About Herne Hill in London

Herne Hill is a district in south London, England, approximately four miles from Charing Cross. It straddles the border of the London Boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark, and is within the historic county boundaries of Surrey. It is a pleasant, leafy suburb with a village feel, containing Victorian architecture and attractive open spaces. The main thoroughfare is Half Moon Lane.

The area was originally part of the Manor of Milkwell, which was owned by the Archbishop of Canterbury. It remained rural until the 19th century, when urbanisation began to spread from neighbouring areas such as Brixton and Camberwell. The arrival of the railways in the 1860s led to further growth, and Herne Hill station was opened in 1868.

The area is now popular with families and young professionals, and has a diverse population. It is home to the Herne Hill Velodrome, which hosted the track cycling events at the 1948 London Olympics, as well as a number of schools and parks.