Car Hire Brockley

Just off the South Circular, Brockley is easy to overlook—but once you turn in, it holds you. This corner of south London, that houses around 18,000 people, mixes street murals with tangled green spaces, cafés with character and a quiet hum of community. Drivers using the A20 or A2212 will find parking on residential roads and a layout that encourages slowing down. Spring and early autumn are especially inviting, with light breezes, wildflowers in the parks and long dusks that stretch the day.

During a visit to Deptford, we made a detour here and ended up staying longer than expected. It’s also tucked within easy reach of Honor Oak Park, making it a natural stop for drivers exploring this part of south London without the bustle.

Attractions In Brockley

A fox, a piano and a hill—not a riddle, just a hint of what’s waiting here. Brockley doesn’t offer a checklist of big sights or signposted routes. Instead, it gives you fragments: a mural tucked beside a pub, music drifting from a back garden or a patch of woodland that feels far from the city.

Hilly Fields

We reached Hilly Fields by foot but there’s parking along Montague Avenue. The views stretch across the city—Canary Wharf, the Shard—all peeking through trees. It’s open 24 hours and draws a steady stream of joggers, dog walkers and students on breaks.

The café near the stone circle served us lemon cake that lived up to the local hype. From the hilltop, the usual city noise seemed to drop away.

Telegraph Hill Upper Park

A short drive from New Cross brought us to Kitto Road. We took a wrong turn and found ourselves in a pocket garden full of herbs and hand-painted signs.

The upper park has benches with long views; the lower park hosts weekend markets where you might find poetry zines alongside bread. We bought raw milk cheddar from a stall run by a man who also sold his own sonnets. Open daily from 6 am to 9 pm.

Bob Marley Mural

Painted on the wall beside The Brockley Barge, this mural blends into the rhythm of the high street. No plaque, no crowd—just music from a window upstairs and the quiet way people nod at it as they pass.

Fox & Firkin

It was the low thump of bass that pulled us off the pavement on Lewisham High Street. Fox & Firkin is equal parts pub, venue and community back garden. The crowd was loose, the energy infectious.

We caught a reggae set and between songs, a spoken word poet took the mic. There was dancing, a guy handing out watermelon slices and fairy lights over the bar. Open from 3 pm most days, this one draws regulars from across the south—especially Catford.

One Tree Hill Park

We stopped during a morning outing from East Dulwich. The slope through the trees isn’t long but it rises fast. Halfway up, a squirrel dropped a twig onto the path and scurried off. At the top, we found a bench no one was using—which felt like a small gift.

Blythe Hill Fields

Open skies. Clean light. We came here at sunset and found the park scattered with sketchers and dog walkers. One man was drawing the skyline in charcoal while his dog sat beneath his bench. There’s no fencing and no closing time—just space to think and stretch your legs. It’s open 24 hours and feels different depending on where you stop.

Garthorne Road Nature Reserve

The entrance off Beadnell Road doesn’t announce itself—just a wooden gate and a simple sign. Inside, we followed damp paths under low-hanging branches. Robins darted between brambles. You can hear the trains if you stop walking but otherwise, it’s easy to forget you’re in London.

An ideal pause for drivers coming from Lewisham needing a quick reset. Not large but it doesn’t need to be.

St Peter’s Brockley

On Wickham Road, we joined a weekday coffee group that felt more like a neighbour’s front room than a church event. Someone passed around biscuits while another pointed out stained-glass details we hadn’t noticed. “You’ll always meet a singer here,” one woman told us. We believed her. It’s warm inside—in more ways than one.

New Cross Gate Cutting

Managed by the London Wildlife Trust, this urban woodland off Vesta Road feels more like countryside than city. Open 24 hours, it’s easy to miss but once inside, the switch is immediate—bramble, birds and mud. We slipped once, laughed and kept walking. A fox leapt a fence ahead of us like it was part of the path. If you’re driving in from Blackheath, it’s a perfect micro-wilderness.

Peckham Rye Park & Common

We pulled over while driving in from Peckham, mostly for the promise of ice cream. The park is well kept—a Japanese garden, broad lawns, tree-lined paths. Public toilets are clean, which honestly matters. A woman at the shop gave us a postcard of the rose garden. Her son had drawn it. Open daily from 7:30 am to 5 pm.

Mountsfield Park

Mountsfield feels lived in. We entered from Stainton Road and passed a tai chi group before we hit the grass. The air smelled faintly of cut wood and rain.

There was a group playing cricket near the flowerbeds. In another corner, a hammock was strung up between two oaks. It’s open daily from 8 am to 5:30 pm and hosts People’s Day once a year—but even on an ordinary afternoon, it hums.

Where To Pause A While

Brockley keeps its best spots low-key but they’re worth seeking out. Browns of Brockley, just opposite the station, serves consistently excellent coffee and pastries in a relaxed, welcoming space. A little further along Brockley Road, Arlo & Moe dishes up hearty breakfasts and sourdough sandwiches that draw a steady flow of locals. For dinner or drinks, Ellary’s has taken over the old Orchard site on Harefield Road—a friendly bar and kitchen offering Sunday roasts, small plates and a mellow evening vibe.

While there aren’t many hotels in the area, Brockley has a selection of guesthouses and B&Bs tucked into its residential streets. A few offer private parking, which makes it an easy base if you’re exploring by car.