property, homes and houses for sale in Forest Hill

Forest Hill is a peaceful, leafy suburb with good transport links and lower-than-average property prices.

Living in Forest Hill

Steeply wooded hills that were part of the Great North Wood were cut down in the 18th century to supply oak for the naval yards in Deptford.

Shortly after Queen Victoria came to the throne, the railway arrived and once the station was built the construction of houses followed.

"High and healthy" was how Forest Hill was described in the 1930s as it is situated on one of the highest hills in London with spectacular views of the capital and the North Downs.

Much of Forest Hill was developed by E. C. Christmas who built large detached houses in the early years of the 20th century and then, between the wars, converted them into flats.

Today, Forest Hill is a charming "up and coming" suburb in the Borough of Lewisham with excellent transport links to Central London, a good choice of local schools, complemented by parks, shops and restaurants.

There is a mix of large Victorian and Edwardian villas, 1930s semis, contemporary townhouses and low-rise apartments that line the Hills, Vales and Avenues of Forest Hill.

The town centre is home to 150+ independent businesses offering a wide range of goods and services but Forest Hill’s most impressive asset lies to the west.

Dulwich Park has sports fields, parkland, a large area of dense woodland and the spectacular greens and fairways of Dulwich & Sydenham Hill Golf Course.

Transport

Forest Hill railway station is right in the centre of town and provides a swift link to London Bridge, Waterloo East and Charing Cross.

For information regarding bus routes that serve Forest Hill and for the London Underground, please visit www.tfl.gov.uk/gettingaround/default.aspx.

For details of train services please visit www.nationalrail.co.uk/.

History and culture

The Horniman Museum was opened in 1901 and stands on the heights of Forest Hill in a lovely 16-acre park and gardens.

It houses one of the finest collections of musical instruments in the British Isles, and within its gardens is an animal enclosure and a Grade II listed early 20th century greenhouse.

Forest Hill Library reopened in 2008 after being completely modernised and refurbished. In 2001 it hosted 'an evening with J. K. Rowling' which was attended by children from the local Fairlawn Primary School.

Many famous people were born or have lived in Forest Hill including Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the German Protestant theologian who was killed by the Nazis for helping Jews escape to Switzerland.

Other notable residents include Kate Bush, James Callaghan, Raymond Chandler the novelist, Hollywood stars Boris Karloff and Leslie Howard, Terry Waite, Timothy Spall and ex-footballer, Ian Wright.

For further information about Forest Hill, please visit www.lewisham.gov.uk/.