The Wonderful West Norwood Community
July 06/The Haywoods Group
As our fantastic Knight’s Hill development is nearing completion, we thought we’d take a moment to celebrate West Norwood and its amazing community.
West Norwood in South London has been rapidly developing over the past decade but has retained its village-feel charm and personality. A host of independent shops, cafes and restaurants are scattered throughout Knight’s Hill and the main high street, which really add to the character of the area.
There have been many initiatives by local people and businesses to forge a community that cares within West Norwood, and the results are self-evident.
Here are a few of our favourite places, local initiatives and things to do within walking distance of our new homes in West Norwood…
West Norwood Feast – Community Street Market
Feast West Norwood Image Credit: http://rathbonesociety.org.uk/
One of our favourite West Norwood events, this monthly, volunteer-powered event brings together over 500 stalls spread over five sites, complete with live music and child-friendly activities. Here you’ll find vintage clothing, antiques, artisan produce, international street food, delicious patisserie goods and unique arts and crafts for your home. It’s a full day event so check out the next date here on their website and make sure you’re there!
Station to Station – Business Improvement District
A really important one to us, Station to Station is the Business Improvement District (BID) for West Norwood and Tulse Hill. This initiative brings investment and development to West Norwood, helping it to improve and be a great and vibrant place to live. Station to Station is funded and run by local businesses who have an investment in the area, with a team to coordinate the whole, and promotes cleaning up the area and communication between those who aspire to make West Norwood a better place. You can read all about the initiative and their plans for West Norwood here.
The South London Club card offers you discounts galore on independent shops, pubs, cafes and restaurants in South London, and many places in West Norwood are members. Check out The Book and Record Bar at 20 Norwood High Street where you can browse a monster collection of vinyl records, peruse the books and get yourself a coffee or a beer while you’re at it. If you like to keep your grocery shopping local, try Fat Ox, the Brazilian butcher and grocer at 128 Norwood High Street; or if you fancy some authentic Italian fare head to Taormina café and deli at 280 Norwood Road.
This local, independent café and shop at 17 Knight’s Hill specialises in freshly prepared delicious meals from sustainable, ethical sources, and sells eco-friendly products such as biodegradable food wrap, bamboo cups and natural beauty products, and there’s even a re-filling station for cleaning products so that you can cut down on plastic. Amazing work being done here; have a look at their website here.
This not-for-profit community gallery is an incredible place for both artists and visitors, where you can view local artwork and attend art classes such as life drawing and pottery, along with crafts classes like sewing. It’s also a broader community space, hosting a choir and yoga classes, and is inclusive to all. Check out events and classes on their website here.
Pintadera has to be one our favourite places to grab some lunch, relax with a coffee or take a break. It has a great atmosphere and serves incredible Italian antipasti, sandwiches and calzone, and you can even head in for breakfast. We recommend the “break-sit”! Find them at 50 Knight’s Hill, just down the road from our new apartments!
West Norwood has so much to offer and it is only heading upwards! If this vibrant community sounds like it might be for you, check out our beautiful, high-spec apartments here – completion is on schedule for mid-July 2018!
