I’ve had my studio at Cockpit in Deptford for 16 years and I LOVE it here. I live locally and have got to know every little corner of this charming pocket of London.
When I tell my customers I am based in Deptford many don’t know the area or if they do, think its miles away from anywhere and maybe a little bit scary.
I’m happy to report that couldn’t be further from the truth! Deptford is a thriving community full of charm and magic. Soaked in historical significance, architectural delights, and a vibrant high street with anything you could possibly need, PLUS it’s a stone’s throw from the Thames, with speedy links to central London.
Here’s my top ten reasons to visit Deptford:
1 Historical Deptford
Did you know that during the Tudor period, Deptford was the first and most important Royal Dockyard?
It was King Henry XIII who put Deptford on the map when he founded the Royal Dockyard in Deptford in 1513, making it the Royal Naval Shipbuilding capital. From the 16th to the 19th century the British Royal Navy warships were built and repaired at the Deptford Dockyard. Peter the Great studied shipbuilding in Deptford, explorer Sir Francis Drake was knighted here, and in fact his ship the Golden Hind was built and kept here for many years.
Due to its position on the Thames and bustling dockyard, Deptford has been connected with tastes and cultures of the world way before rail and air travel came about. Many shipping and trading organisations were based in Deptford, including the world renowned East India Company.
2 Anchors
 |
You’ll spot plenty of anchors dotted around Deptford today, celebrating its dockyard roots and rich history. The beloved Deptford Anchor mysteriously disappeared a few years ago, removed by the council, not sure why!? After local uproar and much campaigning, thankfully it was returned and you can find it at the bottom of Deptford High Street. |
3 Deptford market
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays are market days in Deptford, everyone comes out for it.
Besides the usual fruit, veg and cloth stalls on the main high street, there’s also a brilliant fish mongers and Deptford Market flowers - where I love to spend my pocket money on plants and blooms!
Outside the Albany Theatre is brick-a-brac heaven, ideal for all you treasure hunters out there.
Some stallholders specialise in house clearances so you never know what you might find. From 7 inch vinyl classics to catering equipment, vintage tools and quirky curiosities - as the saying goes: ‘one person’s rubbish is another person’s treasure’.
4 Churches - the first skull and crossbones!
 |
St Paul’s Church was built in 1712 and serves as a reminder of Deptford’s grand past. Check out the crazy skewed balustrades, and someone please tell me if they’re original?! |
St Nicholas’s Church has connections to famous mariners like Captain Cook and Sir Francis Drake who both visited the church before embarking on voyages. Christopher Marlowe, who was murdered in Deptford, is buried in the churchyard.
Its iconic skull and crossbones carvings on the pillars at the church gate, are the first of its kind in the world, and thought to have inspired the Jolly Roger.
5 Cultural hot spot
Today, Deptford is perhaps best known as a hub for artists, performers and makers. You only have to see the brightly painted murals and public art along the high street and the pop up galleries and open studio events in various locations, to work out that it’s a super creative area.
The Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance is not only the world’s largest purpose built contemporary dance centre, it’s also won prizes for its architecture. It features very unusual semi translucent polycarbonate cladding that allows glimpses of movement during the day, and the building appears to glow at night - magic.
The Albany Theatre is a local treasure and hub of creativity. As a multi-purpose arts venue it boasts an eclectic program of events, theatrical performances and community projects, it also has a gorgeous cafe and a great garden. If you are planning on coming to Deptford with kids do check out their family friendly shows.
I can’t not mention Cockpit Deptford! Home to more than 60 designers, makers and artists, it’s a very special place, as you know!
6 Eclectic high street
Deptford High street is a beautiful mish-mash of shops, bars and restaurants and a real reflection of London. There’s no shortage of nail bars or pound shops, but I had to share my favourite, lesser known spots with you.
The excellent Vietnamese restaurants and food shops. Moc has excellent Pho and fresh juices. Lai Loi offers everything you could possibly need for Asian cooking - and more! All the herbs and oriental veg, all the rice and noodles, special sauces and condiments - including a full range of my favourite Lau Gan Ma chilli sauce.
 |
You get your slightly upmarket offerings at Deptford Market Yard - especially Kekaki Izakaya for gyoza and bao buns, Lomond or Mouse Tail for coffee. Plus The Waiting Room is a great Vegan cafe option on the high street and Marcella and Klose & Soan are local favourite restaurants serving delicious food. |
Peter and Joan’s is the most useful shop ever. Everything you need for your home, from crafting to haberdashery and baking, run by a really lovely couple. You don’t get many shops like this everywhere any more!
Rag and Bone is my favourite second hand clothes shop with some surprisingly good clobber! I struggle with smart clothes and hate shopping in town so finding treasures here is a joy.
Tony’s Daily is an Italian deli and the best place for cheese and continental groceries. Get your Christmas Panetones here!
My kids LOVE coming to Cafe Bianca - a no thrills, trad menu, community favourite with its heart on its sleeve. Plus it doesn’t break the bank.
Last and never least, finish your visit with a trip to the Dog & Bell, THE MOST magical, festive pub in the world? I think so.
7 Architectural treasures
If you take a walk around Deptford you’ll see some beautiful old Shipwright homes at the bottom of Tanners Hill that date back to 1728!
On Albury Street there’s architectural detail aplenty on the Dockyard Officer houses that date from 1706.
Wander up Deptford High street and look UP - there’s plenty of architectural evidence of Deptford’s grand past. Trickett and Co was a huge store selling fancy tea, coffee, biscuits and ‘exotic’ foreign fruits, pickles and sauces.
8 Ha’penny hatch at Deptford Creek
Keep an eye out for the Ha’penny Hatch at Deptford Creek alongside the Docklands Light Railway viaduct and historic Greenwich Pumping Station. It’s a modern steel footbridge that replaced an old toll bridge. The name originates from the wooden bridge, built in 1836 that had a toll of a ha’penny - half an old penny, to cross. It was the only way to cross the creek after the railway was built in 1836. Today’s bridge was built in 2002 and is a lift bridge, designed to allow boats to travel up the creek.
9 Graffiti
Are you a fan of graffiti? If so, head to the arches along Creekside Street Art Footpath where you’ll see some stunning and ever changing graffiti. There’s something new to see each time I walk down there - well worth a look.
10 Rivers
If you like water ways, Deptford is an interesting spot.
The Quaggy River winds 17km through Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham, meeting the Ravensbourne River in Central Lewisham before joining the River Thames at its tidal reach at Deptford Creek. This means the Ravensbourne is tidal from the point it meets the River Thames at Deptford. At high tide, the Ravensbourne appears to flow backwards because of the incoming tide from the Thames.
Lastly, do you know how Deptford got its name?
The passing place at the River Ravensbourne that connected a small settlement by the river with a fishing village on the River Thames was called the ‘deep ford’ - over time the area around the deep ford became known as Deptford. The passing place itself became Deptford Bridge.
I hope that’s whet your appetite if you are visiting Cockpit - or Deptford anytime soon.
Cockpit Deptford runs 5-7 December 2025, I’d love to see you there.