Honor Oak

Overview

Located between Nunhead and Forest Hill, Honor Oak is a residential area that falls mainly in the borough of Lewisham with some part of it in Southwark. It has become immensely popular over the years amongst young families priced out of more expensive areas such as Dulwich or Clapham. Since the extension of the London Overground in 2010, there has been a significant positive impact on the area.

Honor Oak Park station is served by London Overground. Thameslink and Southern trains pass through the station as well. The area is well connected, with trains to Shoreditch, London Victoria, and London Bridge.

Large semi-detached houses, along with Edwardian houses, Victorian, and terrace houses and a few purpose-built flats can be found in the area.

Let's find out what hidden gems Honor Oak has to offer.

Interesting Facts

The Oak of Honour marks the boundary of the ancient Honor of Gloucester in the Norman times. This Oak, located at the top of the summit gave the area, Honor Oak Park, its name.

Elizabeth I was said to have rested and picnicked under the oak in 1602 – the tree you see today is the third successive one from that oak and was planted in 1905.

Honor Oak Park station opened in 1866.

St Augustine Church in Honor Oak Park was built in 1872/1873, by William Oakley.

Amenities

University Hospital Lewisham which also houses the Ladywell mental health unit is a 10-minute drive from Honor Oak. There is a Honor Oak Group Practice also known as the Honor Oak Health Centre is located in nearby Brockley.

Attractions

Things to do

Along Honor Oak Park you can find the main shopping street which has plenty of coffee shops, restaurants, pubs etc. One Tree Hill public park and woodland nature reserve, and smaller Brenchley Gardens provides locals with abundant green space. A Saturday farmers’ market is held in the gardens.

Blythe Hill Fields hilltop park offers panoramic views of Canary Wharf, the City, Kent and Surrey, and the annual Blythe Hill Fields Festival each July. Horniman Museum and Gardens is nearby in Forest Hill.

Formally known as Oak of Honour Wood, One Tree Hill is one of London’s hidden gems; here, you can find the best views of the city and some interesting tales about the tree. The nature reserve is wonderful for walks and mini hikes, providing exceptional tranquil and peace.

History

What is now known as Honor Oak Road used to be the original ‘Forest Hill’ which was later deforested in the 1780s and replaced with new homes. A few of these late-Georgian homes survive to the present day, as do some early Victorian Italianate villas. During the 1790s, One Tree Hill (then known as Oak of Honor Hill) was used by the East India Company to signal the arrival of its ships in the Thames.

The Honor Oak estate used to be a major development in the late 1920s and early 1930s by the London County Council, with 27 brown-brick blocks of flats covering 25 acres of area.

Honor Oak station and its railway line was closed in 1954. In its place the Greater London Council built more housing to the west of the Honor Oak estate in the mid 1970s, where the railway line had previously run.

What was once the LCC’s Honor Oak school (and later Waverley school) is now known as the Harris Girls’ Academy in East Dulwich.

Developments

There are no major developments currently happening within Honor Oak.

Education

Education in the area

Fairlawn Primary School is rated “outstanding” by Ofsted. Beecroft Garden, Stillness Infants, St William of York RC, Dalmain, St Francesca Cabrini RC and Turnham are other primary schools rated “good”. For secondary schools, choices include Forest Hill School for boys and Sydenham School for girls. 

Worship

Places of worship

The historic Grade II listed St Augustine Church is situated within Honor Oak, welcoming locals to join their fellowship. Maha Lakshmi Vidya Bhavan is a Hinduism place of worship. There is also Honor Oak Baptist Church and St Saviour Church in the area.