Bellingham

Overview

Bellingham’s high street, Randlesdown Road, has all the basic amenities; but among this London neighbourhood’s large estates, home-seekers will find a solid base - and relatively affordable houses for sale or rent - nestled between the buzzing Catford town centre, to the north, and the sweeping Beckenham Place Park, to the south.

Communities with roots in Jamaica, Nigeria or Sri Lanka bring a multicultural feel in this part of SE6, where a range of activities and events - from the Bellingham Festival to Carols on the Green - pull people from all backgrounds and ages together. Local charity Bellingham Community Project works collaboratively with residents and other groups to improve health and well-being in the local neighbourhood.

Bellingham train station directly connects the area to Blackfriars, while the nearby Lower Sydenham station will take you to Charing Cross and Cannon Street in under half an hour.

Discover this and other benefits of living in Bellingham, an often overlooked but decidedly family-friendly corner of south-east London.

Interesting Facts

• The Bellingham Bowling Club was founded in 1912, and today it remains an open, friendly space for bowling fans of all ages. New joiners will benefit from free coaching and a discounted membership fee.
• The revamped Fellowship Inn reopened as the Fellowship and Star in 2019 after a striking four-million restoration. The pub housed a live music, theatre and comedy venue, café, the headquarters of tuneful local charity Lewisham Music, and the stunning Bellingham Film Palace. But it once again fell on tough times during the coronavirus pandemic; after measures were lifted in 2021, its doors remained shut, and the search began for new operators.

Amenities

University Hospital Lewisham is only a 10-minute bus ride from Bellingham station. South Lewisham Group Practice on Conisborough Crescent, Bellingham Green Surgery and The Jenner Practice in Forest Hill recently merged into Modality Lewisham, part of the award-winning Modality Partnership. Among other services, the partnership is committed to providing inclusive healthcare to the LGBT community by working with the Pride in Practice programme.

Attractions

Things to do

Whether you’re looking for a creative outlet or an adrenaline boost, the neighbourhood offers a choice of activities in its family-friendly spaces - from the beloved green to the Bellingham Leisure & Lifestyle Centre. The wonderful Beckenham Place Park is just a fifteen-minute walk south of the station.

• From London’s first purpose-built swimming lake to its 18th-century Georgian mansion, nature trails and Skate Park, Beckenham Place Park provides 96 hectares of history, sustainable activities, and joy for everyone. Keep an eye out for various events, including outdoor cinema screenings, the free weekly Parkrun and the BPP Food & Farmers’ Market, launched in spring 2022.
• Between the hexagonal Bellingham Green, Southend Park, Bellingham Play Park and Dumps Adventure Playground, you can walk the dog or try your luck on that rope bridge. The Bellingham Gateway Youth & Community Centre also offers a broad range of activities across the sports grounds from Bellingham Leisure & Lifestyle Centre.
• Waterlink Way provides a beautiful route for walking and cycling along the ​​Pool and Ravensbourne rivers, and all the way to the Thames.

Don’t miss the annual Bellingham Festival on the green - a much-anticipated get-together for the local community over live music, food and more.

History

Bellingham’s name translates to “the water-meadow belonging to Beora’s people”, referring to a local medieval manor; it was later passed on to the local railway station, when it opened in 1892. The Bellingham Estate was built between 1920-23 and gradually expanded to the south. Due to an influx of residents from inner London, numerous blocks of flats rose around the cottage estate, and the neighbourhood evolved into something less poetic than its name would suggest. Most activities today revolve around the green - several primary schools, however, can be found within the estates, at the heart of the community.

The first-ever pub built in a housing estate, the Fellowship Inn was conceived as a welcoming space for First World War veterans. Later, knighted local boxer Henry Cooper trained here. During the ’60s, the pub thrived as a live stage drawing starry guests such as Eric Clapton and Fleetwood Mac until, eventually, it fell into disrepair.

Development

Just a stone’s throw from the local station on Bellingham Road, Prestige House by Acorn New Homes offers a selection of new build apartments for comfortable, open-plan living.

A contemporary mews development, also by Acorn, lies nearby: the three-storey Bellingham Mews includes 14 new three and four-bedroom homes with private gardens. And they don’t just benefit from their proximity to the station. Commuters on two wheels can get straight onto the London Cycle Network through Bellingham and Bromley roads.

Education

Education in the area

A number of schools in Bellingham and the surrounding areas have been rated as “outstanding” by Ofsted, including Torridon Primary School, Downderry Primary School and the coeducational secondary Bonus Pastor Catholic College in Bromley.

Two outstanding special schools, Watergate School for pupils aged 4-11, and Greenvale School, for young people aged 11-19, lie within SE6. Four good primary schools also lie at the heart of the community - Athelney, Elfrida, Haseltine and the voluntary-aided St Augustine’s Catholic Primary School and Nursery.

Worship

Places of worship

Focusing on traditional worship, St Dunstan’s parish church on Bellingham Green takes pride in its recently refurbished Royal Chapel organ, built in 1868 for the Chapel Royal, St James. St Dunstan’s Hall also welcomes activities such as tuition in English and maths for ages 5 – 16, and Bubbly Nursery for children with special needs.

Christ Church United Reformed Church can also be found to the west of the green, while the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Faith Chapel is within walking distance. Churches Together in Bellingham (CTiB) is a partnership between St Dunstan’s, Christ Church URC, and the nearby The Annunciation and St Augustine Church in Beckhenham.

More options can be found in Catford, including the El Bethel Tamil Church.