Dulwich & West Norwood was created from the former constituencies of Dulwich and Norwood in 1997 and straddles parts of the boroughs of Lambeth and Southwark. The south circular road traverses the constituency from east to west.
It is a diverse constituency including the affluent area around Dulwich Village. But there is also much social housing in, for example, Gipsy Hill and across the constituency over a quarter of housing is local authority owned. Top independent schools, Dulwich College and Jags girls school, are situated here.
Both Southwark and Lambeth Councils are Labour controlled, although until May 1998 Lambeth Council was hung with the Conservatives holding the balance of power. Although Labour is dominant in local politics here, it is interesting to note that all four Conservative councillors who sit on Southwark Council are from wards in this constituency, and all five Conservative councillors on Lambeth council are also from wards in this constituency.
Unemployment has been a problem in this area, and was especially bad in the 1990s. Industry has also declined in the area, and the service sector is the principal source of employment.