The discovery of Streatham Wells in 1659 enabled the town to develop into a hub of leisure and entertainment, embracing London’s coffee house culture and even becoming known as ‘the West End of South London’. The area is also is reputed to have the longest shopping street in Europe with Streatham High Road stretching over two miles.

Nowadays Streatham and its surrounding areas are filled with interesting places to shop, eat and socialise.

When you’re not busy making the most of the sporting amenities on offer, you are spoilt for choice with indulgent and relaxing ways to spend your time. From the high street favourites to one-off boutiques and shops stocking ingredients for exotic cuisines, your every need is catered for.

As well as a range of local independent shops, there are a number of shopping centres nearby that offer a variety of popular high street brands. Centre Court in Wimbledon is just 11 minutes away by train and Whitgift Centre in Croydon is just 26 minutes away. Europe’s largest shopping centre, Westfield in Stratford, is also under an hour away by train.

The town boasts a variety of exciting restaurants, and delis. Cuisines from around the world are readily available, including Caribbean, African, Italian, Thai, Japanese and Chinese.

A favourite in the area is Hideaway jazz club and bar, a renowned venue showcasing established musicians, comedians and up-and-coming talent whilst serving classic dishes. The club also has a business lounge and meeting rooms for hire through its Workspace scheme.

Another local highlight is Wholemeal Café which offers delicious vegetarian and vegan meals. The Exhibit, a boutique cinema and restaurant, is another popular venue. If you’d prefer to go a little further afield, Harrison’s, a contemporary brasserie and bar co-owned by Rick Stein, is just 20 minutes away by train. Streatham is also home to an annual Food Festival that attracts over 3,000 people throughout its two-week run. Events include workshops, tastings, cookery contests and open-air markets.

Restaurants: minutes from development (walking or public transport)

Bar 61 (Spanish) – 12
Bubba’s  (Caribbean) – 5
Caminata (Italian) – 20
Masaledar (Indian) – 17
Slurp (Japanese) – 8
The Hamlet (Gastro pub) – 11
The Hideaway Jazz Café (Gastro pub) – 5
The Paddyfield (Thai) – 20
The Waterfront (Italian) – 3
Wholemeal (vegan) – 6
Zizou Tagine (North African) – 20

Streatham is equally rich in culture and interesting architecture. Its historic roots can be seen in the building style of The Tate Library, The White Horse Pub and St Leonard’s Parish. The annual Streatham Festival offers a range of art- and culture-themed activities and entertainment. The Horniman Museum in Forest Hill, just 30 minutes away, features an aquarium, music gallery, natural history gallery and frequently changing exhibitions, while the Crystal Palace Museum, detailing the history of the famous palace, is also nearby.