This area represents the eastern portion of Belvedere, bordering Lessness Heath as well as the industrial zone to the north facing the River Thames. The industrial and residential areas are divided roughly by the railway line, which runs through the centre of the postcode sector. In the hillier south, the locality is surrounded by suburban housing, alongside a few green areas in between, such as a park near Holly Hill as well as the 16-hectare Franks Park (also known as Belvedere Park), which contains one of the 12 new cycling trails in south east London. Farther to the south, Northumberland Heath Recreation Ground is another large green site. The High Street is located just west of the area along Nuxley Road, however Lower Road to the north contains a few schools, stores and the Belvedere Community Centre.

To the north, industry prevails. Indeed, this is one of the largest manufacturing areas in London – amongst the notable sites in the area are the Lidl Distribution Depot as well as Cory Riverside Energy, which turns non-recyclable waste into energy, as well as the many wharves alongside the river. Eastern Way and Bronze Age Way cut through this area, connecting Belvedere from Woolwich to Dartford.

Belvedere is derived from Italian, meaning ‘beautiful view’, referring to the view of the River Thames from on top of the hills of Belvedere, which is where settlement initially started and is on relatively high ground. The town originated with the Belvedere torn down at different times and replaced; unfortunately, the estate would eventually be broken up in 1864; nearly a century later in 1959, the last house of the estate would be demolished. Meanwhile, the village of Belvedere emerged near Lessness Heath, exploding in growth when the railway came in the mid-1800s. Upper Belvedere (which confusingly, is to the south – the upper refers to the relatively elevated terrain) attracted the wealthier city commuters, where as Lower Belvedere (today’s industrial area), the less wealthy.

In 1864 the area was the site of a huge explosion, which entirely flattened two large gun powder factories that supplied Belvedere with much of its income and employment. The explosion was heard more than 50 miles away, and the shockwaves were so intense that those in the city thought they felt an earthquake. Despite its size, the bang only injured 20 people.

The area’s remote location means that travel into the city is rather inconvenient. Moreover, commuting can become incredibly expensive, especially when travelling at peak times.

As the centre of the Thames Gateway, Bexley Riverside, which includes Belvedere and its surroundings, has been indicated as one of London’s new Opportunity Areas, with a minimum potential for 4000 new homes. Bexley Council has consequently been focusing much of its attention on its riverside areas, with special attention being placed on East Belvedere and nearby Erith. In 2022 the Erith Riverside Shopping Centre was sold to BYM Capital with the likely plan to redevelop the shopping centre into a mixed-use commercial and residential development. That same year, Bexley Council approved plans to redevelop the Riverside Gardens in Erith, which aims to deliver enhancements to the Thames Promenade.

There are also plans in the works for the regeneration of Belvedere as a whole. Branded as ‘New Belvedere’, the area is being reinvisioned as a rejuvenated industrial quarter with new housing, commercial and community space, public areas and a pedestrian link to Belvedere Station. The vision is highly ambitious with targets of over 10,000 sqm of green space and more than 1,250 new homes. New Belvedere is expected to make full use of the site’s potential as an Opportunity Area and fulfill the council’s goals, as outlined in the Growth Strategy.