I visited the 'world's coolest neighbourhood' in the UK – I was shocked by 1 thing
Camberwell ranked first in the UK, second in Europe and fourth in the entire world.
(Image: Shania King-Soyza)When I heard that a London neighbourhood had been named one of the "coolest in the world," I wasn’t sure what to expect - in fact, I wanted to laugh. Camberwell isn’t as famous as Shoreditch, Camden Town or Notting Hill, but it recently claimed an incredible fourth place on Time Out’s global list. The neighbourhood even impressively ranked second in Europe and first in the entire UK.
Defining what "coolness" means, a writer from Time Out shared: "The places where stuff like nightlife, art, culture, and affordable food and drink can be found on every corner and down every backstreet. Where diversity is championed and independent businesses thrive, from old-school boltholes to the newest avant-garde art space.
"Put simply, the world’s coolest neighbourhoods are places that represent the soul of our cities, while maintaining their own unique local character that draws people in to live, work and play." Despite living just 40 minutes away, I have never truly explored the neighbourhood or rather appreciated it.
To discover whether the area was truly "cool" I took a trip around Camberwell and captured it's livlihood in pictures. Do you think it's worthy of it's ranking? Let us know in the comments below.
Camberwell spreads across two boroughs in London (Southwark and Lambeth). It was interesting to see just how much was in one neighbourhood.
Local expert Lauren O’Neill said that Camberwell is brilliant because it’s "loads of things at once", and because it crams the best bits of southeast London – "the young-at-heart vibe, the independent spirit, the multiculturalism" – into a "green, community-oriented little patch".
(Image: Shania King-Soyza)
The first place I visited was the South London Gallery on Peckham Road, which opened in 1891.
According to the gallery's website: "Over the past 20 years, the SLG has worked with hundreds of artists on a wide range of exhibitions and projects, as well as supporting the professional development and practice of artists through residencies in the Outset Artists’ Flat."
(Image: Shania King-Soyza)
When you head inside the gallery, you will be greeted by a cute and quite cool looking gift shop where you can purchase all things from jewellery, books and other knick-knacks.
(Image: Shania King-Soyza)
The Yto Barrada exhibition is free to enter and is currently on display until January 11, 2026.
(Image: Shania King-Soyza)
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