Wandsworth’s Most Underestimated Districts

Albert Bridge

The London Borough of Wandsworth has always existed in the shadow of the boroughs with which it borders. But it is had to stand out when you have glamorous neighbours such as the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames, the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, the City of Westminster or the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames. And yet, many people have chosen to live here. In fact, they are so many that Wandsworth ranks as the largest Inner Borough in the UK capital when it comes down to population size. Albert BridgeThat is because living in that part of London has a number of advantages. Two of the greatest of them are that many of Wandsworth’s districts are set right on the banks of the River Thames and that the cost of living in the borough remains rather low compared to the rest of the capital. In addition to that, it is the safest Inner London Borough and it has a very low council tax. And yes, much like most other boroughs in London, it too is home to a vast wealth of exceptional landmarks the most notable of which are:

  • New Covent Garden Market
  • Battersea Arts Centre
  • Battersea Park
  • Clapham Junction train station
  • Clapham Common
  • The London Heliport
  • Battersea Power Station
  • Albert Bridge
  • King George’s Park
  • The Peace Pagoda

Unfortunately, similar to Wandsworth itself, many of its most interesting neighbourhoods continue to be under-the-radar simply because they are located close to some of London’s most well-known districts.

Balham

A bandstand in Clapham CommonOne of the areas in the borough which has always struggled to attract the attention of home buyers and tourists is Balham. That is quite unusual since this neighbourhood is actually among the most key spots in Wandsworth. Together with Putney, Clapham Junction, Wandsworth and Tooting, Balham functions as a main town centre in the borough. So, there must be something wrong with this area, right… except there isn’t! Balham is a very laidback and peaceful suburb which offers good transport links. Also, the neighbourhood is quite green since it is surrounded by four different commons, including Wandsworth Common, Clapham Common, Tooting Bec Common and Tooting Graveney Common. On top of that, it has an excellent town centre where you can find many great amenities and services, such as professional man and van in Balham SW12. What is more, the area was listed among the “Best Places to Live in Britain.” Balham’s only fault is that it is located near desirable districts such as Tooting, Brixton and Clapham. But then again, living in a hidden gem like this one means that you get to enjoy all the above-listed benefits minus the crowds of tourists and the sky-high property prices.

Battersea

Just like Balham, Battersea is also situated close to popular London area. In this case, however, those are Chelsea and Eltham. In addition, there are no tube stations in the district which is a huge let-down for anyone who wants to settle here. On the bright side, the Northern Line will arrive in Battersea in 2020. That will certainly make this green and charming district a magnet for home hunters. Therefore, if you are currently eyeing the area, wondering whether you should move here or not, take the dive and hire a skilled man and van in Battersea SW11 now while the prices are still acceptable.

Earlsfield

The area of Earlsfield is even more under-the-radar than Balham and Battersea. That is probably because it is quite small in size and it is set near the latter two districts. Despite that, Earlsfield offers much better transport links to central London compared to Battersea. The train trip to Waterloo, for example, takes less than 15 minutes. It also has a big high street, Garratt Lane, where you can find everything you need – pubs, stores, bars, restaurants and other amenities. The presence of local man and van in Earlsfield SW18 is also a big plus, especially for those who are about to relocate to the area. This is an extremely green suburb since it is home to Garratt Park, King George’s Park and Garratt Green. The River Wandle also flows nearby. What more could you ask for?

The London Borough of Wandsworth is filled with hidden gems that are waiting to be discovered. It is located not far from central London but its unpretentious and relaxed style will win you over.