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.
Thamesmead public safety and some ground floor garages have been unfilled, as incidents of crime deterred their use as parking space. Trust Thamesmead is a registered charity set up to provide community services across Thamesmead. It runs six community centres and runs a variety of projects promoting social development and work and training projects. Thamesmead West contains Gallions Ecopark a pioneering small social/affordable housing development with homes built to high energy efficiency and environmental standards. The estate also includes a small lake and Gallions Hill (viewpoint hill). Part of Thamesmead West is also sometimes referred to as "Gallions Reach Urban Village".