If you’re considering making Deptford your home or are simply curious what the area has to offer, our Deptford Guide is the best place to start. We'll walk you through the best places to eat and drink, cultural hidden gems, and amazing green spaces.
Discover the best restaurants in Deptford
Deptford’s restaurant scene is a reflection of its diverse community, with great cuisine to suit everyone’s palate.
There are a handful of Vietnamese places, such as Viet Rest and Viet Alley, serving the nation's classics.
Deptford Market Yard is an art space and culinary hub packed with unmissable food. Here you will find Gobsmack’d serving huge burgers, and Kekaki Izakaya offering sushi and other Japanese small bites. You will also find Taca Tacos nearby serving delicious Mexican-Cali style tacos and their signature beef birria.
For Caribbean food, you can head to Jerk Yard for jerk chicken and burgers, or Buster Mantis for Jamaican food and cocktails.Marcella serves up simple seasonal Italian dishes where everything is made in house, whilst Watergate offers international dishes with a regularly changing menu.
For cheaper options all found on Deptford High Street, you have M and D Japanese serving sushi and bento boxes, Tomi’s Kitchen offering Euro-African fusion food, and Chai Wrap, a vegan Indian street food restaurant.
Deptford is also home to excellent pubs and bars, such as The Dog and Bell pub along the Thames path. Away from the river, there are other cosy pubs like the Royal Standard and the Arks of Deptford. Around Deptford Station, you can find trendy bars including Bluethroat Deptford, Jam Circus, and Jars Bar.
Entertainment and culture in Deptford
There’s a host of fun things to do in Deptford and the surrounding area. The area is home to art studios such as Deptford Does Art and Cockpit, which both have regular exhibitions of local artists. Deptford X runs London’s longest-running visual arts festival and offers free art experiences to visitors and supports local artists in the area.
The Albany Theatre stands as a cornerstone of Deptford’s cultural landscape, serving as a hub for performing arts since the 1970s. This multi-purpose venue with two theatres and a cafe hosts an eclectic programme of theatre productions, dance performances, live music, and family shows.
Deptford Market Yard as well as having excellent food is also home to independent shops such as The Deli Society selling delicious artisan cheese and meats, and Zennoni specialising in Greek teas and pastries. If you’re feeling creative you can head to Freeweaver for courses in Japanese weaving, or to unwind, take a Pilates class at LevelOut Deptford.
Another staple of the local area is Deptford Market, running on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays on Deptford High Street, where you can buy anything from fruit and veg to vintage clothing.
For getting active, Surrey Docks Fitness & Water Sports Centre is a 15-minute walk away, and Southwark Park Athletics Centre is a 20-minute walk.
Deptford’s location also means you can enjoy scenic walks along the Thames Path, and the O2 Arena is also within easy reach, with an array of restaurants and events. Greenwich is just a bus ride away with the Royal Observatory and the National Maritime Museum.
Green spaces around Deptford
While historically industrial, Deptford offers access to several appealing green spaces for residents to enjoy. Deptford Park provides a large area for recreation, including a playground, open fields, and football pitches. Nearby Folkestone Gardens has parkland and gardens, as well as a sizeable play area and skatepark for kids.
A 30-minute walk Northwest from Deptford will take you to Southwark Park, featuring an Athletics Centre, Kids' Park, tennis courts, a cricket club, and more.
A short walk or bus ride away is the expansive Greenwich Park, providing impressive views of London’s skyline, flower gardens, the Royal Observatory and a deer park.
You will also find many smaller pockets of green dotted around Deptford, such as Ferranti Park, St Paul’s Churchyard Gardens, and Charlotte Turner Gardens.
Deptford’s public transport connections
Deptford boasts excellent public transport, making it a convenient place to live and navigate London. The area is served by Deptford and Deptford Bridge stations, offering both National Rail and DLR services.
Deptford has fast links to London Bridge, Greenwich, Canary Wharf, Stratford, and Bank, making it a great place to live for those working in London.
New Shared Ownership Homes coming to Deptford
Launching in early 2026, Deptford Landings will offer a new collection of 1 and 2-bedroom Shared Ownership homes, perfectly positioned between Deptford and Canada Water, just moments from the River Thames.
These beautifully designed homes combine comfort, community, and convenience, with every property featuring a private balcony and access to a central courtyard. Residents will also enjoy proximity to green spaces like Deptford and Greenwich Parks, along with great transport connections via Deptford and Surrey Quays stations.
A key feature of these homes is their Passivhaus design—an advanced energy-efficient building standard that delivers exceptional indoor comfort while dramatically reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. With high-performance insulation, airtight construction, and advanced ventilation systems, each home maintains a consistent temperature year-round, offering superior air quality and a peaceful, quiet environment. These design choices not only enhance wellbeing but also help lower energy bills, making them a smart and sustainable option for modern living.
Deptford Landings also has wheelchair adaptable homes available. For more details and to register your interest, please see our Deptford Landings page.
Frequently asked questions about Deptford?
Deptford is known for its rich maritime heritage, having once been home to a major Royal Navy dockyard. Today, it’s a lively and diverse area in southeast London, celebrated for its strong creative and cultural scene. The neighbourhood boasts independent galleries, studios, and a thriving street market.
The property market in Deptford has seen significant growth in recent years, driven by regeneration projects and improved transport links. It offers a mix of period properties, warehouse conversions, and modern apartment blocks. While still more affordable than some neighbouring areas like Greenwich, prices are rising steadily as more people discover the area's potential. It’s a popular choice for young professionals, creatives, and first-time buyers looking for good value within commuting distance of central London.
Deptford offers a wide range of activities for both locals and visitors. You can browse vintage treasures and find great food at Deptford Market Yard, a creative retail space set in railway arches. Enjoy contemporary art at Deptford Does Art or catch a show at the Albany Theatre. The area is also home to excellent eateries, quirky pubs, and coffee shops. For outdoor lovers, riverside walks along the Thames and green spaces like Deptford Park provide a refreshing break.
Deptford is becoming increasingly popular with families thanks to its good schools, community feel, and access to parks and recreational areas. The area offers a mix of housing options and a growing number of family-friendly amenities, including play areas, libraries, and local events. Its location also allows for convenient travel to central London.
