London has continuously been considered a recreation playground of many travellers especially Nigerians. However, the city is typically defined by several ethnic neighbourhoods such as British, Chinese, Nigerians, Latinos and many others. There are some neighbourhoods in London, which have been settled largely by Nigerians; and you will find high concentration of Naija people living in these areas.
We scouted round London for neighbourhoods that have high concentration of Nigerians and we found some amazing areas, which have the genuine Nigerian appearance – reminiscent of Nigeria, with its restaurants, stores, foodstuff and everything ‘Naija’ you can think of.
So, we present to you the 10 top Nigerian neighbourhoods in London:
1. Peckham
Photo by Livvy Adjei on Flickr
Peckham has become a centre of Nigerian-British life and culture in London. Peckham is somewhat called, “mini Lagos” because there is nothing in Lagos that you will not find in this area. Peckham is located within the London Borough of Southwark and you will find a large population of Nigerians living here. The neighbourhood features Nigerian restaurants, stores and shops filled with Nigerian-made imports including food stuffs.
Insider Tip: For delicious Nigerian delicacies, head to Lolak Afrique restaurant, where you will find a variety of Nigerian cuisine. If you ever miss Suya, visit Obalende Suya Restaurant and get Suya meat grilled over fire and seasoned with very hot spices.
2. Thamesmead
Photo Source: LagosinLondon
Located in the London Boroughs of Greenwich and Bexley, Thamesmead is one neighbourhood that is well integrated with many Nigerians. The district is bustling with plethora of ethnic restaurants, which offer a large variety of boiled, fried and cooked Nigerian delicacies. There is an array of shops and stores, owned by Nigerians, such as Ade’s Cash and Carry, John and Biola Supermarket and many more. These stores specialize in Nigerian imports, foods and other things you can find in any supermarket in Nigeria.
3. Abbey Wood
Photo Source: Mike Hedgethorne on Flickr
When you visit Abbey Wood, you will feel like you are in Nigeria. Abbey Wood is a district of South East London and located south of Thamesmead. In this neighbourhood, you get to meet ‘loud’ Nigerians on the street, speak your language and familiarize with each other. Abbey Wood has a reputation for Nigeria residents, along with great Naija restaurants and stores.
4. Woolwich
Photo Source: Maurice on Flickr
Woolwich has always played home to some Nigerian residents in London. The district is home to some Nigerian businesses, churches, shops and restaurants. You will never believe you are actually in London when you are in this area. You might want to visit Tasty African restaurant for Nigerian delicacies especially their puff puff.
5. Deptford
Photo Source: Wikipedia
Deptford is made up of relatively beautiful buildings and streets, and is considered a notable neighborhood for some Nigerians. Located in South-East London, on the south bank of River Thames; Deptford functions as home to several Nigerian stores filled with imports and produce from Nigeria. If you love Nigerian foods, you should probably visit Tomi’s Kitchen, where you will find the finest Nigerian beers, palm wine and delicacies.
6. Lewisham
Photo Source: Edewing Blog
Lewisham offers housing developments for its residents, the neighbourhood is perfect for families and that is why most Nigerians in London prefer living here. Dedicated Nigerian business owners have made Lewisham more Nigerian, a fascinating focal point for businesses such as Covenant Cargo, Wotas and many others. If you are craving for Nigerian foods, you should visit Enish Nigerian Restaurant and Grill for delicious home-made foods.
7. Erith
Photo Source: newsshopper.co.uk
Erith is perhaps best known as home of several ethnicities including Nigerians. The area comes alive with its wide selection of bars and restaurants, which attracts residents and visitors. Nigerian culinary setting is well represented in restaurants such as Eko Wine Bar and Restaurant, Anedo Restaurant and Bar and many others.
8. Old Kent Road
Photo Source: Geograph.org.uk
Old Kent Road is a road that forms part of Watling Street in South East London. This neighbourhood is home to some Nigerian mosques and churches, and of course, stores that sell produce from Nigeria. Nigerians seem to have infused life into the neighbourhood, with a variety of Nigerian restaurants and bars such as 805 restaurant, Presidential Suya and Wazobia restaurant. This neighbourhood is really a place to visit!
9. Camberwell
Photo Cropped from Google Street View
Crawberwell offers amazing restaurants, bakeries, stores and supermarkets that honour Nigerian culture and lifestyle. The area is teeming with entertainment venues, bars and clubs where you can mingle with Nigerian people and reminisce about home. If you are craving for authentic Nigerian foods, you should visit Emukay, Cannan restaurant, Legacy African Restaurant and many more.
10. Brixton
Brixton Market | Photo Cropped from Google Street View
For years, Nigerian immigrants have been setting up businesses and stores in Brixton. If you are looking for a place to get Nigerian groceries, where you can buy Yam, pepper, Okro, vegetables and perhaps even Garri, you should visit Brixton Market. This area is also speckled with small shops where residents can get everything Nigerian from produce to Nigerian clothing – Ankara and Lace materials. Nigerian restaurants are not hard to find as Brixton is surrounded with a variety of neighbourhood cafés.
Have you lived or visited any of these neighbourhoods? Share your experience with us in the comment below:
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Hahaha….dis is awesome!!! Mayb London jst became home to Nigerians..cool post.
No such place like Idumota abi Oshodi abe bridge….abi oja Eko
I’d love to be in all this places someday…
xo xo Beautiful… Gonna be there someday!!!
xo xo Beautiful… Gonna be there someday
Will want to visit some of this city soon to confirm it my self
The documentary is incomplete without any mention of Dalston market in London borough of Hackney. The ever bursting market pride of any thing -food, clothing; African nigerian culture you can think of. Things you get includes: snails, ugba for nkwobi, dried bush meat and fish. In fact u can buy ugu,utazi and ukasi(afam). Dalson kings land prides of resturants and joints such as Aso rock, mama ngozi and many more. What about Barking /Dagenham also a neighbourhood within east london borough. At Barking market u can be sure to get nigerian food stuffs and social life reminiscent of nigeria. Barking has Kings hotel and bar with nigerian/african menu. At kings evert last saturday of the month is “nigerian night” and clubbing.
great!!!
U really impress me more with your info, proudly naija thums up.
Nigerians are not dominate in east London on lik south, though we have limited Nigerians in Erith but is of same of barking bro
Yes oh, I thought as much that she missed out the popular place like that.
What of Liverpool?
Very nice article. While I lived in London I visited every single district mentioned above and lived in deptford, thamesmead and woolwich. I particularly remember john and biola foods in Thamesmead. Very nostalgic! Good one…
It is only SE London listed. I am sure some may not want to admit that Hammersmith and areas surrounding is home to a sizeable number of respectable Nigerians. Some of them had been there since the 60s. Let’s give aurhentic news and not what reinforces stereotypes.
Your list is wrong so wrong. Erith Brixton has no place here. Number 1 should be Woolwich, two Plumstead high street, three Lewisham. Haba, you people know London at all?
Wednesdays is the hottest day in Woolwich! This is when the shipment of fresh everything and anything lands in the shops!!! Ogiri, Ugba, Achara, Ube, Nchanwu, Nturukpa, Ede bu Ji, Eleke nti Oba, Uha, Uziza, Nmanu Eketeke, nmanya Ngwo, Oke rie onwo, Ose Utoro, Nkwa, Upupa, Udara, Ugu, Ugboghoro, Aki Awusa, Akara Olokoro, Nzu, Aziza, Ute, Ero, Emere n’otu, Nsisa, Cabin Buscuit, Choco Milo, Tom Tom, Harp, Gulder, Star … I could go on and on and on and on but these are the only things I bought pn Wednedsday!!!
really? that is home away fom home.
That’s interesting
What about listening to naija music on the street of Peckham and the paraga joint in Woolwich can not be forgotten with Asun so also is the nkwobi while u listen to naija music and most times KWAM1 Fiji music
I hope one day i would travel to all these places.
It’s really home away from home,very interesting.
I love the cities of london.Even with the facts that some neighborhood tend to look like some places in Nigeria,..there some places as well in d US too.But d feel that u are in a whiteman’s land shows,..d buildings,weather and d people.
I really love nigerians doing great over there in the UK can’t wait to be in the uk too
Home away from Home….. Nice One
i blv i wil b there oneday……….. I love to visit london
Would be here someday with special grace of GOD!!!
peckham is a known Ghetto in the Uk.
They colonised us so am not surprised. It’s British teritorry . But I’m happy some Nigerians are proud of their name.
I think brixton is predominantly jamaican zones..
Na so, no be lie. After whites, nigerians are next in London
Na lie, Jamoo and paki follow b4 nigga
Kemi, you missed out Barking. You literally are in ‘Lagos’ when you are around the Barking market/station areas. Food, dressing languages (Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa) just to mention a few.
I pray to almight God that one day I will be there by the special grace of God
Remembering my first time in Woolwich, it felt like Obalende!
i love dis
Yah, you got it all. Those places mentioned in the article and other places are homes away in U.K from home in Nigeria. You feel at home. I could remember a joint along New Cross Road in my days in S.E London years back – “Iyabo Onigbin alata sue-sue”. It is a drink joint where pepper snails are also being served. What a nice joint.
Best regards,
Aare MacFally
London here I come
So beautiful, it look more of mandela’s
Where you posted is very wrong because there is no African store in that particular area you posted. East Street market,dalston is another place you can talk of,also New Cross
*I mean in abbey wood
why do we have all these centres in southeast london, were they restricted. you also forgot to mention the average cost of having a nice meal in these places. e. g. two raps of pounded yam, egusi soup and two beef meat.
What happened to dalston market?this list is incomplete because it is restricted to South london or south east alone.Have you heard of NACO(iya Toheeb’s shop)?and several others?blessed on Mare street?Canning town nko?
I thought so too. I’ve been to all this markets, but none at the north or east doe
East Street Market is missing….It is off OLD KENT RD if you’re coming from Elephant & Castle. Nice collections, though.
Nigerians are creative
Despite the extremely high cost of living in london, its still quite significantly populated by africans. Majority of the districts mentioned however are rife with black on black crime. Apparently anywhere black man go e dey scatter d place lmao! Stabbings, robberies, burglaries etc. My cousin lived in brixton for decades and he got shot by jamaicans over a woman…he recovered from his injuries but never lived a normal life after the incident b4 passing on.
That’s being stereotype. There are bad eggs from all race and tribe known to man.
This is so nice I will be there soon by His grace
Before reading the post, I knew Peckam would top the list. I knew Thamestead and Woolwich would also make the list. I was expecting Plumestead too.
dis is very nice,i wish i’ll be there someday to witness tins myself instead of been told.jst wish dat day will cm.
We no dey carry last oh, 9ja we r too much
you guys missed out
1,- Daltston in Hackney . This is even bigger than Peckham . It’s number 1 and Peckham is 2
Followed closely by Liverpool Street
Including Wembley in NW London. There is calabar kitchen in Wembley
Lol abeg una don try, we go come there someday, but for nw evrybody get in own london d difference na location, com aba u go see say our roads fro land cars no dey drive am na flying boat we dey use, london dey use flying boat for road? Naija too much
I pray that God should take me to these wonderful cities and he should also connect me cos I want to travel abroad for business.
God help me to be in this country,I need to see all this places.