Dulwich is one of the oldest recorded villages in London. Now that it is a built-up area it is difficult to picture the lie of the land which might have attracted its first residents. Dulwich and East Dulwich cover a fertile valley between hills, Denmark Hill and Dog Kennel Hill to the north, Sydenham Hill and One Tree Hill, Honor Oak, to the south. The name of Dulwich may be a clue to what the neighbourhood was like in the distant past. It has been spelt in various ways, Dilwihs, Dylways, Dullag, and may come from two old English words, Dill, a white flower, and wish, meaning a damp meadow. Dulwich was 'the meadow where dill grows'.  The most prominent and influential names that features in the Dulwich area is Alleyn (The Mansion is situated at the bottom of Alleyn Park Road).  Edward or ‘Ned’ Alleyn was a prominent Thespian in the Elizabethan era and was the founder of both Alleyn School and Dulwich College and at the time (around 1605) owned the majority of the land that covered the area as described above…

The Mansion Dulwich is situated on Gipsy Road where it meets the end of the South Croxted Road and Alleyn Park Road at the bottom of Sydenham Hill (The Crystal Palace TV mast is a good landmark)

Trains
Nearest Station is Gipsy Hill trains go to Gipsy Hill from Victoria via Clapham Junction and London Bridge via Balham

Buses
From Brixton | From Clapham Common | From Sydenham  | Buses from Herne Hill