Written by the Sydenham Mini Cabs team. Last updated .
The South Circular, Rushey Green and the gyratory
Everything in Catford turns on its one way system. The South Circular arrives along Stanstead Road and Catford Road from the west and leaves on Brownhill Road to the east. The A21 runs north as Rushey Green towards Lewisham and south as Bromley Road towards Bellingham and Bromley.
At peak times this junction is slow in every direction. Drivers who work it daily know the alternatives. Ravensbourne Park and Montem Road cut across from Stanstead Road. Sangley Road and Culverley Road link Bromley Road to Brownhill Road without touching the gyratory.
You do not need to think about any of that. Just know that a local driver will usually get you through faster than an app route would.
Catford and Catford Bridge stations
The two stations are side by side on Catford Road, separated by a short walk. They are on different lines.
Catford station has Thameslink trains on the loop to Blackfriars and to Bromley South and Sevenoaks. Catford Bridge has Southeastern trains on the Hayes line to London Bridge, Cannon Street and Charing Cross.
For pickups, tell us which station. The usual meeting point for both is on Adenmore Road or Doggett Road, just off the main road, where a car can wait safely. Stopping on Catford Road itself is difficult because of the bus lanes.
Catford Broadway, the theatre and the town centre
The centre of Catford is compact. Catford Broadway has a market and independent shops. The Broadway Theatre, an art deco landmark, hosts comedy, music and pantomime. The famous giant cat sits over the entrance to the shopping centre.
The council offices at Laurence House and the Civic Suite are here too, so people come for appointments and registry services. Weddings at the register office are a regular booking. Ask about an executive car for the couple and an MPV for the family.
After a show at the theatre, book ahead for a pickup on Catford Broadway or Canadian Avenue. The crowd clears quickly, and your driver will call when the car is in place.
Hospital journeys from SE6
University Hospital Lewisham is the nearest major hospital. It is straight up Rushey Green and Lewisham High Street, about a mile and a half from the Broadway.
Typical drive times from Catford Broadway
| Destination | Typical time |
|---|---|
| University Hospital Lewisham | 6 to 12 minutes |
| Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Woolwich | 20 to 30 minutes |
| King's College Hospital, Denmark Hill | 20 to 30 minutes |
| Guy's Hospital, London Bridge | 25 to 40 minutes |
These are typical off peak times. In the morning, Rushey Green can add ten minutes.
The hospital has entrances on Lewisham High Street and from the Riverside side. Tell us the department. If you are collecting someone after a procedure, we can wait for a short time. Ask for a wait and return price.
Shopping and everyday errands
Catford has large supermarkets by the station and on Bromley Road, as well as the shopping centre and the retail park at Bell Green nearby. Carrying a full shop home on the bus is nobody's idea of fun.
A short cab home is a routine booking for us. Tell us you have shopping, and the driver will open the boot and help you load. For regular weekly shops, ask about a repeat booking at the same time each week.
Changes to the town centre roads
Catford is in the middle of a long regeneration scheme. Plans include moving the South Circular to run behind Laurence House and opening up the area around the Broadway for people on foot. Roadworks come and go as a result.
Our drivers keep up with the changes as they happen. If a lane is closed or a turn is banned this month, they know before they set off. It is one more reason to book a local office.
Corbett Estate and the residential streets
East of Rushey Green lies the Corbett Estate, a grid of wide Victorian streets with Scottish names such as Arngask, Glenfarg and Torridon. The houses look alike, the roads run for a long way, and several have width restrictions or one way sections.
To the west, the streets around Ravensbourne Park and Blythe Hill climb steeply towards Forest Hill. Give us the house number and the nearest cross street. It helps the driver arrive on the correct side of a long road.
Parks, sport and the Ravensbourne
Catford is greener than its traffic suggests. Mountsfield Park hosts the Lewisham People's Day and has wide views. Ladywell Fields follows the River Ravensbourne north. The Waterlink Way path runs along the Pool River towards Bell Green and Sydenham.
Sports clubs use the grounds off Bromley Road and Canadian Avenue. On Saturday mornings, parents ferry children to football and rugby all over the borough. A 6 seater taxi carries a small squad and their kit in one trip.
Schools in and around Catford
Catford has a large school population. St Dunstan's College is on Stanstead Road. Conisborough College is on Bromley Road. There are primaries on Rushey Green, Holbeach Road, Sandhurst Road and Torridon Road.
School traffic makes the South Circular worse between 8am and 9am. If you need a dependable car at the same time each day, see our school run taxi page for how regular bookings work.
Nights out and late travel
Catford has pubs, a cinema at Catford Mews, bars and late opening restaurants. Lewisham and Blackheath are ten minutes away, and Greenwich is a little further.
Trains from Catford Bridge stop around midnight. After that, a booked minicab is the direct way home. Call 020 8778 8888 to reserve one. Private hire cars cannot be hailed, so always book through the office.
Journeys across London from Catford
Catford is a natural starting point for trips north and east, because the A21 leads straight to Lewisham and the A2.
That makes it the first stretch of our Sydenham to Stansted Airport transfers route, and of the short hop described on the London City Airport cabs from Sydenham page. From SE6 you are already ten minutes into either journey.
For rail, see the Sydenham to London Bridge Station taxi page for Thameslink, or the Sydenham to Charing Cross Station taxi page for the West End.
Vehicles and special requests
We send saloons for up to four passengers, estates for extra bags, MPVs for six or seven and a minibus for eight. Child seats are available on request.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles can be requested when you book. If you are travelling with an animal, read our pet friendly taxi page first.
Nearby districts we cover
South down Bromley Road is Bellingham, on our Bellingham taxi page. West along Stanstead Road is Forest Hill, on the Forest Hill taxi page. North west towards Brockley is Honor Oak, on the Honor Oak taxi page.
See every district on the areas we cover page.
Booking your car in Catford
Phone 020 8778 8888 or use the form at the top of this page. We need a pickup address, a destination and a time. You will get the fare before you confirm.
Pay by card or cash. Businesses in the town centre can open an account.
Catford taxi questions
How long does a taxi take to get to Catford from your office?
Our office is on Sydenham Road, around ten minutes from Catford Broadway in normal traffic. Book ahead at busy times for a guaranteed pickup.
Where do you pick up at Catford and Catford Bridge stations?
Usually on Adenmore Road or Doggett Road, just off Catford Road. Tell us which station you are at, and the driver will confirm the spot by phone.
How long does it take to get to Lewisham Hospital?
Typically 6 to 12 minutes from Catford Broadway. Allow a little more in the morning peak.
Do you know how to avoid the Catford gyratory?
Yes. Our drivers use the back routes through Ravensbourne Park, Sangley Road and Culverley Road when the one way system is slow.
Can I book a car for a wedding at the register office?
Yes. Tell us the ceremony time and how many guests need transport. Executive cars and larger vehicles are available.
Can I get a taxi from Catford after midnight?
Yes. We are open all night, every night.
Do you help with shopping bags?
Yes. Tell us you have shopping when you book, and the driver will help you load and unload.