Thamesmead as a new and better alternative through the eyes of two small children who live in older, dilapidated flats on the other side of the city. The Tavy Bridge area of Thamesmead South, including Southmere Lake, was used as a setting for the Stanley Kubrick film "A Clockwork Orange" and also the play and Channel 4 gay coming-of-age film "Beautiful Thing". British TV Drama "Misfits" was also filmed in Thamesmead. Many scenes take place around Southmere Lake, while Bexley College was once also used as a setting. The estate featured in The Libertines video What Became of the Likely Lads.
Housing in the United Kingdom rent from a private landlord for life. This phenomenon has been called "generation rent" and there is much debate about the social consequences of this change. See inequality for further information. In London, rents are double the national average and this is driving gentrification. Londoners on median earnings find they can no longer afford to rent a flat in central London. Those on median incomes who work in central London have had to move to the outer suburbs of London and the commuting towns of SE England. Many find that commuting using London's congested transport infrastructure lowers their standard of