Bermondsey is a bustling district within the South East London borough of Southwark and sits just 2.5 miles from Charing Cross. It is nestled between the areas of Southwark, Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays, with other notable nearby areas including Elephant and Castle, Borough, and Camberwell.
In 2021 the average property price in Bermondsey was £636,345, which was slightly below the £678,138 overall average recorded across the borough during the same period. Bermondsey was notably more affordable than Dulwich Village, which recorded a £1,570,263 average, however it was more expensive than Newington, where average property prices stood at £507,631.
Most of the properties sold in Bermondsey during 2021 were flats, which fetched an average price of £616,798. Terraced properties in the area reached an overall average of £777,828. Interestingly the average semi-detached property was the most affordable type of property in the area, with the overall average sitting at £602,500.
Property prices in Bermondsey are 2% higher than they were in 2020, however they are also 14% lower than in 2017 when average peaked at £724,379.
What is living in Bermondsey like?
Numerous things contribute to the feeling of life and vibrancy in the district of Bermondsey including Bermondsey Market, which is hosted on the old Bermondsey Abbey site. This bustling antiques market is full of treasures, with sellers offering everything from stunning vintage jewellery to tempting collectables. The area is also home to Maltby Street Market, which is held weekly and boasts traders selling an array of delicious street food and other treats. There's also Blue Market which has been offering fruit and veg, seafood, fashion, art and more for over a century, and the iconic Borough Market is within walking distance.
There is plenty to see and do in the area including paying a visit to the Fashion and Textile Museum, which is the only museum in the whole of the UK focussing on showcasing the varied and ever-evolving textile design industry. Other notable attractions in the district include Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast. Bermondsey also benefits from plenty of open space including Bermondsey Spa Gardens which spans more than four acres and contains everything from a running path to children's play facilities, free to use exercise equipment and beautiful flower beds.
Bermondsey also has strong spiritual connections as it is the home of the Kagyu Samye Dzong Tibetan Buddhist Centre. Several hundred people can gather in the centre's main shrine room for teachings and events. The centre hosts an array of activities including mindfulness training, Tai Chi, Yoga and even Parkour dancing.
The district is also the home of Millwall Football Club, who have major rivalries with several prominent clubs including Crystal Palace, Charlton Athletic and West Ham United.
Living in Bermondsey pros and cons
Pro: Bermondsey has ample transport links
Bermondsey tube station is located in Zone 2 and enjoys a prime position on the Jubilee line. It was constructed as part of the extension of the Jubilee line between London Bridge and Canada Water, and benefits from the same futuristic design that its fellow extension stations also enjoy. The station also benefits from platform screen doors which offer an additional layer of safety. London Bridge station is also easily accessible, which is located on the Jubilee and Northern lines, as is the Northern line station of Borough.
Several bus routes run through the area including the 188 which operates between North Greenwich bus station and Russel Square. There are also several night routes in the area offering connectivity between the hours of 11pm and 6am. So in addition to easy access to the City of London, Bermondsey residents also enjoy excellent links with the likes of Canary Wharf, Whitechapel, Peckham, Poplar, King's Cross St Pancras, High Barnet, Edgware and Camden Town.
And for those who prefer two wheels, there are numerous cycle stations peppered around the district.
Con: Bermondsey is within the ULEZ zone
Although just outside the Congestion Zone, Bermondsey is within the extended boundaries of the ULEZ zone which is in force 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There is some good news associated with this however, as air quality in the area is generally good. Between January and February 2022 air pollution only exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) limits on eight out of 30 days.
Pro: Bermondsey is famed for its cool warehouse conversions
The historic riverside street of Shad Thames underwent a period of regeneration in the 1980s and 1990s, and it was during this time that many of the riverside warehouses were converted into luxury apartments. An array of shops, bars, cafés and restaurants soon followed, which now pepper the riverside around Tower Bridge. This area is particularly popular among those who work in the City of London, which sits a mile to the north on the other side of the river.
Is Bermondsey a safe place to live?
Bermondsey spans several safer neighbourhood teams (SNT) areas, including North Bermondsey where there were 2,992 crimes recorded between January 2020 and December 2021, South Bermondsey where there were 2,891 crimes reported during the same period, and London Bridge and West Bermondsey which recorded 5,955 crimes.
Theft and violent crimes were the most common in all areas of Bemondsey, but focussing on South Bermondsey in particular we can see that there were six crimes per 1,000 residents recorded in the area, which is lower than the nine crimes per 1,000 residents recorded across the borough of Southwark, and the eight crimes per 1,000 residents seen across London.
Which celebrities live in Bermondsey?
Southwark isn't typically a borough you might associated with being the home of celebrities, but a surprising number of well known people have lived in the area over the years. These famous faces include actors Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson and Michael Caine, musician Florence Welch, author Mary Wollstonecraft, and footballer Rio Ferdinand.
Also it isn't unusual to see a variety of famous musicians in Bermondsey, as the district is the home of Miloco Studios which have helped an array of recording artists to complete critically acclaimed albums. The studios have welcomed everyone from Adele and Emeli Sande to grime artist Skepta and Britpop legends Oasis.
Things to consider when moving to Bermondsey
While Bermondsey was one the reserve of cool young professionals wanting to be in the heart of the city, the area does also have plenty to offer families. As well as Bermondsey Spa Gardens, the area is also home to Leathermarket Gardens and Tanner Street Park, both of which offer plenty of green space, activity centres, play parks and an array of sporting facilities such as running tracks and tennis courts.
There are several supermarkets located on the Old Kent Road alongside numerous streets in the district that are packed with local independent retailers. Speaking of which, for those who prefer buses over the tube, it is worth noting that most routes include the Old Kent Road. This may sound like a good thing, however we recommend factoring in the possibility that you'll probably be running 20 minutes late to every meeting, date or occasion if this is your preferred mode of transport.
The area is home to a surprising number of schools including the 'Outstanding' rated Boutcher Church of England Primary School on Grange Road, St Saviour's and St Olave's Church of England School on New Kent Road and Harris Academy Bermondsey on Southward Park Road. There are also several independent schools in the district, including the London Christian School on Tabard Street.