Local history walks
Walking around the borough is an excellent way to learn about the history of Lambeth. On foot you'll see much more than you ever would from a car or train, and you'll discover places in Lambeth that you never knew existed.
You can download guides (including maps) of these walks at the foot of this page.
Black History walk
From the roots of carnival in Britain to the riots of 1981, Lambeth has always been at the forefront of London's Black cultural life.
As the site of Europe's largest African-Caribbean street markets and cultural centres, it is still a magnet for new immigrants and visitors alike. But the influence of African-Caribbean culture in the borough is not a modern development. People of African origin have been connected to Lambeth since the late 17th century. Lambeth's Black History Walk traces the footsteps of some famous and not so famous Black Londoners.
The walk should take just under two hours and is suitable for all ages as well as for those with disabilities.
Brixton to Ruskin Park walk
This walk has been put together by Lambeth Council to help you discover more about Brixton and the surrounding areas of Herne Hill and Ruskin Park.
Brixton is right at the heart of Lambeth. Here, you'll find the market, the town hall, the Ritzy cinema and a huge number of other things to see and do. As you walk, you'll pass through two of Lambeth's most popular parks and see some of the wildlife on offer.
The walk starts at the Brixton Tate Library and ends further along Coldharbour Lane, just past Loughborough Junction Station.
To make the walk circular you can head back along Coldharbour Lane on foot (about 10 minutes) or take the bus. The walk takes around two hours to complete.
Clapham and slavery - a historic walk
The parishes of Holy Trinity and St Paul's Clapham constitute one very small part of South London. Yet within their boundaries lie connections to almost every aspect of the transatlantic slave trade - from slave uprisings and the beginnings of the 'Back to Africa' movement to the roots of the anti-slavery movement, as well as the legacy of those who grew rich on the trade in human lives.
This walk, commissioned by Lambeth Council as part of its commemoration of the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in 2007, takes you on a tour around Clapham and uncovers some of the area's powerful historical links with both the slave trade and the battle to abolish it.
The circular route is less than one and a half miles long and can be walked in under an hour.