St. Margarets is a suburb in the South West London borough of Richmond Upon Thames located between Richmond, Sheen Park, Richmond Upon Thames, Twickenham and Whitton. It sits nine miles to the southwest of central London, and is bounded by the River Crane and the Thames Tideway.
In 2021 the average property in St. Margarets sold for £962,902, which was slightly higher than the £931,313 average recorded across the borough of Richmond Upon Thames. St. Margarets property was notably more affordable than in Petersham, where the average property fetched £2,039,268, however it was significantly more expensive than in Hanworth where the average price for property was £405,895.
Most properties sold in St. Margarets in 2021 were flats, which fetched an average price of £511,920. The area also boasts a solid stock of terraced and semi-detached properties, which sold for £974,392 and £1,588,789 on average respectively. Overall prices in St. Margarets have risen in line with the borough as a whole, increasing by 2% from 2020 prices. This figure was also up 7% from 2019, when the overall average peaked at £900,655.
What is living in St. Margarets like?
The modern suburb of St. Margarets was developed following the arrival of the railway system in the mid-1850s. The estate was comprised of numerous family properties in what would become one of the very first garden suburbs, and Edwardian and Victorian properties continue to dominate the area's housing stock today. Most of the streets in St. Margarets are lined with residential properties, where semi-detached properties are particularly common. There is also a small selection of detached properties, as many of the area's three and four storey terraces have been divided into apartments.
St. Margarets is home to several notable buildings including Solus Lodge, now known as Sandycombe Lodge, which was built under the instruction of renowned artist J. M. W. Turner. Another notable building is the Grade II listed Gordon House, a spectacular Georgian mansion which has since been developed into private homes. The Kilmorey Mausoleum is another Grade II listed structure, and was constructed in an Egyptian-style manner by the second Earl of Kilmorey.
The area's air quality is generally very good. Between 24 January 2022 and 22 February 2022 air pollution only exceeded World Health Organisation recommendations on three out of 30 days. While yearly exposure to pollutants is still higher than recommended, this is only marginal and St. Margarets fares better in this respect than many other London suburbs.
Living in St. Margarets pros and cons
Pro: St. Margarets has a strong sense of community
One of the advantages of living in a small suburb is the sense of community spirit that exists. It shouldn't be surprising that a number of small, independent businesses thrive in the area, however residents ensure they are well-frequented as they make such a positive difference to the main high street.
Con: St. Margarets doesn't have the best transport network
Although St. Margarets certainly isn't cut off from surrounding areas, it doesn't have the most extensive public transportation network. St. Margarets station is served by eight stopping services per hour to London Waterloo, however for other rail connections residents will need to take a short bus journey to Twickenham or Richmond stations.
Just two bus routes serve St. Margarets. The H37 runs between Richmond and Hounslow, and the 110 runs between Hammersmith and Hounslow. There are several other nearby bus routes, most of which run from Twickenham and along Richmond Road.
There is some good news for drivers though, as St. Margarets is outside the recently expanded ULEZ zone. This means that drivers of vehicles that don't meet emissions standards who don't need to drive into the areas within the zone won't need to pay the daily charge.
Pro: St. Margarets offers plenty of outdoor space
The area is home to several green spaces including the Moormead and Bandy Recreation Ground, which was created from wasteland and now benefits from a variety of facilities including tennis courts, football pitches and a children's playground. It also hosts community events throughout the year.
Orleans Gardens sits on the river Thames and offers a grassy area ideal for picnics, a caféand children's playground which also contain equipment designed for disabled children to enjoy. The area benefits from the Grade II listed Marble Hill Park, which spans 66 acres and has a variety of facilities including public toilets, a caféand a dedicated picnic area.
Is St. Margarets a safe place to live?
St. Margarets is located within the St. Margarets and North Twickenham SNT area, which recorded 1,214 criminal incidents between February 2020 and January 2022. This figure included 295 violent crimes, 234 vehicle offences, 207 thefts and 125 burglaries. During this period rates of crime remained relatively consistent, with peaks of 66 cases per month and lows of 36 cases per month.
In November 2021 the area saw nine crimes of assault without injury, eight cases of vandalism and eight cases of harassment. There were a handful of crime hot-spot areas during this period, including around London Road, St. Margarets station and Sandycombe Lodge. Overall these stats equate to the occurrence of five crimes per 1,000 residents in the St. Margarets area, which was the same rate seen across the borough of Richmond Upon Thames. Notably however it was lower than the rate seen across the wider London area, which recorded eight crimes per 1,000 residents during this four-week period.
Which celebrities live in St. Margarets?
As a picturesque suburb in the ever-popular South West London area, St. Margarets is an attractive place to live and has attracted an array of famous faces over the decades. In addition to J. M. W. Turner, who built his country retreat in the area, St. Margarets was also once home to film and stage actor Garry March, courtier Henrietta Howard, journalist Simon Hoggart and television presenter Lynn Faulds Wood.
Current St. Margarets residents include comedian Milton Jones, actors Samantha Bond and Alexander Hanson, and journalist and newsreader Sophie Raworth.
Things to consider when moving to St. Margarets
The area's tree-lined streets are among the most popular, and so competition for the finest properties can be quite intense. It is also worth noting here that a significant percentage of St. Margarets is located within a controlled parking zone, which limits parking to residents and those with permits.
There are only three main schools in the nearby area: Orleans Primary School, Orleans Park School and St Stephen's CofE Primary School. The former two schools have been rated as 'Outstanding' and St Stephen's has secured a 'Good' rating from Ofsted. Competition for places at these schools is often high, however there are several other schools within a one mile radius including Deer Park School and St Mary's CofE Primary School, which have both also been rated as 'Outstanding'. The Old Vicarage independent school is within a one mile radius and sits in the neighbouring town of Richmond.
St. Margarets is a charming suburb with a distinctly village-like atmosphere, however it is missing the vibrancy and diversity that many other areas benefit from. Plus as transport links aren't quite as numerous or efficient as in other nearby areas, this may not be the ideal place to set up home if you will need to travel to various part of the city frequently for work.