it all.
The pool in Forest Hill (but close to the border with Sydenham) closed about 3 years ago and plans for its replacement are currently being discussed (see relevant thread). There is also a pool in Crystal Palace park, which again is closed but should be open in a few months (this is also subject to a thread elsewhere).
Plenty of cheap take-aways in the area - not sure how great they are though!
Good luck with it all.
Just to add:
Not sure whether there's one closer to you, but there's a laundrette on Kirkdale up towards Dartmouth Road, probably about a 7-8 min walk from where you'll be. And while you're up that way you can get some really good Chinese takeaway from the Lin Hong Garden just around the corner on Dartmouth Road, or £5 takeaway pasta (also very good) from That's Amore Italian restaurant just on the opposite side of Kirkdale
Not sure whether there's one closer to you, but there's a laundrette on Kirkdale up towards Dartmouth Road, probably about a 7-8 min walk from where you'll be. And while you're up that way you can get some really good Chinese takeaway from the Lin Hong Garden just around the corner on Dartmouth Road, or £5 takeaway pasta (also very good) from That's Amore Italian restaurant just on the opposite side of Kirkdale
Hello Tess,
You've already found the best source of information on Sydenham, right here! If you're trying to find anything out, anything at all, put a post in here, someone is bound to know.
Myself and my fiancee are very close to the station as well, chances are you won't be living very far from us at all.
There are plenty of takeaways on the high street - it depends what sort of food you like and how far you feel like walking! There's a kebab shop, a Wimpy, and a couple of fried chicken places within easy distance of here (and by easy I mean close enough that dinner is still hot by the time I have walked back to the flat with it!) If you feel really lazy, try www.just-eat.co.uk and get someone to bring your food to your door!
Have you found a job here yet? There are a few forum members, me being one of them, who can chat for ages about public transport options and your best way to get to work!
We use either Somerfield or the big Sainsburys that Thomas spoke about (which is also known as Savacentre) for our shopping. Savacentre is a big hypermarket, much more than just food - you can get almost anything in there - clothes, electrical goods, kitchen stuff, bedding, all sorts of stuff. Getting it home might be an issue for you though....you can get a bus down there from this end of Sydenham, but it'll probably be too much of a walk for you with a load of stuff.
Anyways, good luck with the move, let us know when you're here, and feel free to post all your questions
You've already found the best source of information on Sydenham, right here! If you're trying to find anything out, anything at all, put a post in here, someone is bound to know.
Myself and my fiancee are very close to the station as well, chances are you won't be living very far from us at all.
There are plenty of takeaways on the high street - it depends what sort of food you like and how far you feel like walking! There's a kebab shop, a Wimpy, and a couple of fried chicken places within easy distance of here (and by easy I mean close enough that dinner is still hot by the time I have walked back to the flat with it!) If you feel really lazy, try www.just-eat.co.uk and get someone to bring your food to your door!
Have you found a job here yet? There are a few forum members, me being one of them, who can chat for ages about public transport options and your best way to get to work!
We use either Somerfield or the big Sainsburys that Thomas spoke about (which is also known as Savacentre) for our shopping. Savacentre is a big hypermarket, much more than just food - you can get almost anything in there - clothes, electrical goods, kitchen stuff, bedding, all sorts of stuff. Getting it home might be an issue for you though....you can get a bus down there from this end of Sydenham, but it'll probably be too much of a walk for you with a load of stuff.
Anyways, good luck with the move, let us know when you're here, and feel free to post all your questions
Cheers all for the quick replies!
My other half moved in this week already, but since he's still without a net connection, I'll be sure to pass on all the tips to him! With unpacking and all, I'm sure the take-away tips will come in handy
I'll be working (well, more like doing a final project for my studies) in Chelsea, I already figured that it's easiest to travel via London Bridge. I'm looking forward to experiencing the early morning commuting into Central London....
Being a Dutchie, I was also wondering how easy it is to use (and get hold of) a bicyle around Sydenham. I wouldn't dare to use one in central London, but it might be real handy doing the shopping down at the big Sainsbury's. I've been told that even the Brits are becoming more eco-minded, but I still don't want to risk being run over because nobody is used to bike's on the street
My other half moved in this week already, but since he's still without a net connection, I'll be sure to pass on all the tips to him! With unpacking and all, I'm sure the take-away tips will come in handy
I'll be working (well, more like doing a final project for my studies) in Chelsea, I already figured that it's easiest to travel via London Bridge. I'm looking forward to experiencing the early morning commuting into Central London....
Being a Dutchie, I was also wondering how easy it is to use (and get hold of) a bicyle around Sydenham. I wouldn't dare to use one in central London, but it might be real handy doing the shopping down at the big Sainsbury's. I've been told that even the Brits are becoming more eco-minded, but I still don't want to risk being run over because nobody is used to bike's on the street
I bike round the sydenham area, it's a good way of getting about locally and it's fine as long as you have your wits about you, usual amount of drivers who would benefit from paying more attention. As for getting hold of a bike, there's a bike shop in Catford http://www.comptoncycles.co.uk/.Tess wrote: I was also wondering how easy it is to use (and get hold of) a bicyle around Sydenham.
No net connection, no problem. Sugahill Cafe around the corner in Kirkdale has free wifi (for the price of a coffee). Nice paninis too. Worth a visit. The Dolphin also has free wifi but the beer is not bargain basement value. It does have a great atmosphere IMHO.
Bicycling. Ahem Syd is on a mountainside pedalwise. I used to bike into central London everyday and the climb up to CP Parade was the twice daily test. Apart from that its great if you have a LCC map to show you a good route.
Admin
Bicycling. Ahem Syd is on a mountainside pedalwise. I used to bike into central London everyday and the climb up to CP Parade was the twice daily test. Apart from that its great if you have a LCC map to show you a good route.
Admin
Don't forget that you can also get the overground to Victoria from Syd, which may well be easier for ya to get to Chelsea in the rush-hour.Tess wrote:Cheers all for the quick replies!
<snip>
I'll be working (well, more like doing a final project for my studies) in Chelsea, I already figured that it's easiest to travel via London Bridge. I'm looking forward to experiencing the early morning commuting into Central London....
Cool it bensonby - check out http://www.lcc.org.uk/bensonby wrote:LCC?! How old are you?!
You only have to be 16 and no proof of age is required. Does that mean their HQ is now going to get busted by the fuzz in search of underage naked knee trikers?
Admin
ahhhh, I thought you meant London County Council - as in, the authority that was disbanded in the 1960s.admin wrote:Cool it bensonby - check out http://www.lcc.org.uk/bensonby wrote:LCC?! How old are you?!
You only have to be 16 and no proof of age is required. Does that mean their HQ is now going to get busted by the fuzz in search of underage naked knee trikers?
Admin
Muchos apologies....
(but you're still old
)Welcome to Sydenham Tess!
For homewares - the nearest IKEA is in Croydon which you can reach easily by train and tram if you don't have a car. Crystal Palace (walk up the hill) has a number of second hand/antique furniture places. We used to have a few in Sydenham but the only one remaining (AFAIK) is 'Behind the Boxes' on Kirkdale - great though if you like Art Deco!
If you need kitchen basics - I've just posted in the 'Offers' section that I have a load of kitchen equipment to give away and a fridge/freezer to sell. Sadly our washing machine has already found a new home!
You might also want to check out the local freecycling forums to help furnish your home.
For homewares - the nearest IKEA is in Croydon which you can reach easily by train and tram if you don't have a car. Crystal Palace (walk up the hill) has a number of second hand/antique furniture places. We used to have a few in Sydenham but the only one remaining (AFAIK) is 'Behind the Boxes' on Kirkdale - great though if you like Art Deco!
If you need kitchen basics - I've just posted in the 'Offers' section that I have a load of kitchen equipment to give away and a fridge/freezer to sell. Sadly our washing machine has already found a new home!
You might also want to check out the local freecycling forums to help furnish your home.
Without wishing to sound facetious, it depends how fast you cycle and whereabouts in central London you want to get to. I'm fairly quick and it takes me roughly 35 minutes to get from Oxford Circus to Sydenham on a good day. My girlfriend cycles to work in Edgware Road and usually takes about an hour to cover ten miles. One thing's for sure - you'll get really fit cycling over all the hills in the local area.Tess wrote:Just out of curiousity, how long does it take to get into central London by bike?