It is thought that the name ‘Camberwell’ originates from the old name for a British well, ‘Comberwell’, mainly because the area was known for having a plentiful supply of wells in Grove Park.

Situated centrally in the London Borough of Southwark, Camberwell is extremely popular with both tourists and residents due to its central location. One of the main attractions of this area is the range of architecturally beautiful Georgian houses which have been impressively restored over the years. In particular, the regions of Camberwell Grove and Grove Lane are known for these types of houses. Modern needs are also dealt with by a large number of tower blocks.

Visitors are often attracted to the Tate Modern and the wonderful range of riverside attractions that fringe Camberwell.

Camberwell is connected to central London by Camberwell Road in the north and Camberwell New Road in the west. It is very well served by bus routes: its location means that it is easy to travel into central London with journey times of 12-20 minutes, though often much longer in the rush hour.

The local ethnic mix includes a large proportion of people of Caribbean and African descent. The area is also popular with art students, as it is home to the Camberwell College of Arts (part of the University of the Arts London - formerly the London Institute) on Peckham Road. Goldsmiths College is found in nearby New Cross with many students living in Camberwell. King's College London (part of the University of London) also has a hall of residence (King's College Hall) on nearby Champion Hill. Camberwell has a thriving gay community.