Moving to South London
If you are thinking of moving to South London, it’s important to learn more about the area. South London boasts a vibrancy of city life, plenty of attractions, job opportunities, a wealth of “outstanding” Ofsted rated schools, as well as the quieter aspects of rural life with an abundance of green space.
Compare My Move has done the hard work and researched everything you need to know for your South London house removals. From property prices to schools and education, this area guide will cover all the important details for your move.
Property in South London
Property prices in South London are among the most expensive in the UK, with the average asking price for property in South London being £688,008, according to Zoopla. The average for the UK is £453,198.
The average current value for a detached property is an expensive £1,195,906, with semi-detached and terraced properties costing £758,490 and £785,159, respectively. For those looking to purchase a flat in South London, you can expect to pay £529,392.
For those looking to rent in South London, the average current renting price is £2,111 PCM, with a 2-bedroom house priced at £2,090 PCM. The UK average rent price currently stands at £1,979 pcm. There are many rental websites in London to help you find a suitable property.
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Best Places to Live in South London
At Compare My Move, we have done the research on the best areas to live in South London. We’ve created a list of the 5 most affordable boroughs of South London to purchase property, as well as the renting price.
We’ve also included some important information about the area to help with your house hunt. To accommodate different budgets, we’ve listed the areas from the most affordable first, starting with Croydon.
Area | Average Asking Price | Average Asking Rent (pcm) |
---|---|---|
Croydon | £365,884 | £1,182 |
Bexley | £378,151 | £1,230 |
Sutton | £414,402 | £1,185 |
Greenwich | £519,000 | £1,645 |
Lewisham | £520,518 | £1,520 |
Data was taken from Zoopla, correct as of July 2020.
1. Croydon
The most affordable borough to buy property in South London, Croydon has an average house price of £365,884. Croydon has great transport links and is ideal if you are on more of a budget or are not used to London living prices. Just 9 miles from the city centre, you can get there in just 13 minutes on the fast train.
2. Bexley
One of the most affordable boroughs for property in the whole of London, Bexley is an ideal family location. Just 14 miles South East of London, Bexley is also one of London’s greenest boroughs with over 100 parks and green spaces. The borough is well-connected with bus routes.
3. Sutton
One of the UK’s best areas for schools, Sutton is situated between Croydon and Kingston. The borough is well connected with transport links direct to the city and also close enough to stunning hills and views. The town centre has plenty of independent restaurants and bars as well as chains too.
4. Greenwich
Just 6 miles southeast of central London, the borough of Greenwich is well-connected. It has many Docklands Light Railway services to Canary Wharf as well as trains into the centre. A family-friendly area, Greenwich is also home to many university students.
5. Lewisham
Lewisham is home to many modern high-rise flats as well as large Victorian terraces. The borough is home to a well-loved market that ranges from food to clothes. There’s also plenty of “outstanding” and “good” Ofsted rated schools in the borough.
Schools and Education in South London
If you’re moving to South London with children, you’ll want to know what the local schools are like in your desired area. South London is home to many “outstanding” Oftsed rating primary and secondary schools and academies, including all boys, girls and grammar schools.
There are many higher education institutes in South London including Goldsmiths University of London, Bromley College of Further and Higher Education and Imperial College London.
We’ve listed 5 of the best primary and secondary schools in South London to help secure a school place for your children when you move house.
The 5 Best Primary Schools in South London:
Primary School | Location | Age Range | Most Recent Ofsted Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Harris Primary Academy Merton | Lambeth | 3-11 | Outstanding |
Carew Academy | Sutton | 7-18 | Outstanding |
Victor Seymour Infants' School | Sutton | 2-7 | Outstanding |
Cricket Green School | Merton | 4-19 | Outstanding |
Granton Primary School | Lambeth | 3-11 | Outstanding |
The 5 Best Secondary Schools in South London:
Secondary School | Location | Age Range | Most Recent Ofsted Rating |
---|---|---|---|
Harris Academy Merton | Merton | 11-18 | Outstanding |
Wallington County Grammar School | Sutton | 11-18 | Outstanding |
Harris Invictus Academy Croydon | Croydon | 11-18 | Outstanding |
Perseid School | Merton | 3-19 | Outstanding |
Graveney School | Wandsworth | 11-18 | Outstanding |
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Where to Work in South London
If you’re moving to South London and looking for employment, we’ve done the research to find the most popular job opportunities. The average salary in London is £37,000 according to PayScale, this is to reflect the higher living and property costs in the city.
South West London is a diverse area with over 1.3 million workers in approximately 95,000 businesses. The South West area is famous for its shopping and tourist attractions (Harrods, Buckingham Palace, Kensington High Street), so a significant number of employment opportunities are in the retail and tourism sectors which employ over 281,000 and 51,000, respectively. The public sector accounts for one-fifth of jobs, with employment in public administration, health and education.
In the South East, redevelopment projects boosted the local economy and turned it into a hub for the arts, creative and public services. Attractions such as the Globe Theatre, the Tate, and Royal Observatory created the need for more hotels and restaurants which in turn employ 92,000 people. In Southbank, the media and creative industries are booming, while Greenwich is becoming a centre for leisure, tourism, retail, hospitality, manufacturing and construction services.
Transport in South London
Considering London is one of the busiest capitals in the world, congestion is a problem in every part of the city, and South London is no exception. Public transport is the recommended choice to get around the area. In South West London, buses have regular routes, but they are also often victims of traffic. The quickest and most efficient way to travel would be using the Underground, with several tube stations served by the District and Piccadilly Lines.
South East London has 10 tube stations running along Northern, Jubilee and East London lines with direct connections to and from Bank, Whitechapel, Stratford and Baker Street. A more unique method of transport would be using the river bus. There is a Thames Clipper water-bus service on the River Thames and offers commuting services between Eastern and Central London.
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Entertainment in South London
South West London caters to everyone, with a range of pubs and modern bars. In South East London, recent regeneration projects in the area transformed it into a popular hub for nightlife. With a number of independent shops and bars, South East London has a unique, creative flair without the high prices, allowing it to cater to all budgets.
In South West London, if you want to escape the chaos of city life, there are many public and royal parks to visit. Richmond Park is 2,500 acres of green space, ideal for a family-friendly activity. Others include Clapham Common, Battersea Park and Wimbledon Common.
If you're new to the area, some other sites to see include; South Kensington Museum, Churchill War Rooms and Hampton Court Palace. If you haven't been to South East London, make sure to visit; Imperial War Museum, Royal Museums Greenwich, Shakespeare's Globe or Tate Modern.
Crime Rate in South London
If you’re moving to South London, it’s important to learn about the crime rate. Compare My Move has done the research to inform you of the chance of experiencing crime in South London.
The overall risk of crime in London is rated “low”, according to Travel Safe Abroad. Like any big city, there is a “medium” rating chance of pick-pocketing risk and transport and taxi risk in South London. However, crime has gone down in South London over the last year, with Plumpot reporting a -1.7% decrease in the crime rate.
The scam risk and women travellers risk is “low” which is reassuring. Whilst it can be daunting learning of crime in your desired location, the South London police work hard to keep the city safe.
Compare My Move in South London
When you're ready to move to South London, make sure you get help from Compare My Move. We have a network of trusted removal companies to help take care of your whole move. We even can connect you with Licensed Conveyancers and RICS Chartered Surveyors to ensure you have a stress-free moving house process.