Hidden Infrastructure: Discover London’s lost waterways and industrial past by bike

Join Open City to explore the footprint, route and present legacy of south east London’s long-lost Grand Surrey Canal

Led by architectural designer and artist Cameron Bray, this walking tour traces the path of the historic Grand Surrey Canal which fell victim to the expanding city in the 1970s. Passing waste incinerators, modernist housing estates, community centres and public libraries — the tour reveals the extraordinary past and present infrastructure hidden on the back streets of south east London. 

Starting at Stave Hill Ecological Park in Southwark and finishing off in Peckham, the tour focuses on themes of industry in the city, housing, waste, public space and redevelopment. It offers an insight into the past, present and possible futures of this corner of south east London.

Highlights include the Stirling Prize-winning Peckham Library, the celebrated Pepys Estate, Stave Hill Ecological Park, the incredible murals of the North Peckham Civic Centre, and the thriving industrial spaces of Surrey Canal Road.

Key Information 

Meet: Stave Hill, On corner of Dock Hill Avenue, London SE16 6SA

Duration 1.5-2 hours

Tour end: at the Western end of Burgess Park

Ticket cost: £5, with support from Thames Water.

 

Tours go ahead rain or shine….Tickets are non refundable. Get in touch with Adrianna at tours@open-city.org.uk with any queries

Meet the tour guide…

Cameron Bray is an architectural designer and artist with a passion for industry, waste and production. He co-founded Civic Soup collective ( civicsoup.co.uk ) in 2016, and alongside this is currently is working with Public Works and JA Projects. He previously led architecture tours of Edinburgh and joined the Open House tours team in Autumn 2020.