In response to Celticexplorer, I have lived in Forest Hill for 26 years. It may be occasionally tatty but it is that 'tattiness' that has kept FH affordable for so long and which allows the eclectic mix of people to live here to form such a balanced community for so long and which still plays host to the thousands of people whose families have lived in this area for generations.
For the record, Forest Hill has always been a pleasant place to visit( or so my friends and relatives tell me), and great to live in, even in the more depressing times. When I arrived here it was pretty much middle class nirvana with two delis, a grocer, two bakeries, and a butcher. There was a stampede to buy property here until the crash of the late 80's which caused considerable and long lasting damage to the property scene and local economy. I personally saw the flat I had bought halve in value in little over a year, plunging me into negative equity for the best part of 7 years. This was commonplace with lots of blocks of flats falling into disrepair.
It took Forest Hill a great deal longer to come out of that situation than most parts of London. Most of us longstanding residents have managed for many years with the long standing local caffs and greasy spoons and pubs which now seem to attract so much derision for their lack of lattes. I personally always saw the potential of the place but felt in a way that it if did suddenly take off people on middle incomes like me could not afford to live here and that would be a great shame. I welcome the new businesses that have arrived but to be truthful these places only take calculated risks based on the changing nature of the population so they are followers rather than innovators. Once the market changes, they will be off, don't think they won't.- its happened before.

My view therefore is that Forest Hill, with the perennial jewel in the crown that is the Horniman, and steadfast businesses such as MacKays, EJ Carpets, has always had it good, even without the latte and mojito culture. These have been and are only the icing in the cake. I have therefore for over a quarter of a century witnessed and overheard comments about Forest Hill being on the way up. Many people are still waiting for their view of ' up' to be fulfilled. If the way up for you is synonymous with East Dulwich, then you'll be waiting a long time, as I don't think the Forest Hill definition of going up in the world falls into that category nor does it wish to be ' extraordinary' as suggested. Its mere ordinariness is perhaps what is extraordinary.

You credit new businesses and entrepreneurs with the 'change' that has occurred in this area. That is only part of the story. Forest Hill has prospered not because of the 'pop up' coffee shop culture , but because people ( like me and many others) have stayed here trying to make things better by campaigning 20 years or so for the retention of the pools in one of the many occasions they were under threat, (and not being fickle by moving off to trendier areas with quicker wins)by being involved in the Forest Hill Steering Group that preceded the FHS , (and even being the founder members of the Forest Hill Society!) by choosing to raise our families here and support local businesses when it was probably more trendy to be seen in the pubs of East Dulwich or central London. I applaud people like June Olney and her late husband Michael Davey , who set up and kept going with Forest Hill Traders Association and Forest Hill Day, business like EJ Carpets, and Mackays whose committment to the area is undisputed,. and other wonderful local people who campaign day in and day out on our Council estates for better facilities and services. But that probably isn't trendy enough for you nor the right sort of change, but that is the reality of the Forest Hill community which makes things tick over and which has made FH what it is today.