The much-loved Brockwell Park takes up the majority of this neighbourhood, only making way for a sliver of residential Herne Hill to its north, which is squeezed between lively Brixton and the stuffy Dulwich Village. The sprawling green space is favoured by dog walkers, picnickers, and fitness fanatics, who can make use of tennis courts and the famous Brockwell Lido, which includes a gym and hydrotherapy centre. The flats that make up the rows of handsome Victorian terraces that spread out from the north of the park are popular with families, and with Herne Hill station providing Overground services into town, and Brixton tube station not far away, the neighbourhood has quickly become a popular hub for commuting young professionals. The bustling high streets of Effra Road and Brixton Road mean that local amenities are never far away, and a thriving nightlife and live music scene has made the area a popular destination for revellers from across the city.

This once rural area was part of the medieval manor of Milkwell. Landowners began to build a small number of homes for the wealthy during the 18th century, but their protectiveness over the fertile land limited any wide scale development. Brockwell Hall was built in 1813, and was later acquired by the London County Council, who opened the land to the public in 1891. Upon the unveiling of the park, local MP Thomas Lynn Bristowe died of a heart attack as people entered for the first time. A further 43 acres were purchased in 1901, and by 1920 the park had 13 cricket pitches that regularly attracted crowds of over 1,500. During the 20th century much of the park was still used for grazing animals, with three ‘Pig Clubs’ used for food production during the Second World War. In 2012, a bust of Thomas Bristowe was unveiled in the park to celebrate its 120th birthday.

Brockwell Park is a regular location for a number of large events. It is home to the Lambeth Country Show which attracts up to 150,000 people, as well as music festivals such as Found, Sunfall, and Field Day. It also has a long history of hosting music events, with Rock Against Racism in 1978 and 1979, which featured Elvis Costello and Aswad respectively. Many events have been held here since then.

Despite its long heritage of hosting events, some locals have complained of disruptive noise and pollution in and around Brockwell Park. Also, a number of local businesses have been shut down recently because of rising rent, which is making it impossible for owners to remain in the area. One such case was a local, independent toyshop that was forced to close after Dulwich Estate, which looks after the commercial interests of powerful public schools, raised its rent by 70%.

The Lambeth borough local plan has outlined a desire to improve on the already significant developments made to Herne Hill and its surrounding areas. The council wishes to improve the station by reducing congestion on the platform, and improving accessibility. It is hoped that such schemes will help alleviate strain caused by the increased popularity of Brockwell Park. North of here work is underway on the Higgs Yard development at the northern end of Herne Hill Road. Scheduled for completion in 2023, this mixed use scheme will provide 134 new homes and over 4,000 m2 of commercial floorspace.