Streatham

The parish of Streatham covers more than 2,800 acres in the South West of London, and is known for its economic development, suburban buildings, and diverse population. The expansion of the railroad in the 1850’s spurred this growth, but was unwelcome to the 20% of the population who made their living in agriculture, and did not approve of the loss of green space.

The name Streatham literally means “hamlet on the street”, which was an appropriate name for many years as the markets and shopping areas flourished. In the 1950’s, a few of the larger stores in the area decided to move to more suburban parts of the county leaving large empty buildings in the town center. Finally, in the mid 1980’s, an aggressive council was able to entice merchants back to the flailing area, and it remains a bustling town once again with a wide array of theatres, cinemas, and restaurants. Take a drive in your car hire down Streatham High Street and stop off at one of the restaurants on perhaps the cinema or ice rink.