Elephant and Castle Area Guide

Before acquiring its unique name, the land which would eventually become Elephant and Castle was occupied by a village known as Newington. The name is thought to derive from a tavern that established itself in the area in the 18th Century and is still present today under the same name on Elephant & Castle’s famous roundabout junction.

Located just south of Waterloo, Elephant & Castle is Zone 1 and 2, on the Northern and Bakerloo lines and also has a mainline train station. It is equidistant between the West End and the City, both less than two miles away, making it a commuter’s dream.
 
Currently a work in progress, Elephant’s estates have come down and are being replaced by shiny new towers as part of a massive £1.5 billion regeneration. By 2025, more than 3,000 new homes will have been built, making this part of the capital a major hub for inner South London.  The makeover also includes a new shopping centre and civic square, tram routes and a new library which will all revive an area that already has so much potential.

Until such time, transient sites have been filled with community gardens, galleries and temporary container parks. The current shopping centre has a good selection of shops such as Tesco Metro, WHSmiths, Boots and Clarks, plus the outside market with fresh fruit and veg and clothing. The existing architecture includes blitz surviving Victorian terraces, new build houses and apartments, period conversions and ex-local houses or flats.
 
Being home to two major universities – London College of Communication and Southbank University, you will find a fair few watering holes and night clubs, including the world famous Ministry of Sound. Corsica Studios and The Coronet are also popular spots.