Views on SE London (Bermondsey / Rotherhithe?)
Discussion
Morning all.
I currently considering a change of location in London. At the moment i'm in Wandsworth, SW London, but have increasingly been looking at the Bermondsey / Rotherhithe area. My reasons are thus;
1) Cheaper rent, for a nicer place. Not substantially, but every little helps.
2) Easier to get to work (Green Park), 15 minutes from Canada Water on the Jubilee line
3) Cheaper house prices. Realistically, at present levels i won't be able to buy in SW London. SE prices seem markedly cheaper in comparison. Before i buy i want to get to know the area and work out where's good to buy and were isn't.
I was wondering what people's views are on the area? All views greatly appreciated.
I currently considering a change of location in London. At the moment i'm in Wandsworth, SW London, but have increasingly been looking at the Bermondsey / Rotherhithe area. My reasons are thus;
1) Cheaper rent, for a nicer place. Not substantially, but every little helps.
2) Easier to get to work (Green Park), 15 minutes from Canada Water on the Jubilee line
3) Cheaper house prices. Realistically, at present levels i won't be able to buy in SW London. SE prices seem markedly cheaper in comparison. Before i buy i want to get to know the area and work out where's good to buy and were isn't.
I was wondering what people's views are on the area? All views greatly appreciated.
johnnywb said:
Ok thanks, i'm 23 with no chance of ankle biters any time in the near future! What's the area like for going out?
There are a few small restaurants on the lower road,and two big restaurants on the surrey quays leisure park i.e a Frankie and Bennys and Quinceys.There is also a bowling alley and Cinema(best to be avoided at the moment)Lots of trouble on the weekends with youths travelling up from Deptford,Peckham,and New Cross looking to settle old scores.Normally in the confines of the Cinema.Your best off taking the short trip in to Greenwich for some night life.Go and have a visit around Canada water.Go along the Lower rd.Turn left in to Plough way and as you go down the road before the bend,take a left there.That will take you in to Canada dock and Greenland dock.Some nice properties there. I lived in the area for a year (in both Bermondsey and Canada Water). If you work hard then its great. There is a 24 hour Tesco and late night cinema in Canada Water.
As far as socialising goes, its pretty dead. However, London Bridge is very happenig and that is 2 tube stops away.
I'd recommend it.
As far as socialising goes, its pretty dead. However, London Bridge is very happenig and that is 2 tube stops away.
I'd recommend it.
I own a flat in Rotherhithe between Spice Island and the Mayflower. And before that I had one by the Famous Angel on Bermondsey Wall. I really rate the area and my current flatmate, who is a refugee from Parsons Green, has become a total convert having previously been a dyed-in-the-wool Fulhamite.
At the risk of sounding like one of the local estate agents(!): it's great value for money (can get more space for your money and many of the apartment complexes have secure parking which is a bonus), it's surprisingly central (you can get to Westminster by car in 10 mins if you know the right fiddles and my record is 18 minutes from Barons Court to Rotherhithe at 8am on a Saturday morning), the Jubilee Line is efficient by the general standards of the Tube, and the area doesn't feel like Central London. Lots of water and greenery, and it's very peaceful and safe-feeling. I would however only live between Butlers Wharf and the Hilton, and never further south than Jamaica Rd or Brunel Rd/Salter Rd. That's the nice bit - further south starts to get a bit more gritty. As well as Rotherhithe, Bermondsey and Canada Water tube stations, there's also good bus links and a water taxi service from Hilton/Greenland Dock, plus London City airport is 15/20 mins by cab. There's all the essential shops (plus a cinema complex and Decathlon) at Surrey Quays and for better food you can always whip through the Rotherhithe Tunnel to the Waitrose under Canary Wharf.
Obviously there are plenty of restaurants/bars at Butlers Wharf - I'm fond of a curry at The Bengal Clipper. But also the Mayflower in Rotherhithe is a cracking pub (Greene King and a bit expensive) and the Angel (a Sam Smith pub) is also good (has great view of Tower Bridge). And Castello, the Italian restaurant on the entertainingly re-named "Jamaica Road Piazza" is surprisingly good and remarkably cheap.
At the risk of sounding like one of the local estate agents(!): it's great value for money (can get more space for your money and many of the apartment complexes have secure parking which is a bonus), it's surprisingly central (you can get to Westminster by car in 10 mins if you know the right fiddles and my record is 18 minutes from Barons Court to Rotherhithe at 8am on a Saturday morning), the Jubilee Line is efficient by the general standards of the Tube, and the area doesn't feel like Central London. Lots of water and greenery, and it's very peaceful and safe-feeling. I would however only live between Butlers Wharf and the Hilton, and never further south than Jamaica Rd or Brunel Rd/Salter Rd. That's the nice bit - further south starts to get a bit more gritty. As well as Rotherhithe, Bermondsey and Canada Water tube stations, there's also good bus links and a water taxi service from Hilton/Greenland Dock, plus London City airport is 15/20 mins by cab. There's all the essential shops (plus a cinema complex and Decathlon) at Surrey Quays and for better food you can always whip through the Rotherhithe Tunnel to the Waitrose under Canary Wharf.
Obviously there are plenty of restaurants/bars at Butlers Wharf - I'm fond of a curry at The Bengal Clipper. But also the Mayflower in Rotherhithe is a cracking pub (Greene King and a bit expensive) and the Angel (a Sam Smith pub) is also good (has great view of Tower Bridge). And Castello, the Italian restaurant on the entertainingly re-named "Jamaica Road Piazza" is surprisingly good and remarkably cheap.
Funny old world isn't it. I used to live on Pepys Estate when it was first built (1964) and I got to know the whole Deptford, Greenwich, Rotherhithe and Bermondsey area really well and it was an alright place to live. Now I drive through the places I grew up in and I shudder. I would not want to live anywhere down there now. Mind you, I don't even drive through Peckham now...
Hughesie II said:
noumenon said:
Wapping nice also. Just the other side of the river. A little quieter, a little safer, a little more expensive. Full of PHers. 
Not as many peasants either like you get south of the river as well 
I'd say:
Butler's Wharf = St Katherine's Dock (both very smart, both very expensive)
Rotherhithe = Wapping (with Wapping being a bit nicer and a bit more expensive but with worse transport links)
Limehouse = Surrey Quays (watery and popular with trendy types - Limehouse nicer but apparently a gay mecca (whether that's good or bad depends I suppose on your point of view))
Shadwell = Bermondsey (both chavvier but Shadwell is the chavvier in my experience)
The area is on the up and prices have really stengthened. When the redevelopment is complete it should be a great place to be. (http://www.canadawater-southwark.co.uk)
Canada Water is very car friendly. Most apartments come with secure parking and many of the houses have garages. Parking is free at the shopping centre and for the cinema. Touch wood, I've not suffered any break ins etc.
Alas its crap if you need schooling for your kids so I'll move out soon but I really like the area. Quiet and green but into the west end in 15 mins and the City in the same. Greenwich and Blackheath are good for restaurants and even Lower Rd is beginning to improve (slowly).
Canada Water is very car friendly. Most apartments come with secure parking and many of the houses have garages. Parking is free at the shopping centre and for the cinema. Touch wood, I've not suffered any break ins etc.
Alas its crap if you need schooling for your kids so I'll move out soon but I really like the area. Quiet and green but into the west end in 15 mins and the City in the same. Greenwich and Blackheath are good for restaurants and even Lower Rd is beginning to improve (slowly).
Hughesie II said:
noumenon said:
Wapping nice also. Just the other side of the river. A little quieter, a little safer, a little more expensive. Full of PHers.
Not as many peasants either like you get south of the river as well 
I lived there for nine years, and was amazed at the amount of crime that happened in the area. If you are going to move there and you've got a decent car, make sure you've got a garage. My car was broken into twice, and in the area surrounding Greenland dock there were always cars with windows that had been broken in order to break in. Not recommended.
You would think that that was the case. But I lived in Bermondsey for 4 years, just off the east end of the Jamaica Road, and I kept my car outside on the street where it was never so much as touched. And given that for the first two years, the car was a late Mk2 Golf GTI 16v and latterly it was an Audi A3 1.8T quattro, it's not even like they were particularly unattractive targets.
I was pretty surprised by that.
I was pretty surprised by that.
Wapping is a cut above the south side, admittedly (more desirable property as it gets the sun all day theoretically, being south facing)...
However Shad Thames is a beauty in itself, so much character and the view of the north of town from the south is better than the view of the south from the north, if that makes sense!
Used to live in T Bridge. Good times - Bermondsey St is legendary (see The Garrison pub for good times).
MN
However Shad Thames is a beauty in itself, so much character and the view of the north of town from the south is better than the view of the south from the north, if that makes sense!
Used to live in T Bridge. Good times - Bermondsey St is legendary (see The Garrison pub for good times).
MN
I've built a few of the flats on the Rotherhithe river front and have spent a few years there. It's an OK area with plenty to do and not far from the West End.
The problem is if you have to leave your car outside, it WILL get broken into or worse, so make sure you get a place with secure off-street parking. Don't even consdier anything without out it if you value you car.
The problem is if you have to leave your car outside, it WILL get broken into or worse, so make sure you get a place with secure off-street parking. Don't even consdier anything without out it if you value you car.
m3psm said:
I've built a few of the flats on the Rotherhithe river front
Wanna buy some wood? 
Nick
www.tbrewer.co.uk
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