Located in the southern part of the South East London borough of Southwark, the district of Herne Hill neighbours Lambeth, Dulwich Village and East Dulwich. Herne Hill is just four miles from Charing Cross and it also shares borders with Camberwell, Brixton, and Tulse Hill.
In 2021 the average property in Herne Hill sold for £829,370. This is significantly higher than the most affordable area in Southwark, which was Newington, with its average sitting at £507,631. The average property price in Herne Hill was also notably higher than the overall average for the borough of Southwark, which was £678,138. Conversely, Herne Hill was more affordable than the most expensive area in the borough, which was Dulwich Village, where the average property sold for £1,570,148.
The most common type of property to sell in Herne Hill throughout 2021 were flats and they averaged £519,502. The area's terraced properties fetched £1,136,663 on average, with semi-detached properties boasting a slightly higher overall average of £1,396,148.
Average property prices in Herne Hill remained stable between 2020 and 2021, however they are 7% higher than they were in 2019 when the average was £774,908.
What is living in Herne Hill like?
Herne Hill was famed for its prosperous residential estates by the mid-19th century, which were favoured amongst the merchant class. Demand for housing in the area for the middle classes increased significantly when Herne Hill station and the London, Chatham and Dover Railway was opened in 1862. This made it easier to access areas such as of the City of London, London Victoria, south-west London and Kent.
The area is home to a variety of local landmarks including the Grade II listed Half Moon public house, which was once frequented by poet Dylan Thomas and has played host to numerous acts including U2, Frank Sinatra and Van Morrison. Herne Hill also boasts excellent leisure facilities including the Herne Hill Velodrome, which has sat on the same site since 1891. The Southwark Olympic Legacy Project provided funding to upgrade the velodrome, which included a brand-new 250m junior track and a hardstanding area which can be used by handbikes. Other notable landmarks include the Grade II listed Church of St. Paul, the Sunray Gardens lake and the Grade II listed Carnegie Public Library.
Herne Hill railway station was awarded Grade II listed status in the late 1990s and its Gothic style is instantly recognisable. The station is positioned between zone 2 and zone 3, and is served by Thameslink and Southeastern services offering connections to the likes of London Blackfriars, King's Cross St Pancras, London Victoria, Brixton, Farringdon, St Albans and Orpington. There are also four trains per hour to Sutton, two of which run via Hackbridge with the other two running via Wimbledon. The station is well-served by several bus routes, including the 68 between Euston bus station and West Norwood station, and two night buses running between 11:00pm and 6:00am.
Living in Herne Hill pros and cons
Pro: Herne Hill is home to the beautiful Brockwell Park
Spanning more than 125 acres, Brockwell Park has so much to offer all ages including stunning views of the Central London skyline, landscaped lawns, a Grade II listed public lido, tennis courts, a BMX track, miniature railway and a bowling green. The park is open between 7:30am and sunset, and it is an important site for nature conservation as it is home to an array of wildlife including several species of bats and numerous species of birds.
Brockwell Park hosts the annual Lambeth Country Show, which takes place in July and is free to visit. Additionally an annual bonfire night fireworks display is hosted in the park, which attract tens of thousands of visitors. Over the years the park has played host to an array of music acts including Boy George, Grace Jones, the Manic Street Preachers, Elvis Costello and Madness.
Visitors can also enjoy cricket nets, a volleyball court, an all-weather pitch and basketball facilities. 5-a-side football is hosted in the park every Sunday, and a free-to-join Parkrun happens every Saturday. The children's paddling pool is open during the summer months however there are numerous other draws for children year-round including three duck ponds complete with feathered residents who are always looking to be fed.
Con: Herne Hill is within the ULEZ zone
Despite being well outside the Congestion Zone, Herne Hill is positioned within the expanded ULEZ zone which could be an issue for drivers of vehicles that do not adhere to the scheme's emissions standards.
This has had a positive impact on air quality in the area as air pollution only exceeded WHO recommendations on one third of the days between early January 2021 and early February 2021. It is worth noting however that over the course of a 12-month period residents are still exposed to just under three times the recommended level of air pollutants.
Is Herne Hill a safe place to live?
There were 3,056 crimes reported between January 2020 and December 2021, which was higher than in the nearby areas of Tulse Hill and Thurlow Park but lower than the neighbouring area of Coldharbour, which recorded more than 5,600 crimes.
Violent crimes and cases of theft were the most common, accounting for 909 and 680 reports respectively. Crime in the area peaked in July 2020 and September 2021 when the number of reported crimes exceeded 180 in a four-week period. Between November 2021 and December 2021 crime fell in the area from 141 reports to 105.
Which celebrities live in Herne Hill?
Herne Hill has been the home of a variety of notable figures over the decades. For example, 84 Burbage Road has an English Heritage blue plaque dedicated to Sam Mussabini who was an athletics coach, whose you may recognise if you've ever seen the film 'Chariots of Fire.' 51 Herne Hill is another building with a blue plaque dedicated to author Sax Rohmer who is famed for numerous novels featuring a highly controversial supervillain.
Other recognisable names who have lived in Herne Hill include author Anita Brookner, actors Olivia Coleman, Michael Crawford, Mark Rylance and James Nesbitt, food critic Jay Raynor, politician Harriet Harman, and singers Jessie Ware and La Roux.
Things to consider when moving to Herne Hill
Herne Hill occupies an excellent position in South East London, sharing borders with some of the most affluent areas in the borough. It is an attractive place to live for both young professionals and families, particularly those who enjoy sports and want to make use of the variety of leisure facilities on offer. There are more than two dozen schools within one mile of Herne Hill, including the 'Outstanding' rated Jessop Primary School, The Charter School North Dulwich, and St Jude's Church of England Primary.
Many of the area's Edwardian and Victorian terraces have been converted into flats, however there are still plenty of beautiful houses which can offer the space needed by a growing family. In terms of rental availability, Herne Hill attracts both flat sharers and couples which means that the market is more competitive. Many renters enjoy their time in the area so much that they want to stay and go on to purchase when they are in a position to do so. The same applies to first-time buyers who are ready to upsize, however the difference in price between a one or two-bedroom flat and two or three-bedroom house can be quite significant.