Resident population
Southwark had 307,640 residents at the 2021 Census, up from 288,283 in 2011, forming a large customer base and workforce in South London.
Population at the 2021 Census
Discover local businesses, shops, restaurants, professional services and growing companies across Southwark, from Bermondsey and Borough to Peckham, Camberwell and Dulwich.
Explore key facts covering the borough’s population, transport links, business areas, geographical area, heritage and borough identity.
Southwark had 307,640 residents at the 2021 Census, up from 288,283 in 2011, forming a large customer base and workforce in South London.
Population at the 2021 CensusThe Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines serve stations including London Bridge, Borough, Canada Water and Elephant & Castle, with the London Overground at Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill and Surrey Quays, plus Thameslink, Southern and Southeastern rail services.
Tube, Overground and rail connectedBermondsey, Rotherhithe, Peckham, Camberwell and Dulwich are the borough’s main communities, alongside Elephant and Castle, Nunhead and Surrey Quays.
Key business locations across the boroughSouthwark is an Inner London borough in South London, bordering the City of London and Tower Hamlets across the Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham and, briefly, Bromley.
Approximately 29 square kilometresBurgess Park, Southwark Park, Dulwich Park and Peckham Rye Park sit alongside The Shard, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market.
Parks, culture and foodThe London Borough of Southwark was created on 1 April 1965 under the London Government Act 1963, merging the metropolitan boroughs of Southwark, Bermondsey and Camberwell.
Inner London borough in South London
The London Borough of Southwark is an Inner London borough on the south side of the River Thames, home to around 308,000 residents. Created in 1965 from the metropolitan boroughs of Southwark, Bermondsey and Camberwell, it brings together Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Peckham, Camberwell, Dulwich and Elephant and Castle, giving the borough a mix of riverside districts, historic markets, parks and busy local high streets.
For customers, Southwark offers busy high streets, markets, independent retailers, restaurants, cafés, healthcare providers, property specialists and professional services across its main business areas. For businesses, the borough provides access to a large local population, visitors drawn by The Shard, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market, and Underground, Overground and National Rail links across London.
Southwark combines Underground, Overground and National Rail links, major landmarks and markets, busy high streets and a large local customer base, creating opportunities for businesses of different sizes and sectors.
The Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines at London Bridge, Borough, Canada Water and Elephant & Castle, together with Overground stations at Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill and Surrey Quays and National Rail services from London Bridge, give businesses convenient access across London.
The Shard, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market and the Imperial War Museum draw visitors from across London and beyond, supporting demand for hospitality, retail, catering and local services.
Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Peckham, Camberwell, Dulwich and Elephant and Castle offer local high streets close to customers, with retail concentrations at Surrey Quays, Old Kent Road, Elephant & Castle and central Peckham.
London South Bank University, King’s College London at Guy’s, University of the Arts London (including Camberwell College of Arts) and Mountview in Peckham bring students and staff to the area who support restaurants, cafés and service providers.
Burgess Park, Southwark Park, Dulwich Park and Peckham Rye Park give businesses, residents and visitors access to open space alongside busy high streets and the Thames riverside.
With 307,640 residents at the 2021 Census, up from 288,283 in 2011, plus employers such as the professional services firms at More London and London Bridge City and the Greater London Authority at City Hall, Southwark offers businesses a large local market in South London.
Explore companies, professionals and local services operating throughout the London Borough of Southwark.
Customer reviews help people find trusted Southwark businesses and give local companies the credibility they need to attract more customers. Choose an option below to get started.
Discover popular business categories across the London Borough of Southwark. Whether you're looking for shops and retailers, restaurants and food providers, hospitality businesses or fashion boutiques, these categories make it easier to find local providers.
Southwark combines riverside districts, historic markets, major parks and green space, and Underground, Overground and National Rail links, with access to employment across retail, hospitality, culture, education, professional services and publishing.
Southwark offers a varied mix of housing across its districts, from Bermondsey and Rotherhithe to Peckham, Camberwell, Dulwich and Elephant and Castle, with regeneration under way in the Opportunity Areas.
Districts across the boroughHousing, retail and commercial costs can vary across the borough, so residents and businesses should compare costs carefully when choosing a location.
Costs vary by areaResidents, workers and visitors benefit from the Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines, Overground stations at Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill and Surrey Quays, and National Rail services from London Bridge and Elephant & Castle, plus Thames Clippers river services and bridges across the Thames.
Tube, Overground and railBurgess Park, Southwark Park, Dulwich Park, Peckham Rye Park, Nunhead Cemetery and Sydenham Hill Wood are among the borough’s best-known green spaces, with Burgess Park the largest, offering room for exercise, recreation and community events.
Parks and green spaceSouthwark is home to London South Bank University, King’s College London at the Guy’s Hospital site, University of the Arts London (including Camberwell College of Arts) and Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts, a source of skills and talent for businesses across the borough.
Universities and skillsEmployment spans professional services at More London and London Bridge City, publishing, retail at Surrey Quays, Old Kent Road and Elephant & Castle, and major institutions such as City Hall, home of the Greater London Authority.
Diverse employment opportunitiesLocal consideration: Southwark combines riverside districts, historic markets and large parks on the south side of the Thames. Property costs, transport access, customer footfall and the character of local business areas can vary between Bermondsey, Peckham, Camberwell, Dulwich and other parts of the borough.
Find answers about Southwark’s business environment, local areas, major industries, transport connections and how to use the London Business News Directory.
Explore common questions about living, working and doing business in the London Borough of Southwark.
Southwark is an Inner London borough in South London with around 308,000 residents, known for The Shard, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and Borough Market. It was created in 1965 by merging the metropolitan boroughs of Southwark, Bermondsey and Camberwell.
Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Peckham, Camberwell and Dulwich are the borough’s main communities, alongside Elephant and Castle, Nunhead and Surrey Quays. Business activity includes professional services at More London and London Bridge City, and retail at Surrey Quays, Old Kent Road, Elephant & Castle and central Peckham.
Borough Market, Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe and the Imperial War Museum draw visitors, while Peckham Library, Dulwich Picture Gallery and the Old Operating Theatre add to the culture on offer. Retail concentrations include Surrey Quays, Old Kent Road, Elephant & Castle and central Peckham.
Southwark supports businesses across professional services (including offices at More London and London Bridge City), press and publishing, retail, higher education, and public bodies such as City Hall, home of the Greater London Authority, alongside a wide range of local professional and personal services.
Yes. The Bakerloo, Jubilee and Northern lines serve stations including London Bridge, Borough, Canada Water and Elephant & Castle, the Overground serves Peckham Rye, Denmark Hill and Surrey Quays, and Southern, Southeastern and Thameslink run from stations such as London Bridge. Thames Clippers river services and bridges including Tower Bridge and London Bridge link the borough with the City.
Select “List Your Business,” create an account and submit your business information. The listing can then be reviewed before publication in the London Business News Directory.