An Insider’s Guide to Crystal Palace
A hidden gem of a London neighborhood
Crystal Palace was named as London’s Best Place to Live in 2022, yet it’s still fairly unknown to the tourist crowd. This is probably because it’s located pretty far south, but that shouldn’t deter you!
You may be wondering, what, or where, even is the Crystal Palace. The area gets its name from the impressive glass palace which one stood inside the park (It had been built for the Great Exhibition of 1851 and then retired to the park once it was over). Unfortunately, it burned down in the ‘30s, but it’s given its name to both the area and the local football club: Crystal Palace FC.
I had the pleasure of living in Crystal Palace for six months. And whenever I return to London, I make sure to pay it a visit. Here’s my ultimate insider guide to what is, in my opinion, one of the most underrated areas in London.
What to See and Do in Crystal Palace
For such a compact area, Crystal Palace certainly has a lot to do! Come for the views, stay for the markets.
Take in the view on ‘The Triangle’
Crystal Palace’s hub, known simply as ‘The Triangle’ due to the shape of its’ three connecting streets, is perched on top of one of London’s highest points (367 feet) – giving it a pretty amazing view of the city center. As you’re walking along and window-shopping, you’ll catch sneak peeks of the view between buildings.
Catch a movie at the Everyman
If cinema-going already seems like something from the past, then attending a screening at the Everyman definitely is. Be transported back to 1928, when the cinema first opened. Admire the Art Deco interiors, grab a classic cocktail at one of the bars, or feast on a dish from the Spielburger kitchen. Don’t worry, the decor might be old-fashioned but the movies are modern!
Visit the Crystal Palace Park
Crystal Palace Park is probably one of the more eclectic parks in London. It contains, among other things, a farm, a food market, a concert stage, an enormous sports center, a small museum, a boating lake, and a collection of anatomically correct (at least by Victorian standards) sculptures of dinosaurs. For the full list of things to do in the park, read below.
Sift through antique treasures at Haynes Lane Market
Make sure you plan your trip to Crystal Palace for the end of the week, because every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm, one of the area’s biggest gems takes place: the Haynes Lane Market, a veritable treasure trove and maze of vintage, antiques, and collectibles. You could spend hours exploring the narrow corridors, rooms, and courtyards of the market. Nobody walks away empty-handed.
Explore a Grade II-listed Victorian subway
Located underneath the A212 road (where all the buses pass on Crystal Palace Parade) lies a truly hidden gem: a grade II-listed Victorian subway. For many years the subway was open only on specific days of the year for a guided tour but unfortunately, for the time being, that’s no longer the case as it’s currently undergoing extensive restoration works. I was lucky enough to get to visit the subway during an open day and it’s absolutely a wonder, that’s why I still add it to this list! Watch out for its reopening.
Munch your way through the Crystal Palace food markets
Crystal Palace doesn’t just do vintage markets, they also do food markets! Every Saturday at Haynes Lane, from 10 am to 3 pm, expect to find a foodie paradise. Think organic veggies and dairy, sustainable butcher and fish, delicious cakes, homemade pasta, and so much more! And if you didn’t get your fill on Saturday, no fear! There is another weekly food market down in Crystal Palace Park every Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm.
Peek inside a Greek Orthodox Church
Located on the Triangle, across the street from the Sainsbury’s, lies the Greek Orthodox Church of Ss. Constantine and Helen. It may not look like much from the outside, but step inside and you’ll be instantly transported to Greece amid all the ornate gold and Byzantine art. Remember to be respectful, as this is still a place of worship.
Where to Eat and Drink in Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace has so many delightful cafes and eateries that it’s hard to narrow it down to just a handful, but here are some of, what I think are, the tastiest spots in the area.
Westow House
The quintessential English pub. Perfect for craft beers, seasonal pub food, quiz nights, and drinks out.
79 Westow Hill
The Alma
Another great pub option, I particularly like their Sunday roasts. It’s got a cozy candlelit vibe to it and a huge hidden beer garden that is shaded in summer and heated in winter.
95 Church Road
Pizzaholics
Authentic Neapolitan pizza in the heart of Crystal Palace. I lived many years in Italy and I can confidently say that it’s my favorite and the most authentic pizza place in the area, the other ones can’t hold a candle to it.
Tip: Try the speck, mascarpone, and pistachio pizza, it’s inimitable.
64 Westow Hill
Little Greece
Located in the parking lot of the Greek Orthodox Church is a quaint little food truck serving delicious Greek gyros. Only open from Thursday to Sunday, these pita wraps became a weekly staple when I was living in the area, and the owner is the friendliest guy, always ready to have a chat about Greece!
107a Spa Hill
Spinach
Such a cute restaurant and garden. Definitely, my favorite brunch option in Crystal Palace. They do modern European cuisine and brunch staples such as avo-toast.
69-71 Westow Hill
The Sourcing Table
A new addition to the Triangle is this premium wine bar. Serving up an exciting selection of over 250 wines from small independent producers. They do small snacking dishes too, but don’t expect dinner.
67 Westow Hill
The Faber Fox
They do all your classic pub grub and it’s also a sports bar, but the draw for me is the cocktails and the outdoor area with the stunning view of the city of London in the distance.
25 Westow Hill
Morgan and Watson
A super cute ‘instagrammy’ cafe and restaurant serving 100% vegan food with locally sourced ingredients.
38 Westow Street
Kamari The Authentic Greek
Crystal Palace has a thriving Greek community so naturally one of the best cafes in the area is this authentic Greek one which not only serves up delicious Greek pastries and savouries but also has Greek products on sale that you wouldn’t be able to find in your typical supermarket.
Tip: When it’s hot out their Greek iced coffee is a delicious lifesaver.
25 Westow Street
Crystal Palace for Remote Workers and Digital Nomads
As a digital nomad, it can get quite tiring to work from home all of the time so I’m always on the lookout for different spaces to work in. Here’s my list of the best spots in Crystal Palace to remote work from:
Upper Norwood Library Hub
I could endlessly wax poetic about why libraries are the best human invention, but I’ll keep it short. The library in Crystal Palace is a great remote working spot for obvious reasons and it also has a coffee counter and of course BOOKS. You’ll need to sign up for a library card to get the use of their wifi, but it’s a very simple process and totally free. And you get to borrow books with it too. Enough said.
39 Westow Hill
Coopers
The cozy atmosphere and tasteful ’60s vibe of Coopers make it one of my favorite spots to plonk down and work for the day over many a coffee (and perhaps some brunch). It’s also very spacious so I never feel like I’m taking up space.
58-60 Westow Hill
Brown & Green
Ideally, on a nice day, I love working from the park. When my computer battery gets too low, or the weather takes a turn for the worse I head into the park cafe, Brown & Green Life, and recharge (both my computer battery and my food intake) there. There is also another Brown & Green on the Triangle itself which is also nice to work in, but I wouldn’t recommend the one in the station, as it’s quite small.
Crystal Palace Park Thicket Road
The Paxton Centre
Right across the street from the Crystal Palace Station entrance to the park lies a bright blue building called the Paxton Centre. It’s a cafe, art gallery, community hub, and co-working space all at once. You can either sit downstairs in the cafe area and use the wifi free of charge for an hour if you consume something, or sit upstairs in the dedicated coworking space for a fee of £6 (which includes a hot or cold drink) for three hours.
52 Anerley Hill
Best Places to Shop in Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace has so many cute independent shops. I’ve already written about the vintage and antiques market which is a must, but here are some other places not to miss:
The Bookseller Crow
Nothing gets me more excited than a bookstore, bonus points if it’s independent! Owned and run by Johnathan Main and Justine Crow since 1997, it’s the perfect place to go for a unique and well-thought-out recommendation.
50 Westow Street
Vintage Shopping
Crystal Palace is an amazing spot for vintage shopping. Some of my favorite spots are Bambino, a self-proclaimed “emporium of curiosities”; Vien Vintage, a vintage clothing store also selling eclectic knickknacks; and Crystal Palace Antiques, a four-storey antiques warehouse.
32 Church Road
87 Church Road
Imperial House, Jasper Road
Charity Shops
Going hand-in-hand with the vintage shops, Crystal Palace is also chock full of charity shops with some truly amazing finds sometimes. Any time I’m in need of something specific (like a golden shawl for a wedding, or a silk witch dress for Halloween, both incredible finds) chances are I’ll find it in one of them.
All around the Triangle
Crystal Palace Reptiles
Ok, so this one might be very specific to reptile and fish owners, but I just always loved how it looked. Crystal Palace Reptiles is a specialist pet shop selling all kinds of reptiles and fishes of course, but it also has all the cool tanks and accessories and related books.
54 Westow Street
The Vaults Collective
The Vaults Collective is such a cute plant shop and indoor oasis. Named for the old bank building it resides in, it’s truly a little jungle paradise in the middle of the Triangle. Best part is they also double as a cafe and serve delicious vegan cakes and specialty coffee.
61 Westow Hill
How to Get to Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace may not be located near the city center but it’s well-connected making it fairly easy to get to. There is a bus station, which connects Crystal Palace to many areas in London, and two nearby stations, Crystal Palace Station (convenient if you’re closer to the park) and Gipsy Hill Station (convenient if you’re closer to the north side of the Triangle).
Buses to Crystal Palace: 157, 249, 358, 410, 432, 3, 227, 322, 417, 122, 363, 450, 354, 202, N63, N137, N2, N3
Crystal Palace Station and Gipsy Hill: Popular trains go to London Bridge and London Victoria. The Overground also operates from Crystal Palace Station, going to Highbury and Islington.