The area of Bellingham is located in the Borough of Lewisham in South East London. It is positioned towards the southern end of the borough between the areas of Downham, Catford, and Lower Sydenham, and forms part of the postal district of Catford.
In 2020, property prices in Bellingham reached an average price of £481,562. This is significantly below the overall average across the borough of Lewisham, which stood at £534,706. Generally, Bellingham is a more affordable part of the borough than Blackheath, which is positioned towards the north of the borough and boasts an average property price of £681,519. Conversely, property in Bellingham is more expensive than in nearby Downham, where the average property sells for £355,545.
Semi-detached properties made up most of the sales in the Bellingham area and they sold for £634,758 on average. Flats in the area reached an average price of £331,833, with terraced properties fetching £414,321. Property prices have increased by 19% in the last year and are 13% higher than they were during the peak in 2019 when the average property was fetching £427,966.
What is living in Bellingham like?
Historians believe that Bellingham was home to a Saxon community in the 10th century and several streets in the area have been named after Alfred the Great and his family, including Arnulf Street and King Alfred Avenue. Bellingham was comprised almost solely of farmland for hundreds of years, however in the 1920s development started on a cottage estate which is now bordered by railway tracks.
Bellingham is a compact area, which is known for its multicultural community. Randlesdown Road acts as almost a miniature high street for the area, which is home to a small selection of amenities such as a news agent, hair dressers, and a supermarket. This unofficial high street is also home to a pub, a gym and a handful of restaurants. So while there isn't always a lot going on, it's certainly not a ghost town either. Also Catford isn't too far away which benefits from a variety of facilities and amenities that are easily accessible for Bellingham residents.
This quiet residential part of London is popular with young families as well as retirees and empty nesters, so although Bellingham can't necessarily be described as a particularly exciting place to live, it does have a strong sense of community which isn't always easy to find in a sprawling city like London.
Living in Bellingham pros and cons
Pro: Good transport links
Belling railway station provides connections with Sevenoaks, Catford, Kentish Town and London Blackfriars. There are also a selection of buses running through the area, which links Bellingham with Biggin Hill, Greenwich, Bermondsey, Elephant & Castle, and Peckham, among others.
The area also has the added benefit of being unaffected by the ULEZ scheme, which means that drivers of vehicles that don't meet emissions standards will not be required to pay the daily charge unless they are entering the zone at any point during their journey.
Con: Very quiet, mostly residential area
While Bellingham may suit some commuters, particularly those who are keen to settle down and enjoy family life in the near future, the lack of amenities and nightlife in the local area means that other areas within the borough of Lewisham may be better suited to those who would prefer to live in an area with a bit more going on.
Pro: Strong sense of community
From parent and baby classes to activity classes for children, Bellingham has a strong community spirit, which provides newcomers with plenty of opportunities to form meaningful connections with others in the local area.
Pro: Selection of schools
There are 16 schools located within a mile radius of Bellingham, several of which have been awarded 'Outstanding' ratings from Ofsted. These include Torridon Primary School, Bonus Pastor Catholic College, and Downderry Primary School. Other schools in the area, including St Augustine's Catholic Primary School and Forster Park Primary School have been awarded 'Good' ratings by Ofsted inspectors.
There are, however, also some schools with 'Requires Improvement' Ofsted ratings, including Rangefield Primary School and Conisborough College. The Sedgehill School was also named as requiring improvement and as part of measures to increase the quality of the education it offers pupils, it reopened as Sedgehill Academy in September 2020.
Is Bellingham a safe place to live?
When looking at crime statistics across the borough of Lewisham, the Bellingham area occupies a large area towards the south of the borough and is bordered by Sydenham, Perry Vale, Rushey Green, Catford South, Whitefoot, and Downham.
Between January 2020 and December 2021, there were 3,378 offences reported as taking place in the Bellingham area. This is higher than in every other area in the south of the borough and is exceeded only in the areas of Lewisham Central and New Cross. Of these 3,378 offences, just under 35% were violent crimes. With 565 and 501 reports respectively, levels of theft and vehicle offences were also relatively high in the area.
Over the last two years, crime rates in the area have experienced real peaks and troughs. More than 160 offences were reported in June 2020, August 2020, May 2021, and December 2021. Conversely, fewer than 120 offences were reported during the months of March 2020, April 2020, April 2021, and August 2021.
Which celebrities live in Bellingham?
Perhaps surprisingly for such a compact and unassuming area, Bellingham has seen more than a handful of famous faces residing in its streets over the years. Some of the most notable Bellingham residents include writer and comedian Spike Milligan, and actress and politician Glenda Jackson. Other famous faces who have strolled Bellingham's quiet streets include footballer Ian Wright and broadcaster Danny Baker.
Things to consider when moving to Bellingham
Bellingham is well-connected to other parts of London but journey times can be on the lengthier side, so it's worth thinking about whether the local area can offer you the lifestyle you want and whether it's worth contesting with a potentially longer commute. To give you some idea of how long journeys take, Canary Wharf is just under nine miles away and can be reached in approximately 55 minutes by public transport. Westminster is just over nine miles away and journey times from Bellingham currently sit at between 40 and 50 minutes. Although Southwark is less than 8 miles away, journey times still sit at the 45 to 50-minute mark.
In recent years, Bellingham has benefitted from investment and new developments some of which have been proposed by the Lewisham Strategic Partnership and the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit. The area is set to benefit from further investment over the coming years, which is partly why the property market in the area has become noticeably more competitive. If you have been thinking about exploring property for sale in Bellingham, now could be a smart time to purchase a property in this peaceful residential suburb.
As property in Bellingham varies so widely, it is possible to snap up a fixer-upper property for a relatively affordable price which will allow you to put your own stamp on your home and increase its value. If your budget stretches a little further, it's also possible to find a selection of spacious flats alongside Victorian terraces and expansive Edwardian homes.