Bikes give you better access to Peckham than any other form of transport. When you know where to go and what to look out for, a trusty bicycle enables you to view the area’s rich history and cultural significance through a new lens.
This self-directed tour would be best enjoyed on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th September 2017. The first half of the tour can be ridden at a relaxed pace along the quieter roads away from the high street and with short breaks, and is suitable for all riders. The second half is suitable for more confident riders along the Old Kent Road.
To the north of Rye lane, you’ll ride on a track first paved by the Romans in AD47 – now known as the Old Kent Road. It’s the same path you’ll find in Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales; that was the scene of the 1415 celebrations for soldiers returning from the Battle of Agincourt; and has more recently become known as the only square on the Monopoly board situated south of the river.
Discover the scores of creative spaces hidden in plain sight along this road. Within the area’s 3.5-mile border, Peckham Festival by bike will take you
to places you didn’t know existed.
All locations can be found on our map, and additional information can be found in the Open Studios section. Don’t forget to share your discoveries with us – tweet or Instagram us at @peckhamfestival.
Facing Peckham Library, take the cycle path running to the left (the Surrey Canal
Path). This long-forgotten canal had once connected to the River Thames.
Cycle up to Glengall Wharf Gardens to see this permaculture in action. This
group of local people are keen to get growing sustainably in north Peckham
and are developing the site as a resource for local people to share skills related to
food and growing. Join in their funday on Sunday 17th September (64 Glengall
Rd, SE15 6NF).
Turn left at the Path crossroads, and left again onto B215 Sumner Road, and
first left into Pennack Road. The modern building on the corner of these is ACME
Galleria (Pennack Road, SE15 6PW). Located on the site of an old printworks, this 10-storey building houses 149 apartments and 47 studios.
Turn right and right again, returning to the Canal path crossroads and this time
go straight across to Glengall Road. Turn left onto Bianca Road and follow the road round onto Haymerle Road. The large square building ahead is [ space ] Studios (90 Haymerle Road, SE15 6SD) with almost 70 studios of leading contemporary artists in London.
Continue on Haymerle Road and follow round to the right and you are at Artistic Spaces (7-17 Latona Road SE15 6RX). Formed in 2010, Artistic Spaces has spaces available to creatives at affordable rates without the long and sometimes costly contracts associated with most commercial space.
Cycle straight on, and turn right back onto Glengall Road. Turn right onto Old Kent Road and turn right onto Ossory Road. 100m on your right hand side you
will see a sign for Kaymet Works (52 Ossory Road SE1 5AN). Here you will discover the homewares Icon Kaymet and the London Stone Carvers which should not be missed.
Continue along Old Kent Road and turn left onto Sandgate Street, and you will discover the second Artistic Spaces studio complex, Action House (53 Sandgate St, SE15 1LE). Visit Shade Abdul Architecture.
Follow Sandgate Street as it curves to the right and changes into Ruby Street and Hyndman Street. Turn left onto Old Kent Road, and, after 150m take the first right into Commercial Way and onto Bird in Bush Road where you will find signs to Livesey Exchange (SE15 1NF) where 60 vacant garages on the Ledbury Estate on Old Kent Road will be transformed into the Livesey Exchange providing spaces for making,
training and cultural programmes and will have a host of activities on Saturday
16th September only.
Return to the Old Kent Road and after 800m turn left into Ilderton Road and cycle 500m before making a left turn to Manor Grove. The next two blocks (Ormside Street and Hatcham Road) may be unassuming light industrial buildings but many are home to some of the most exciting creatives in Peckham: from prop making to sculpture, fine art and more. Check out DIY Space for London, James Cappa, Studio Makecreate and the Penarth Center where you’ll find Ivo Carew Architect.
Return to the Old Kent Road and turn left onto Peckham Park Road and just after the crossroads with Commercial Way, turn left into Buller Close and discover The London Youth Support Trust (LYST – 19 Buller Close, SE15 6UJ): a youth enterprise charity that provides young people with the space and support they need to start a business.
Follow Buller Close to Peckham Hill Street, turn left and you will return to Peckham Library.