Sudbury is a suburban area positioned between Wembley, Wembley Park and Kenton in the North West London borough of Brent.
In 2021, average sold property prices in Sudbury were £567,683. This average price makes the area of Sudbury more expensive than Stonebridge Park which recorded an average price of £270,000, but more affordable that Brondesbury Park which is the most expensive area within the borough of Brent and where average property prices sit at £1,085,946. Notably, Sudbury is marginally more expensive than nearby Wembley and Wembley Park, which recorded average property prices of £495,600 and £506,981 respectively.
Semi-detached properties made up the majority of Sudbury's property sales in 2021 and they fetched an average price of £652,425. On average, flats were considerably more affordable recording an average price of £323,970, and terraced properties sold for £534,889 on average.
Since 2020, sold prices in Sudbury have increased by 9%. Notably, since 2018 when the peak average price in the area was £454,747, prices have risen by 25%.
What is living in Sudbury like?
Occupying a position approximately half a mile away from Wembley Central railway station, Sudbury is a relatively narrow suburb which underwent an intense process of urbanisation in the late 19th century. The arrival of the railway in the area transformed it into a busy commuter belt and it is still extremely popular among young professionals today.
Despite extensive development, Sudbury still benefits from plenty of green, open space. This is largely due to the thoughtful planning control processes put in place by the local council. One of the most notable green areas in Sudbury is Barham Park, which dates back to the 18th century. This beautiful landscaped garden contains a stunning Georgian building which was once a private residence but is now used as a local library. It also boasts floral displays that come to life in the spring and summer months, a war memorial and a large children's playground.
As the area is located so close to Wembley, it benefits from plenty of sporting facilities. Vale Farm, for example, is home to an impressive sports complex which offers all-weather football pitches, cricket nets, outdoor tennis courts, and a large swimming pool. There are also a number of sports clubs in the area, including Sudbury Squash and Tennis Club, Sudbury Golf Club, and Sudbury Running Club.
Living in Sudbury pros and cons:
Pro: Strong community spirit
The community in Sudbury is relatively tight knit, however it also remains friendly and welcoming to newcomers. The Sudbury Town Residents' Association was set up to serve the local community and encourage residents to participate in the process of nurturing the area. It works alongside local authorities including Brent Council to ensure that Sudbury is a clean and safe environment in which to live and work.
Con: Poor air quality
Between the end of December 2021 and the end of January 2022, the Sudbury area experienced higher than recommended levels of air pollution on 18 out of 30 days. Over the course of a year, Sudbury residents may be exposed to levels of pollution that are more than four times the recommended upper limit as decided by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Pro: Excellent transport links
As we have already mentioned, the arrival of the railway in Sudbury quickly made it one of the most popular places to live for commuters. Today, residents benefit from Sudbury Town Station and Sudbury Hill Station, both of which are situated on the Piccadilly line. Additionally, Sudbury Hill Harrow Station and Sudbury & Harrow Road Station are both positioned on Chiltern Railways, which offers easy and efficient access to London Marylebone station.
For context, it is possible for Sudbury residents to be in Marylebone in under 10 minutes, Kings Cross and St Pancras in 11 minutes and Kings Cross in 31 minutes.
Road and bus links are also excellent, with the area befitting from access to the A404 Harrow Road, the A4005 Bridgewater Road, and the A4127 Greenford Road. Some of the area's most notable bus routes include the 92, which runs between Ealing hospital and Brent Park IKEA, the 18, which runs between Euston and Sudbury Swan and the H17, running between Wembley Central and Harrow Bus Station.
Sudbury also benefits from being outside the ULEZ zone, which means that drivers of vehicles that don't conform to emissions standards will only need to pay the £12.50 per day charge if they will be entering the zone at any point throughout their journey.
Pro: A range of amenities and facilities
As well as offering easy access to several hospitals and GP surgeries, Sudbury is home to a wide variety of shops, cafés and restaurants. This means that residents can find everything they need within their local community, without needing to look further afield unnecessarily.
Additionally, Sudbury benefits from superfast broadband services, which further contributes to the area being suited to young professionals and people who wish to work from home.
Is Sudbury a safe place to live?
In the period between January 2020 and December 2021, there were 1,724 crimes recorded in Sudbury. Violent crimes were the most common, with 632 reported incidents. There were also 225 cases of theft, 182 drug offences and 177 vehicle offences.
As with most areas, crime in Sudbury has been up and down over the last two years. Crime reached peaks in July 2020 and October 2021 when almost 100 crimes were recorded in a four-week period. Crime in Sudbury was lowest in January 2021 when just 53 crimes were reported. Currently, crime appears to be on a downward turn. November 2021 saw 26 fewer crimes reported and there were fewer than 70 cases recorded in December 2021.
According to data from the Metropolitan Police, there were 16 reports of assault without injury, 10 cases of miscellaneous theft and 8 incidents of miscellaneous violence in November 2021. There are a couple of notable crime hot spots in Sudbury, including the areas around Maybank Avenue and District Road.
Overall, crime in Sudbury is below both the wider borough of Brent and the city of London as a whole. There were eight cases per 1,000 residents recorded in Brent and in London, with just five crimes per 1,000 residents reported in Sudbury.
Which celebrities live in Sudbury?
Musicians Nicky Hopkins and Carlo Little spent much of their childhoods just a couple of houses apart on Sudbury's Harrow Road.
Another notable resident who grew up in the area is actor Dev Patel, who has gone on to play a number of starring roles in the likes of TV show 'Skins' and films including 'Slumdog Millionaire' and 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'.
Things to consider when moving to Sudbury
The Sudbury area is popular amongst both professionals and families with school-age children, which means that competition for property in the area can be high. Families should also note that while there are several schools within a mile radius, they may also need to consider schools that are a little further afield.
Some of the area's most competitive schools include Wembley High Technology College and Easy Lane Primary School, both of which have secured coveted 'Outstanding' Ofsted ratings. Many other schools in the Sudbury and Wembley area have been rated as 'Good' including Sudbury Primary School, Barham Primary School, and Park Lane Primary School.