A guide to living in South East England

South East England is the third-largest of the official regions of England by area, and has the highest population of all the regions. Stretching to the west as far as the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, right across to the tip of Kent and curling around London up to Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, the South East benefits from its close connection with the capital and the national transport network. It also offers residents close proximity to the continent and swift international connections via the Channel Tunnel, Gatwick and Heathrow on its border with Greater London.

Excellent

69.4%

Very Good

22.6%

Average

6.1%

Disappointing

1.0%

Very poor

0.9%

Best places to live in South East England

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 368

Rental Only

Leaf Living at Liberty Place, BN27

By Leaf Living

4.94

(19 reviews)

Discover the perfect blend of town convenience and countryside charm at Liberty Place, conveniently located on the edge of Hailsham town. This new community is a stone throw from a variety of shops, supermarkets and restaurants and has a selection of great schools withing reach. For leisure, the town offers a leisure centre, the Pavilion Cinema, and an array of parks and play areas. The development is well-connected, with easy access to A22 & M23. Polegate Train Station, located just 10 minutes away, offers great train services to London Victoria, London Gatwick and neighbouring coastal towns.

1st

Ranked 1st out of 203 in South East England

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Leaf Living at The Gateway, TN40

By Leaf Living

4.91

(25 reviews)

Coastal living in the tranquil seaside town of Bexhill-on-Sea, a gem nestled between Hastings and Eastbourne in East Sussex. This prime location becomes a vibrant hub in the summer, offering beachfront activities and a serene escape along the South Coast.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 203 in South East England

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Award Winner 2025

Ebb & Flow, RG1

By Native Communities

Award winner 2025

4.89

(181 reviews)

Ebb & Flow offers a collection of Studio, 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments in the heart of Reading. All apartments have spacious kitchens, enhanced floor to ceiling height, and bespoke furniture. As well as this, residents benefit from a 24hr support team, wellness classes and community events. Private social and co-working spaces are also included. A buzzing new neighbourhood right on your doorstep.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 203 in South East England

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Leaf Living Oakhurst at Brookleigh, RH15

By Leaf Living

4.89

(14 reviews)

Located in the charming West Sussex town of Burgess Hill, Oakhurst at Brookleigh offers a selection of 1-4 bedroom homes to rent. With a scenic backdrop and links to London and Brighton.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 203 in South East England

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Award Winner 2025

The Almere, MK9

By Native Communities

Award winner 2025

4.88

(176 reviews)

At The Almere, residents benefit from spacious apartments, panoramic views, resident events and coworking spaces. A community nestled in the heart of Milton Keynes, with access to facilities and amenities right on your doorstep. Our 1, 2 and 3 bedroom rental apartments come with on-site customer and maintenance services and a relaxed community lounge for you to enjoy. All pets are welcome at The Almere, whether they are feathered, four-legged, fishy, or feline. For commuters, our luxury apartments are just 12 minutes on foot to Milton Keynes Train Station, with trains direct to the capital and other UK hotspots.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 203 in South East England

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Page 1 of 74

Featured developments in South East England

Latest Reviews in South East England

5188 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 5175

Maggie (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Aug 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Top class management in a building that keeps getting better and better

Maggie (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Berkshire House, SL6

Aug 2026

Berkshire House is a development that keeps getting better. The communal area on the 14th floor has just been refurbished and it looks fantastic: sleek modern furniture, updated colour palette and a layout that feels both sociable and relaxed. It's quickly become my favourite spot for weekend coffee or catching up with neighbours. Oxana made my stay wonderful. She is professional, manages the building well, she is transparent and communicative. Maintenance requests are handled quickly , usually in the same day during the week.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

I relocated from London and Maidenhead has been a really positive change. The Elizabeth line means I can still be at my desk in the City within 40 minutes, but I come home to a quieter, greener setting. The riverside around Boulter's Lock and Ray Mill Island is beautiful for after-work walks.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Brilliantly. Oxana A responds to queries within hours and always follows up.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Nothing, everything was well presented by Oxana and I have nothing to comment in this section.

・・

HomeViews

Arpi (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Almere, MK9

Aug 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Excellent and cozy establishment that fosters community

Arpi (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Almere, MK9

Aug 2026

The development aspect is really nice, I love the calm, modern design of the lounges. Especially the warm lights and couches, it really makes me feel like it's a space made to foster community. One of my favorite things to do is to study in the 11th floor lounge. The facilities are excellent, there is free coffee and tea and the bathrooms are always clean. The coworking space has good noise cancellation and is very cozy. And my favorite part is all the monthly events that the building hosts for the tenants, I wouldn't have met any of my neighbours and made friends if it weren't for those events, so I'm incredibly grateful. The concierge staff are also extremely friendly and warm, most notably Christina, the tea party she organised was amazing and looked incredibly professionally done. All in all it truly is a great experience to be a tenant here.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Everything is very close by and extremely convenient. I really like that we live right across the Sainsbury supermarket, because it makes getting groceries a really easy chore since we don't own a car yet. The restaurants and bars are also amazing, there are so many options, and I love that I can just go down and take my pick without paying for Uber.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They reply in a short amount of time and usually always help fix the issue.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

There isn't anything in particular, everything was clear.

・・

HomeViews

Christina (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Riverview, TW18

Aug 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Very convenient, relaxing and elegant place to live

Christina (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Riverview, TW18

Aug 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The building is very central so it’s very convenient. The only downside is that it’s always very busy and crowded right outside the building because there is a public parking, but the building itself, has very good security.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The building management is always very fast in responding and very helpful

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Nothing bad to mention. The view of the sunset from the Ashby building is astonishing!

・・

HomeViews

Aminat M (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Almere, MK9

Aug 2026

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

Friendly staff, cleaning and maintenance are the best part of living here

Aminat M (Tenant)

Verified Resident

The Almere, MK9

Aug 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The best part of living here is the staff. Cristina, Susan and Bethany are lovely and always keen to help and make residents feel at home.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The maintenance team response is always quick and helpful

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known that the gym would not be built for 2 years of my stay. We also had a coffee machine that was taken away abruptly. So we have less perks than expected or initially offered

・・

HomeViews

Antonio O (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Leaf Living at Shinfield Meadows, RG2

Aug 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

A High-Quality Property with Exceptional Comfort and Support

Antonio O (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Leaf Living at Shinfield Meadows, RG2

Aug 2026

The property has everything you need. The spaces are more than sufficient, and it has been built using state-of-the-art materials—the best available on the market. The rooms have been designed to provide maximum privacy, and I can assure you that they stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The property management team supports you at all times and is always available to assist with any needs you may have. In particular, I would like to highlight the efficiency of Sally Campbell, who is always ready to answer your questions, even when she is on holiday.

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

The area is absolutely fantastic, especially if you have children. There are several well-equipped playgrounds nearby, and the area feels very safe. Everything you need is close by, from schools to sports centres. There aren’t many supermarket options, but with a car, you can get wherever you need to go within 5 minutes. An ideal location if you’re looking for safety, peace and quiet, and a great place to raise your children.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They are always available and ready to resolve any issues that may arise, or simply to assist with any needs you may have.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Nothing. Sally Campbell anticipated all my questions and provided me with the best possible support.

・・

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Page 1 of 1035

These reviews are the subjective opinion of a HomeViews user and not of HomeViews

Useful articles

Berkshire

Berkshire is a county in the South East of England. It has a population of around 540,000 and contains some beautiful countryside and towns. The landscape here is varied, from chalk downland through rich farmland to woodland and water features. The county town is Reading and there are many other large towns such as Newbury, Swindon and Wokingham which all have their own attractions. Berkshire also has many amazing educational institutions including world-leading universities like the University of Reading.

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Buckinghamshire

Buckinghamshire is a county in the southeast of England. The largest and most populous town in Buckinghamshire is Milton Keynes with over 200,000 residents. Other large towns include Aylesbury, High Wycombe and Slough. There are lots of villages to explore as well such as Stoke Mandeville near Aylesbury (the home of the famous Stoke Mandeville Games), Anstee near Bletchley (which has an ancient church) and East Claydon near Leighton Buzzard (famous for its cherry orchards).

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East Sussex

East Sussex is a county in the southeast of England with a coastline that has many beautiful cliffs and salt marshes which are a haven for birdlife. There are also plenty of coastal towns with stunning beaches such as Bexhill or Hastings that offer great family days out too. If you're looking for somewhere green then there's no shortage - East Sussex has over 400 square kilometres of woodland including Rother Valley Country Park near Brighton which is home to deer, wild boar and foxes!

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Hampshire

Hampshire is a county in the south of England that borders Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Wiltshire. It has some beautiful towns such as Winchester, Basingstoke and Romsey which are perfect for those who want to live near London but without all the hustle and bustle. Hampshire's largest city is Southampton with over 200,000 people living there. With lots of green space, outdoor activities and cultural events, Hampshire offers a vibrant lifestyle for families with young children.

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Kent

Kent is one of the most popular counties in England, with a population of 1.8 million people. It has some really beautiful scenery and many great amenities for families that are looking to buy their first home or move up into a nicer place. There are also several excellent universities that attract students from all over the world to come and study here.

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Milton Keynes

Just 50 miles to north east of London, Milton Keynes was devised as a ‘new town’ in the 1960s and continues to evolve and grow today. Famed for its roundabouts and district grids, the town has benefitted from a steady flow of new residents from London. House prices have seen strong growth, with amenities and schools now plentiful and high quality. Housing is more varied than its reputation might suggest, with everything from period properties in historic villages to new build homes in chic developments.

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Oxfordshire

Oxfordshire is a county in the south of England, home to many great schools and universities. The population is around 638,000 people. Oxfordshire has some lovely countryside that would be perfect for anyone looking to move away from city life with their family. If you are considering moving here, this guide will give you all the information you need to know about Oxfordshire!

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Reading

Reading is a large market town and borough in the county of Berkshire. Located on the M4 motorway 40 miles west of London and within easy reach of both Oxford and Bristol, it has been described as having some of the best transport connections in England. The impending addition of the Elizabeth Line will further boost its appeal with London escapees lured by the scenery of the Chiltern Hills and North Wessex Downs that surround the town.

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Surrey

Surrey is a county in the south of England. It has an area of 1,663 square kilometres and a population of 1.2 million people. Surrey borders London to the North West and Hampshire to the East. The county has many beautiful parks which are great for families, as well as areas with wild landscapes ideal for outdoor pursuits such as cycling or walking. There are so many things to do in Surrey - find out more about this wonderful place!

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West Sussex

West Sussex is a county that has something for everyone. Whether you love the hustle and bustle of London and want somewhere in easy commuting distance, or prefer the peace and tranquillity of rural life, West Sussex has it all! There are many different towns and villages scattered across this beautiful county. From Eastbourne to Worthing, there is no shortage of charming little places with great schools, shopping centres, local amenities and lots more!

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