Where to find urban villages in London and and what to do in them

You can describe London many ways, but intimate isn’t usually one of them. However, there are urban villages with pretty houses and independent shops – if you know where to look.

Here are five of the best, with some ideas for what to do while you’re there. That’s your next weekend wander sorted...

Dulwich Village

With its white picket fences and distinctive wooden signs, this picturesque conservation area feels like it has been lifted straight out of the home counties, yet it’s just 20-minutes by train from London Bridge. Drool over its Georgian mansions, explore Dulwich Picture Gallery (the oldest in the city) and take a turn around 72-acre Dulwich Park. For the full countryside experience, book a riding lesson at Dulwich Riding School before refuelling with a roast at The Crown & Greyhound.

Wimbledon Village

During the 11-months of the year that it isn’t hosting Britain’s most famous tennis tournament, Wimbledon provides a welcome respite from the relentlessness of central London. The common is a sprawling mass of woodlands and meadows populated by badgers and birds, while The Windmill Tea Rooms is a second generation family business that serves well-priced comfort food. Browse the shelves of Wimbledon Books, fill your basket with delicacies at Bayley & Sage and if you can’t tear yourself away, book in for dinner at The Fox and Grapes before bedding down in their handful of boutique bedrooms.

Blackheath

With its wind-swept heath, church spires and bustling high street, Blackheath has old world charm by the bucketload. The Blackheath Society is one of the oldest in London and sees the community working together to arrange regular events such as kite-flying and bee-spotting walks, as well as literary talks from local talent. A fluffy crepe loaded with ice cream at Madeleine’s is a must, as is catching a classical music recital at Blackheath Halls, the oldest concert venue in the city.

Victoria Park Village

Whether looking for a pub quiz, afternoon tea or to browse an independent gift shop, Victoria Village has it all. If you’re looking to stock your pantry with quality food from independent shops, you’ll be spoilt for choice: Jonathan Norris fishmonger, The Ginger Pig butcher and The Deli Downstairs are all located within two-minutes’ walk, and Victoria Park even has its own food market every Sunday. On warm afternoons, the village’s green is filled with well-dressed twenty and thirty-somethings sipping craft beer from the numerous local pubs.

Greenwich Village

While most London boroughs have fascinating stories, few are as colourful as Greenwich which was once the jewel in the British Empire’s naval crown. You can feel this history by walking the deck of the historic tea ship the Cutty Sark and marvelling at the beautiful murals in the Painted Hall. If all that culture’s left you peckish, pick up some street eats at Greenwich Market or head to Zaibatsu for some of the best sashimi south of the river. Don’t miss the chance to climb the hill to the Royal Observatory where you can straddle the Prime Meridian Line which divides the eastern and western hemispheres, technically having one foot in each time zone.