What you need to know about Wandsworth
Forming part of South West London, the borough of Wandsworth is nestled between Richmond upon Thames to the left and Merton to the south. Lambeth, which forms part of South London, is situated to the right.
Wandsworth is home to a variety of well-known areas, including New Covent Garden, Battersea and Clapham Junction towards the north, Balham and Tooting towards the south of the borough, and Roehampton and Putney towards the west.
With an average house price of £807,375, the borough is more expensive than nearby Kingston upon Thames, where property sells for an average £624,047, however, Wandsworth is cheaper than Richmond upon Thames, which has an average property price of £918,405. Flats are the most commonly sold types of property in Wandsworth, selling for an average of £577,964. Terraced properties in the borough fetch an average price of £1,042,452 and the average semi-detached property reaches £1,562,462.
Nine Elms is the most expensive part of the borough, where average property prices sit at £990,330. Conversely, Furzedown is the most affordable part of the borough, with average properties fetching £611,456. In 2017, the average property price in Wandsworth was slightly higher at £818,552 however as prices have only fallen slightly, property in the area is proving to be a good investment.
What is living in Wandsworth like?
Forming part on Inner London, approximately 330,000 people call the borough of Wandsworth home. There are five bridges connecting Wandsworth to Hammersmith and Fulham, the City of Westminster, and Kensington and Chelsea, which are situated north of the River Thames.
Wandsworth benefits from several theatres, including the Putney Arts Theatre, Theatre503, and Battersea Arts Centre. Additionally, residents also have easy access to a variety of both well-known high street and independent stores. There are myriad highly-regarded restaurants, cafés and eateries in the borough, including award-winning establishments that attract guests from around the world.
The Sustainable Organic Market and selection of farmers' markets are a draw for foodies, where vendors offer everything from sustainable oysters to handmade baklava. Battersea Park is renowned for its fireworks display and the borough is also home to a variety of festivities throughout the year, including Wandsworth Heritage Festival and Wandsworth Arts Fringe. In addition, Clapham Common hosts a weekly ParkRun.
Living in Wandsworth pros and cons
Pro: Excellent transportation connections
Wandsworth has nine National Rail Stations, including Battersea Park, Putney, Wandsworth Common, and Tooting. South Western Railway services run from London Waterloo station, with Southern Rail operating services from London Victoria. Overground services connect the borough to Stratford, Shepherd's Bush, and Highbury & Islington. Wandsworth is also well served by the London Underground, with Northern Line stations at Battersea Power Station, Balham and Tooting Broadway, and District Line stations at Southfields and East Putney.
Transport for London and Wandsworth council maintain a robust cycling infrastructure, with the Cycle Superhighway 7 traversing much of the southeastern part of Wandsworth. The Cycle Superhighway 8 runs from Wandsworth Town to Millbank in the City of Westminster, and the Quietway 4 connects Clapham Common and Earlsfield. Additionally, the Wandle Trail is an ideal cycling route connecting Waddon and Wandsworth Town, running through Colliers Wood, Mitcham, Morden, and Carshalton. There are also bike-sharing schemes operating in Battersea, Wandsworth Tow, and Putney.
Con: Potential to be affected by the ULEZ scheme
The northern part of the borough of Wandsworth sits inside the recently expanded ULEZ scheme, which is designed to reduce air pollution. This means that to drive any vehicles that don't conform to emissions standards, drivers will need to pay the daily £12.50 charge.
Pro: Lots of open space
The borough is home to Tooting Commons, Wandsworth Common and Battersea Park, collectively offering more than 400 acres of green space. Battersea Park benefits from a bandstand, boating lake, children's zoo, and all-weather sporting facilities. Wandsworth Common has a variety of ponds, pedestrian board walks, and an educational centre. The Common also houses a popular fitness trail, a bowling green, tennis courts, and the Lady Allen Adventure Playground which is for children with disabilities. The name Tooting Commons collectively refers to Tooting Graveney Common and Tooting Bec Common, which include Tooting Bec Stadium and Tooting Bec Lido.
Con: Air quality
Although residents may only be exposed to levels of pollution that exceed World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines on as few as four days out of every 30, over the course of the year this still amounts to exposure which exceeds twice the recommended levels.
Pro: Good schools
Wandsworth has an excellent selection of private and state schools, most of which have earned either 'outstanding' or 'good' Ofsted ratings. Brandlehow, Honeywell Infants and Juniors and Sheringdale are all 'outstanding' primary schools, and Chestnut Grove and Ashfroft Technology are some of the best secondary schools in the borough. In terms of private schools, Thomas's School in Battersea is arguably the most famous, as it is where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have opted to send their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
Is Wandsworth a safe place to live?
With a rate of 23.16, overall the borough of Wandsworth has a lower than average crime rate. Between November 2019 and October 2021, there were 50,478 offences reported in the borough, with 14,194 of those categorised as violence against the person. Theft and vehicle offences were also relatively high, accounting for 11,158 and 7,053 offences respectively.
Conversely, possession of weapons, robbery and sexual offences in the borough were very low, which cumulatively accounted for less than 3,200 of the total number of offences reported. In the 12 months to October 2021, crime in the borough was up by 0.17% when compared to the previous 12 months.
Which celebrities live in Wandsworth?
Many famous faces have chosen to settle in the borough of Wandsworth, particularly around the Clapham area. Film star Margot Robbie lived in a Clapham house share with her friends, even after marrying her husband. She's known for sunning herself on Clapham Common and frequenting some of the bars on Clapham High Street.
Dame Vivienne Westwood has lived in Clapham for five decades. She initially lived with Malcolm McLaren on Nightingale Lane but has lived with her husband in Clapham Old Town for almost 20 years. Another long-term resident of the area is national treasure Joanna Lumley, who has lived with her husband in a five-storey town house for almost three decades. She can also often be spotted in the Canton Arms, her much-loved local pub.
More than 16 years ago, chef Gordon Ramsay purchased a house close to Wandsworth Common at auction, which he and his wife Tana set about lovingly restoring to its former splendour, having previously been divided into flats.
Things to consider when moving to Wandsworth
Despite not being the most expensive part of London, property prices in Wandsworth are still on the higher side. In 2019, the average rental property in the borough was £1,650. The median salary at the time was £41,668 which is notably lower than the £49,500 annual income required to comfortably afford a rental property of that value.
Wandsworth undoubtedly has the potential to offer an excellent lifestyle for everyone from young professionals to families and retirees. But before committing to moving to the area, it is important to spend time carefully considering whether your budget will allow you to live in your ideal property and still ensure you have the opportunity to enjoy everything Wandsworth has to offer.