Old Kent Road

Old Kent Road is a road spanning over 3 km through South London, running from Elephant and Castle toward Peckham via Bermondsey and Walworth. It carries numerous bus routes and serves as a main thoroughfare linking various neighborhoods in the southern part of the city.

This road has roots in Roman times as part of Watling Street, the main route connecting London to Dover. It became a crucial pathway for medieval pilgrims traveling to Canterbury and remained significant for trade and travel for centuries.

The road appears in Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and became famous as the first property on the British Monopoly board, marking its place in popular culture. It remains a everyday route that locals use to move between neighborhoods rather than a destination in itself.

Several bus routes run along this road, connecting to central London and surrounding areas with regular service. The street is busy with traffic, so walking here means staying alert and using sidewalks carefully.

St Thomas-a-Watering on this road was where public executions took place during Tudor times, particularly of religious dissenters. Few visitors realize they are walking past the site of such dark historical events.

Location: London Borough of Southwark

Part of: A2 road

GPS coordinates: 51.48390,-0.06635

Latest update: December 20, 2025 00:46