_Spotlight on Woolwich: the new creative hotspot in London
The riverside town of Woolwich in south east London was once a thriving dockyard, whose history can be traced back to Roman times, where its original name ‘Vuluuich’ was discovered in legal records dating 918BC. King Henry VIII established it as a royal dockyard between 1512-13, and it's where the flagship of his navy fleet, the Henry Grâce à Dieu, was built.
Its military connections continued when in 1805, a group of establishments in Woolwich Warren became known as the Royal Arsenal. Today, an ambitious new investment is set to make Woolwich a big player in London’s arts and culture scene.
The next cultural quarter
Dubbed as ‘London’s next cultural quarter’ the Woolwich Creative District has been renamed Woolwich Works following a public vote and the £31million council-led development has seen five historic industrial buildings (totalling 15,000 sqm) under refurbishment. These spaces are due to open in 2020.
A number of creative companies have already decided to reside in Woolwich, such as pioneering theatre company Punchdrunk, Europe’s first majority black and minority ethnic orchestra Chineke Orchestra and the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair.
Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair
This year, Knight Frank sponsored the Woolwich Contemporary Print Fair, London’s only event dedicated solely to contemporary printmaking. It’s also the largest of its kind in the UK.
The fair celebrated every aspect of printmaking from etching and lithography, to woodblock and screen-printing.
Why live in Woolwich?
Woolwich already hosts the annual Tall Ships Festival, where visitors can watch boats or cruise up and down the River Thames on some of the world’s most spectacular vessels. In terms of connectivity, there are two train stations: Woolwich Dockyard and Woolwich Arsenal, and you can also walk or cycle all the way to Greenwich via the Thames Path and catch some beautiful views of the river.
According to the Royal Borough of Greenwich, locals will enjoy a 70% discount off the space used by cultural organisations and local community groups.
It’s also expected that the newly revamped area will create more than 400 local jobs, in addition to roles during construction.
What about housing? If you’re thinking about moving to Woolwich, then Royal Arsenal Riverside may be the place for you.
Royal Arsenal, Riverside, SE18
Royal Arsenal Riverside is an award-winning blend of old and new, where historic listed buildings meet contemporary designs. It’s part of an exciting regeneration of the historic riverside location in Woolwich.
Residents can enjoy first class amenities such as The Waterside Club’s luxury spa and fitness facilities, which includes a 20m swimming pool and 24-hour concierge. Everyday essentials are well catered for with on-site doctor and dentist surgeries, M&S food, Tesco Express, a pharmacy, and a Zipcar car share club to name a few.
Foodies will also love the food and drink scene at Royal Arsenal Riverside. Gourmet delights include the sophisticated Boulangerie Jade café, Dial Arch Young’s gastro-pub and the award-winning Con Gusto restaurant.
If you'd like to speak to an agent or book a viewing, contact our Woolwich team.