Downham is a largely residential ward in the London Borough of Lewisham, on the south‑eastern edge of London. Much of the neighbourhood was laid out as an inter‑war council estate, so its character is defined by cottage‑style semi‑detached and terraced houses, wide tree‑lined streets and small front gardens that reflect garden‑suburb ideas of the 1920s–30s.
It feels suburban yet well connected, with local parades of shops, community centres and green corridors such as the Downham Woodland Walk. Many residents commute into central London, while historically the area has been working‑class and multicultural - with active neighbourhood groups and ongoing local regeneration alongside pockets of economic challenge. Nearby places include Bellingham, Catford and Bromley, which together shape its local services and transport links.
Postcode districts covering Downham
Most populated places nearby
- Brent 14.8 miles
- Islington 9.7 miles
- City of Westminster 9.4 miles
- Bexley 6.6 miles
- Sutton 9.2 miles
- Crawley 22.9 miles
- Croydon 5.8 miles
- Harrow 18.6 miles
- Basildon 22 miles
- Watford 23.9 miles
- Maidstone 24.6 miles
- Harlow 24.1 miles
Neighbouring places
- Plaistow Ward 0.8 miles
- Catford South Ward 0.9 miles
- Grove Park Ward 1.2 miles
- Hither Green Ward 1.3 miles
- Beckenham Town & Copers Cope Ward 1.3 miles
- Bellingham Ward 1.3 miles
- Bromley Town Ward 1.6 miles
- Mottingham Ward 1.7 miles
- Shortlands & Park Langley Ward 1.7 miles
- Rushey Green Ward 1.7 miles
- Lee Green Ward 1.8 miles
- Middle Park & Horn Park Ward 2 miles
Example postcodes in Downham
BR1 4LQ, BR1 5HB, SE6 3NT, BR1 4PD, BR1 4NN, BR1 4NS, BR1 4QP, BR1 5NS, BR1 5JR … See all
Transport links
- London City Airport 5.9 miles
- London Heathrow Airport 20 miles
- Beckenham Hill Railway Station 0.8 miles
- Grove Park Railway Station 0.9 miles
- Waterloo Bus Depot 7.2 miles
Hotels near Downham Ad
- Brama 1.4 miles
- The Bromley Court Hotel 4 0.6 miles
- Beckenham Park Hotel 4 1.6 miles
- The Station Hotel 1.9 miles
- Pan Pacific London 5 7.3 miles
- Intercontinental London - the O2 5 5.3 miles
- Batty Langley's 5 7.4 miles
- Vintry & Mercer Hotel - Small Luxury Hotels of the World 5 7.2 miles
- Hotel 41 5 8.1 miles
- Haymarket Hotel 5 8.1 miles
Schools in Downham
- Downderry Primary School Primary
- Drumbeat School and ASD Service Special
- Good Shepherd RC School Primary
- Haberdashers' Knights Academy Secondary
- Launcelot Primary School and Nursery Primary
- New Woodlands School Special
- Rangefield Primary School Primary
Local points of interest
- Glades Shopping Centre Shopping centre 1.6 miles
- Hadlow College Mottingham College 1.6 miles
- Beckenham Library Library 2.1 miles
- University of Greenwich - Avery Hill University 3.5 miles
- Peter Harrison Planetarium Museum 3.6 miles
- National Maritime Museum Museum 3.8 miles
- Queen's House Museum 3.9 miles
- National Maritime Museum Gardens Gardens 3.9 miles
- Cutty Sark Museum 4 miles
- Old Royal Naval College Museum 4 miles
- Selhurst Park Stadium 4.3 miles
- The Valley Stadium 4.5 miles