Discover London’s Historic Streets: The Roupell Street Conservation Area
Just a stones throw from the hustle and bustle of Waterloo Station lies a real London gem: The Roupell Street Conservation Area. Exploring these streets is a glimpse back into the 19th century.
Rows of Georgian terraces made of solid London brick alongside historic details like boot scrapers and ghost signs make these streets some of the most atmospheric in London.
It’s a bit of old London that has survived a lot, including the Blitz and modern redevelopment. Now it’s a beautiful place, conservation area of historical significance and a popular location for TV, film and curious visitors like me.
Roupell Street: A Quick History
I love a bit of history and since we’re chatting about a conservation area, it makes sense, doesn’t it?
The Roupell Street Conservation Area, made up of Roupell Street and neighbouring Theed Street, Whittlesey Street and Cornwall Road, was built by business man John Roupell in the 1800’s.
The homes were built for working class people- artisans, tradesmen and industrial workers. Although the terraces with the distinctive London ‘butterfly’ roofs weren’t built for luxury, they were well built. These are homes of real London brick, solid chimneys and sturdy wooden window frames.
A blue plaque style sticker in one window celebrates one of the original residents: Sarah Halliday, seamstress of bonnet crowns, lodged in Roupell St in 1861 in a two bed house that was home to two families, eleven people in total.
Now, these old homes on historic London streets are less crowded, much sought-after and priced accordingly. You’ll need a couple of mil. to buy in here, luckily it costs nothing to wander and admire.
Roupell Street Conservation Area on Screen
If these streets look or feel familiar, you’ve probably seen them on screen. These streets are amongst the most popular London filming locations. For example, you might have spotted them in:
Call the Midwife: Standing in for the back streets of the old East End
Legend: Recreating the streets the Kray brothers knew in the 60’s.
Mrs Harris Goes to Paris: Set in Battersea but filmed on Roupell Street and at the local pub, The Kings Arms.
The streets that make up the conservation area are incredibly popular for photo shoots and filming, especially for vintage themed projects. Film crews must love it, these streets won’t take much dressing to pass for another era.
Visiting Roupell Street Today
Whether your a history lover, hunting down a London filming location or are just seeking out some quieter streets to explore, I think it’s worth visiting this corner of the city. Being so close to Waterloo Station, the Roupell Conservation area is really easy to weave into your London plans.
While you’re wandering, do a bit of vintage car spotting. There always seems to be a few about, and they really look the part in front of the old houses. Adding to the time capsule feel of these streets.
The whole place really does make you feel like you could turn a corner and walk into a different decade, Goodnight Sweetheart style ( that’s a show that wasn’t filmed here, sadly. I checked )
In keeping with that feeling are the old street name signs. The modern signage is classic London style, but the ghosts of the old signage is still there.
Alongside the street signs, you might spot some old plaques shaped like clasping hands or a sun. These are fire insurance marks. Back in the day before the Fire Brigade, homes would need to be insured to call out a private fire service should they need it. The marks showed which homes were insured.
If you zoom in on the picture below, you should be able to spot one under the red security alarm box.
Places to Eat & Drink nr. Roupell Street.
Konditor
If all the wandering, vintage car spotting and old-London day dreaming leaves you fancying a little something, head to Konditor. It’s a beautiful little bakery with a German connection.
You won’t miss it, look for the pretty pink shop front.
The White Hart
A historic pub offering a warm welcome and a contemporary menu. Great spot to stop for a bite to eat in relaxed surroundings without straying too far out of Central London.
Take a moment to appreciate the green and white exterior tiles on the way in, it’s believed that they are Doulton. They are certainly very pretty, very vintage London.
The Union Jack Club
The member’s club for serving and veteran Armed Forces personnel is located just a short walk from Roupell Street. Members and their guests are welcome to use the facilities including the UJC lounge, restaurant and bar.
Full Guide to membership & staying at the Union Jack Club here
I hope I’ve inspired you to include Roupell Street and the surrounding neighborhood in your future travel plans. Exploring these streets is a fantastic free thing to do in London and really does feel like a glimpse into the past.
If you liked this post, try this old street themed read next : Vicars Close & the Swans of Wells
Helen x
What a great hidden gem!
Thanks for coming along Tanja, maybe a place for your next London trip?
Might be😄
Cool! Love discovering new hidden gems in my former home town! Now I know where we will visit next time in London. Thanks👍
Thanks for coming along! Always something to find in London, I’ll never be done with it.
Totally agree! We try to see/find 1 new area every time we go to London, and new pubs of course.
This was an enjoyable browse, Helen. An area I don’t know at all xx
Thanks, Jo. I’ve been to this part of London many times before I discovered these streets. London is the gift that keeps giving!
Yes, I would agree with that, even from the days when I lived there…in another life, Helen xx
A great write-up of this historic corner of London which, as you say, relatively few people are aware of. Your photos really capture its charm too.
Thanks Sarah. Couldn’t believe how many times I’ve been in that part of London and completely missed those streets!
Great shout out
Thanks Sheree
Helen, I loved this tour – lots of history within…ya just gotta know where to look sometimes. I also loved your link to the “Vicars Close & the Swans of Wells.” That video of the swans made my day!🦢
Thanks for coming along, Bruce! The swans are very charming, it was a lovely to capture them in action.
Well. This is an area I hadn’t heard of at all. I’ll high-tail it there next time I’m in London. And then take myself to the German bakery!
The bakery with a German twist was a nice little find, history and cake is a good combo.
Lovely introduction to the area. I think I’ll need a year or more just to explore London
So much London, so little time!
What a great, old neighbourhood. I’ve never heard of it, and so don’t know any films made there, but it does seem familiar, so I’m sure I’ve seen many. Maggie
It’s one of those places that just feels familiar, a beautiful corner of London to explore even if you don’t know it from the big screen.
I’m another who hasn’t heard of this area. Looks interesting!
Very interesting, certainly worth a visit if you have the opportunity.
Always looking for something new when we visit London…. I’ll save this
Glad I could introduce you to Roupell Street. It’s definitely worth a look!
You can certainly see that the area makes a wonderful vintage film location. I will have to rewatch Mrs Harris goes to Paris. The bakery looks lovely as well. X
Mrs Harris is my go-to cosy watch, it’s such a lovely film. Does give me low key dreams of Dior! Roupell Street is definitely the place for vintage day dreams ( and cake)
Interesting! I watched “Legend” on the big screen roughly 10 years ago (Tom Hardy playing both Ronnie and Reggie Kray was admirable), so seeing this stretch brought back memories.
I love Legend! I’m one of the 1% of British women who doesn’t particularly fancy Tom Hardy ,although his talent is immense. It was actually spotting the street and knowing I knew it from the screen that got me digging into this area.
Just did a second take on your post — and now I remember the opening scene of “Legend”. If memory serves me correctly, it’s the Krays driving down this street with Frankie Shea behind the wheel — then Frankie pulls over to the kerb.
That move had a lot of familiar faces too: David Thewlis, Sam Spruell (Oleg Malankov in “Taken 3”), Paul Bettany (who played Vision in Marvel’s Avengers franchise), Emily Browning (all grown up), Taron Eggerton (Eggsy from “Kingsman”), and even an appearance from Welsh singer Duffy!
It’s a great movie, creatively and technically.
Great post Helen and it’s somewhere I knew nothing about.
Thankyou. I think a lot of people probably pass these streets by without knowing it. I certainly did!
How wonderful to learn about such a hidden gem so close to Waterloo Station Helen. I’ll definitely be checking Roupell Street out when I have time!
I hope you can squeeze in a visit next time you’re in London, it’s such a charming corner of the city.
What a lovely area of London – it’s a bit like Woburn Walk near Kings X which is of a similar era. I really must visit this beautiful little conservation area when I next have free time in the capital 🙂
Oh I’ve not heard of Woburn Walk, I’ll have to look that one up next time I’m heading into London. It really is a wonderful city, so much to discover.
This is a great London tip Helen, and one that I’m definitely adding to our list for when we are next in the city. How fantastic that most of the history and authenticity of these buildings have been preserved.
It’s incredible isn’t it? Not many London streets escape development.