GOING OUT
Peckham boasts some of the best bars, pubs and live music venues in South-East London. The Prince of Peckham, The Red Bull, John the Unicorn and The Nags Head are popular after-class hotspots for Mountview students. Franks Cafe is a seasonal rooftop bar and Social is a local bar/cafe/event space nestled in the centre of Copeland Park. Students can visit CLF Art Lounge for live performance, cabaret and comedy, and keep the night going with Peckham Audio or JUMBI for unique sounds and dance music.
"We love The Peckham Pelican because of its cute vibe, plus it's really artsy, comfy and cosy - nice pizza and outdoor area. Or The Red Bull, which is where all the students hang out!"
MA Creative Producing cohort
EATING AND DRINKING
Peckham is one of London’s most diverse communities and this is reflected in the incredible plethora of food available. Student favourites in the immediate local area include Filishack for Filipino street food, Yemanes’ Food Truck for the tastiest wraps this side of the river (walk past John the Unicorn and take the first left), and Market Place Peckham for an exciting array of cuisines all under one roof.
If you’re looking for good coffee and a sweet treat, try the independent Westland Coffee & Wine – conveniently located just inside the entrance to the Mountview building. Other cafe options include South London Louie, Petitou and Blackbird Bakery.
Local chain supermarkets include Morrisons, Lidl, Sainsbury’s Local, Tesco Express, and Asda. Rye Lane also offers a range of independent grocery shops and market stalls.
"I love Little Louie in South London Gallery! The gallery itself is free, so always great to see what’s going on. The food and coffee is fab - it’s a great place to work and have meetings."
Jess Smith
MA Theatre Direction
GREEN SPACES
Close to Mountview, Burgess Park has sports pitches, tennis courts, BMX tracks, a boxing gym, fishing lakes and fitness equipment. On Saturdays, there is a free organised 5K Park Run.
Situated inside Burgess Park, Glengall Wharf Gardens, provides the perfect backdrop to slow down and take a quiet stroll. The gardens are also now home to Community Sauna Baths – offering £5 concessionary student pricing Thursday to Sunday.
Peckham Rye is a beautiful green space bordering Nunhead, East Dulwich and Peckham which hosts numerous recreational activities throughout the year. Each May it is taken over by GALA, an independent community-driven festival born from a love of organic, warm, and soulful sounds.
"Bellenden Road is great for cafes, shops, restaurants. Nice spot to take my dog for a stroll at the weekend and grab a coffee!"
Alan Pearson
Head of Acting
ARTS, CULTURE & LIFESTYLE
Peckham is well-known for its vibrant arts scene, including Peckham Platform who champion local emerging artists, and South London Gallery which is free to enter.
Peckham Levels is a revamped multi-storey carpark offering artist studios, creative workshops, exhibitions and social spaces with food vendors/bars. Opening seasonally, Bold Tendencies is an internationally renowned exhibition spotlighting both established and emerging artists, with a programme that includes visual art, dance, poetry, opera and readings.
Peckhamplex is Rye Lane’s well-known and well-loved local cinema, with ticket prices fixed at £5.99. Close by is Copeland Park and Bussey Building, formerly a cricket bat factory and now home to an abundance of independent businesses including restaurants, bars, galleries, fitness studios and an open-air rooftop cinema.
For fitness, try Peckham Pulse offers a gym, swimming pool, fitness classes and a sauna/steam room, and is directly opposite Mountview. Southwark residents can use the facilities for free on the weekends and students can access discounted membership rates.
"Glengall Wharf Gardens is a wonderful community garden that hosts yoga, various creative and craft events, free community lunches once a month, and a cracking community sauna too. Plus gardening and lovely wildlife!"
Matthew Coulton
Senior Movement Tutor
THEATRE
Training at Mountview means a world of incredible theatre right on your doorstep.
- Find out what’s on with OfficialLondonTheatre.co.uk
- Some theatres run daily ticket lotteries for discounted tickets for performances on the day, while others offer discounted tickets from their box office at 10am.
- The TKTS ticket booth offers heavily discounted tickets for a variety of popular West End shows. You can buy tickets in-person or online at tkts.co.uk
- Mountview students are often provided with free or discounted tickets to specific shows – these offers will be sent to your Mountview email.
- Many theatre run discount ticket schemes specifically for young people – these include the Donmar Warehouse, Almeida Theatre, National Theatre and English National Opera.
MUSEUMS, GALLERIES & ATTRACTIONS
London has many world-class museums and art galleries, many of which are free to enter:
- Tate Modern and Tate Britain
- The V&A
- The British Museum
- National Gallery
- National Portrait Gallery
- The Science Museum
- The Natural History Museum
- The British Library
The Student Art Pass scheme provides free or reduced-price entry to hundreds of museums, galleries and historic houses, and 50% off major exhibitions.
Major sightseeing opportunities include:
- The Tower of London
- Westminster Abbey
- Trafalgar Square
- Buckingham Palace
- The London Eye
- The Houses of Parliament
- The Shard
A London Pass will give you free entry to 60+ London attractions, tours and museums.
