Located in the South East London borough of Southwark, the district of Southwark is nestled between the areas of Waterloo, Borough, Bermondsey and Elephant and Castle. Occupying a central location on the River Thames' south bank, Southwark is the oldest area within South London, and was initially developed as it sits at the southern end of what was originally London Bridge.
In 2021 property prices in the district of Southwark averaged £751,129. This is notably higher than the overall average across the borough of Southwark, which was £678,138. While the area is more expensive than Newington, which recorded an average price of £507,631, Southwark is considerably more affordable than that Dulwich Village, where the average was £1,570,148.
Flats accounted for the majority of property sales in Southwark throughout 2021, which reached an overall average of £723,440. Semi-detached properties in the district of Southwark sold for an average price of £925,000. It was the district's terraced properties that increased the area's overall average, as they fetched an average price of £1,167,893.
Property prices in Southwark fell by 29% between 2020 and 2021. They are also 42% lower than in 2019 when the average price was £1,292,346.
What is living in Southwark like?
Southwark is a historic district in the heart of London which has benefitted from various regeneration projects over the last 10 years. As the area's factories and locations of light industry closed, new shops, galleries, bars, restaurants and residential properties were developed. It has quickly established itself as an excellent place to live, particularly as it benefits from easy access to both the West End and the City of London.
Boasting easy access to the likes of Hay's Galleria and Borough Market, Southwark residents never need to venture too far away to purchase everything from first-class cooking ingredients to the latest fashions and quirky homeware.
The area benefits from strong transport connections, with three main stations within walking distance. Southwark Underground station is located in Zone 1 and sits between London Bridge and Waterloo on the Jubilee line. Southwark station is served by several London bus routes, including the 40 which operates between Clerkenwell Green and Dulwich Library. Two night services also stop at Southwark station, including the N89 which runs between Erith and Trafalgar Square.
There are two other stations with easy reach for Southwark residents. Borough is located on the Bank section of the Northern line offering connections to the likes of Angel, King's Cross St Pancras and Old Street. Borough station is served by a variety of London Buses, including the 21 which operates between Lewisham Shopping Centre and Newington Green. London Bridge station is a central railway terminus and is one of the UK's busiest stations. It offers a variety of services including Southeastern services to Charing Cross, Southern services to Tulse Hill, and Thameslink services to Brighton via Gatwick Airport.
Living in Southwark pros and cons
Pro: Southwark boasts an array of notable local points of interest
From nearby Borough Market to the Globe theatre, Tower Bridge, City Hall, Butler's Wharf and Southwark Cathedral, there are an array of things to see, do and enjoy in the Southwark area. Construction of the Gothic Southwark Cathedral began in 1106 and it has benefitted from several restoration projects over the decades, some of which have been completed in a Gothic Revival style.
Con: Southwark is positioned within the ULEZ and Congestion zones
Living in such a central location isn't best suited to vehicle ownership, particularly as it is within both the Congestion Charge zone and the expanded ULEZ zone. Additionally, parking in the area can be both tricky and costly.
Pro: Southwark can offer property in numerous styles
Much of the borough of Southwark has an impressive selection of property on offer, and the district of Southwark is no exception. From luxury apartments with stunning river views to charming period properties ideal for growing families, there is something for everyone in this vibrant area.
Is Southwark a safe place to live?
Southwark is located within the London Bridge and West Bermondsey safer neighbourhood teams area. Between January 2020 and December 2021 there were 5,955 crimes reported in the local area. 2,461 of those reports were related to theft, with a further 1,146 violent crimes recorded. The area also experienced relatively high levels of drug offences, burglaries, public order offences and vehicle offences.
Crime fell sharply between February and April 2020 from 307 incidents recorded during February to 119 cases recorded in April. Crime then started to increase again, peaking at 311 incidents in August 2020. In 2021 crime reached its peak in October when 312 crimes were reported, but since then crime has fallen, with 236 reports recorded in December 2021.
In November 2021 there were 60 reports of miscellaneous theft, 27 cases of theft from a person and 25 reports of harassment. Overall Metropolitan Police data shows that in the Southwark area there were 20 crimes per 1,000 residents. This is markedly higher than across the borough of Southwark, which saw nine cases per 1,000 residents, and across London, which recorded eight cases per 1,000 residents during the same period.
It is worth noting that as a prime tourist location this level of crime is not unusual or unexpected.
Which celebrities live in Southwark?
Over the decades the borough of Southwark has been home to numerous notable people recognised for contributing to a variety of different industries and sectors. Physicist and chemist Michael Faraday was born in the area, as was mathematician Charles Babbage and engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Looking at the district of Southwark more specifically, the likes of novelist Charles Dickens, playwright Philip Massinger and diarist Hester Thrale have spent time here. Singer and songwriter Siouxsie Sioux was born in Southwark, as was clergyman John Harvard whom Harvard University was named after.
Things to consider when moving to Southwark
When thinking about locations in which to bring up a family, Southwark may not initially be at the top of your list due to its highly urban and very central location. While Southwark does appeal to young professionals working in the City who want to minimise the time they spend commuting, the area also has plenty of things that will enhance family life. For example the district is home to numerous notable schools including the 'Outstanding' Cathedral School of St Saviour and St Mary Overie, the Oasis Academy South Bank and the Archbishop Sumner Church of England Primary School.
There are also a handful of garden squares in the area including Ufford Street Park which offers a small children's play area and places to sit. Nelson Square Park also has a lot to offer, including a playground, outdoor exercise equipment, gardens and a football pitch. Mint Street Park is also nearby which boasts a children's play area, grassy areas, and acts as a location for an array of community events throughout the year.
It's also worth noting that while the ULEZ and Congestion zones have worked to improve the air quality in the area overall, between early January 2022 and early February 2022 levels of air pollution exceeded World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations on more than half the days. While the area isn't the worst for air quality, residents will still be exposed to just over three times the recommended levels over the course of a year.