Stockwell facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stockwell |
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 Flats on Grantham Rd. |
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 Stockwell
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| OS grid reference | TQ305755 |
| London borough | |
| Ceremonial county | Greater London |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LONDON |
| Postcode district | SW4, SW8, SW9 |
| Dialling code | 020 |
| Police | Metropolitan |
| Fire | London |
| Ambulance | London |
| EU Parliament | London |
| UK Parliament |
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| London Assembly |
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Stockwell is a lively area in South West London, England. It is part of the London Borough of Lambeth. Stockwell is located about 2.4 miles (3.9 km) south of Charing Cross, a famous spot in central London.
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History of Stockwell
The name "Stockwell" likely comes from an old local well. "Stoc" is an Old English word meaning a tree trunk or post. For many centuries, from the 1200s to the early 1800s, Stockwell was a quiet countryside area on the edge of London. It had farms that grew vegetables for market.
A famous plant collector named John Tradescant had a special garden here. Today, Tradescant Road is built where his garden once was. There's also a memorial to him near St Stephen's church. In the 1800s, Stockwell grew into a fancy area for middle-class families. The artist Arthur Rackham, known for his fairy tale illustrations, was born nearby. He later moved to Albert Square in Stockwell.
In the 1900s, Stockwell changed a lot. The area around the Stockwell tube station was rebuilt after World War II. The original tube station was replaced twice, most recently in 1971. Stockwell also has many social housing estates, which are homes provided by the local council. However, you can still find beautiful old buildings from the 1800s in areas like Stockwell Park Conservation Area. One important modern building is the Stockwell Bus Garage. Before 1889, Stockwell was actually part of Surrey county, not London.
Fun Places to Visit
- Stockwell Bus Garage
- London Deep Level Shelters (old air-raid shelters)
- Stockwell War Memorial Clocktower
- Jean Charles de Menezes Memorial
- Former Annie McCall Hospital, Jeffries Road
- Stockwell skateboard park
Schools in Stockwell
Stockwell has several schools for children and young adults. These include St Stephen's, Allen Edwards, and Stockwell Primary School. There is also a campus of Lambeth College for older students. Other schools in the wider Stockwell area are Platanos College (a secondary school), Lansdowne School, and Van Gogh Primary.
Churches in Stockwell
Stockwell has many different churches. Besides Anglican and Catholic churches, there are also many churches for the Afro-Caribbean communities. Some of these groups share church buildings with older congregations. C.A.C. Stockwell is one example of an Afro-Caribbean church in the area.
Who Lives in Stockwell?
Stockwell is known for its diverse community. It is home to one of the UK's largest Portuguese communities. This area is sometimes called 'Little Portugal'. Many Portuguese residents come from Madeira and Lisbon. They have opened many cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and shops.
Stockwell also has many people from the Caribbean and West Africa. You can find their cafes, grocery stores, and barber shops all around Stockwell.
Many famous people have lived in Stockwell. Some well-known former and current residents include musician David Bowie, former Prime Minister John Major, actress Joanna Lumley, and footballer Paul Davis. Even the famous painter Vincent van Gogh lived here for a short time!
Nearby Areas
Places Close to Stockwell
- Brixton
- Vauxhall
- Kennington
- Clapham
- Battersea
- South Lambeth
- Camberwell
- Elephant and Castle
Getting Around Stockwell
Trains and Underground
Stockwell does not have its own main railway station. However, Wandsworth Road is nearby.
London Underground (Tube)
Stockwell tube station is a very important transport hub. It is served by two major London Underground lines: the Victoria and the Northern.
To the south, the Victoria line goes one stop to Brixton. The Northern line goes all the way to Morden, connecting Stockwell to places like Clapham and South Wimbledon.
To the north, the Victoria line travels through Central London. It stops at popular stations like Victoria, Oxford Circus, and King's Cross St Pancras. The Northern Line goes north towards Kennington and Camden Town. Most Northern Line trains from Stockwell go through the City of London, stopping at Elephant & Castle and Bank. Some trains go via Waterloo and Charing Cross. Further north, the Northern line connects Stockwell to Edgware and High Barnet.
Other nearby tube stations include Brixton (Victoria line) and Clapham North (Northern line) to the south. To the north, you can find Vauxhall (Victoria line) and Oval (Northern line). In 2017, over 11 million people used Stockwell tube station!
National Rail & London Overground
While Stockwell doesn't have its own National Rail station, you can find several nearby:
- At Brixton, you can catch Southeastern trains to places like Dulwich and Orpington.
- At Vauxhall, South Western Railway trains go to Surrey and Berkshire.
- London Overground trains stop at Wandsworth Road and Clapham High Street. These trains connect Stockwell to places like Clapham Junction and Shoreditch.
Roads in Stockwell
Several important roads run through Stockwell:
- The A23 (Brixton Road) goes towards Brixton, Streatham, and Gatwick Airport.
- The A202 (Kennington Oval) leads to Vauxhall or Camberwell and towards Kent.
- The A203 (Stockwell Road/South Lambeth Road) connects the A202 and A23.
- The A3 (Clapham Road) goes to Elephant & Castle and the City, or towards Guildford and Portsmouth.
- Other roads include the A2217 (Acre Road) and the A3036 (Wandsworth Road).
These main roads are managed by Transport for London (TfL). Most other roads in Stockwell are for local residents.
Air Quality Concerns
Because many busy roads pass through Stockwell, there have been concerns about air quality. Studies have looked at how tiny particles (called PM2.5) and gases like Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) affect the air. Road traffic is a main source of these pollutants. The local council monitors air quality on Clapham Road in Stockwell to help improve it.
Buses and Coaches
Many London Buses routes serve Stockwell, including routes 2, 50, 88, 155, 196, 333, 345, P5, N2, and N155. Some National Express Coaches also pass through Stockwell. You can catch coaches here to places like Gatwick Airport, Worthing, and Eastbourne.
Cycling in Stockwell
Stockwell is a good area for cyclists.
- Cycle Superhighway 7 (CS7) runs through Stockwell on Clapham Road. It has special lanes to keep cyclists separate from cars. This route connects Stockwell to Colliers Wood in the south and the City of London in the north.
- Just north of Stockwell, Cycle Superhighway 5 (CS5) meets CS7. This route links Victoria to Stockwell with a dedicated cycle track.
- Quietway 5 (Q5) offers a calmer route on residential streets in northern Stockwell. It's a signposted path to Clapham or Waterloo.
Many road junctions in Stockwell have special features for cyclists. You can also use Santander Cycles, London's bike-sharing system, in Stockwell.
See also
In Spanish: Stockwell para niños
