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.

4.47
Average Location Score

Excellent

61%

Very Good

29%

Average

8%

Disappointing

2%

Very Poor

1%

Best places to live in South East England

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

The coast of the Isle of Wight in South East England

Where is South East England?

South East England stretches from Kent – the south-easterly tip of the UK – and curls around London and up into Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire. It stretches south west along the south coast as far as the Isle of Wight and Hampshire, including Portsmouth and Southampton.

South East England counties

Buckinghamshire

Home County Buckinghamshire shares a border with London to the south east, making it a prime commuter location for the capital with easy access to the rest of the UK. The Chiltern Hills attract many tourists to Buckinghamshire, while the Prime Minister’s retreat house at Chequers attracts a more select group of visitors to the county.

East Sussex

Well known for its beautiful white cliffs along the south coast and the verdant plains of the South Downs, East Sussex is also a county with a rich history. Herstmonceux, Pevensey and Lewes castles convey the strategic importance of this strip of land along the south coast – also the location of the Battle of Hastings.

The port town of Dover, South East England

Hampshire

Hampshire, along with the Isle of Wight and the unitary authorities of Portsmouth and Southampton, make up the south-westerly tip of the South East of England. One of the wealthiest counties in the UK, Hampshire also boasts beautiful scenery in the form of the New Forest and South Downs National Parks.

Isle of Wight

Sitting just off the south coast opposite Southampton and Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight is England’s largest island. Perhaps best known as a ‘staycation’ destination for Brits and for its annual music and sailing festivals.

Kent

Known as ‘the garden of England’ for its abundant fruit and hop produce, Kent now lays claim to a highly diversified economy. Its easy connections to both London and the Continent make this county a relatively affluent area with plenty of attractive towns and the iconic White Cliffs of Dover.

Oxfordshire

Right on the western edge of the South East England region sits Oxfordshire. The city of Oxford is the county’s chief urban centre, with its world-famous university, publishing house and associated biotechnology industry. Also includes three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty – the Chilterns, the Cotswolds and the North Wessex Downs.

The city of Oxford in the South East of England

Berkshire

A Home County and a Royal County thanks to the presence of Windsor Castle. Berskshire borders Greater London to the east, offering residents swift access to the capital, as well as beautiful stretches of countryside that include Windsor Great Park, Swinley Forest and the Berkshire Downs.

Surrey

Sitting below Greater London to the south west, Surrey is another prime commuter county. Train links into London are swift and regular, and parts of the county sit within the capital’s travel zones. Surrey has the most woodland of all English counties and is split in two by the chalk ridge that forms the North Downs.

West Sussex

Directly below Surrey and stretching down to the south coast lies West Sussex. Much of the county consists of protected green areas, offering residents and visitors a wealth of countryside areas for outdoor pursuits.

South East England cities

The cities of South East England are: Southampton, Portsmouth, Brighton and Hove, Reading and Oxford. Larger towns include Milton Keynes, Slough, Reading, Maidstone and Eastbourne.

Things to do in South East England

As a tourist hotspot, South East England offers a wealth of unique things to do. From indoor skiing on real snow to some of the UK’s best museums, this exciting region provides plenty of options for visitors and residents alike. See our list of the Top 10 things to do in South East England for a few ideas to get you started.

Best beaches

The South East also boasts some outstanding beaches. Whether for a sunny summer day in the sea or a refreshing coastal walk in the cooler months, these beaches offer a beautiful setting for a great day out. Check out or list of the Top 10 beaches in South East England for more details.

Universities in the South East of England

With around twenty universities, the South East gives students plenty of options for studies and exciting extra-curricular activities! The prestigious Oxford University sits within this region, alongside popular options such as Southampton, Brighton and Portsmouth. See our guide to universities in the South East of England for more info.

Private schools

Some of the UK’s most prestigious private schools fall within the South East region, including Guildford High School and Wycombe Abbey School. Have a look through our list of 1o highest rated private schools in the South East of England to see all the best schools in the area.

Reviews in South East England

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Love it all

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Mar 2024

Walking distance to most bars and restaurants. Great public transport connections too. Very lovely and great for young people

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We love the building itself. Excellent small gym and the flats are small but designed in a way that the space is well used. Everything is easy to clean and public areas are very lovely to spend time in. Roof terraces are amazing in the summer too. Great staff in the reception. Love all of you! Some of the maintenance team are very moody and make you feel like you’re better off not asking for help. Very difficult to get anything urgent fixed without having many people coming in to check the problem and explain the issue multiple times. Very difficult when you work from home and try to organise time between meetings and calls. Also never arrive on time or get things fixed within the time promised. Luckily we have not had too many issues! Other than that great!

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

That people outside of the building are also allowed to use the gym

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

Reception are always great raising issues or giving answers but maintenance is a nightmare but it could just be our experience or bad luck

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
4
Management
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Safe space with quirky design and homely feel.

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Mar 2024

Great access to busses, station, public parks, sea front, shops, pubs and cafesParking availability is not great for visitors – 2hour limit on street. Traffic noise is expected however quiet with closed doors/windows.

Please review your development:

The design of the building is fresh, quirky and homely. The shared space on the ground floor is comfortable to work in, hang out and meet friends. I haven’t had much experience with the garden terraces but hope to access this perk in warmer weather. The lifts are fast and building access is easy and convenient. I have had great interactions with the buildings maintenance and reception team, always helpful and friendly. And the communal areas are kept clean and tidy.

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

I wish parking for visitors was an option, or some kind of permit style thing – eg 25 permits per household to use the underground car park.

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

The issue I raised regarding a towel rail not working was fixed quickly

4
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
4
Management
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Very pleased!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Mar 2024

York and Elder is situated in a perfect location! It’s close to lots of shops, bars, pubs and is just a short walk away from town. It’s the quietest place I have ever lived in even though it’s so close to everything!

Please review your development:

The front of house staff are outstanding – always going to the greatest of lengths to help us and meet our needs. I think the design of the building is very well done and absolutely love the interior inside.
I love the fact that we can use the gym whenever we want and it has everything that we need.

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

I wish I knew that we couldn’t use Runway East next door.
I wish I knew we wouldn’t get a parking space even though there’s a car park downstairs.
I wish I knew how welcoming everyone would be! It’s a lovely community.

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

Always receive a response, always try their hardest to resolve it.

4
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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Building is beautiful inside and out

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Mar 2024

Incredible location – very central, a stones throw from the station, walking distance to everything.

Please review your development:

Building is beautiful inside and out. Brilliant facilities and everything is kept clean and tidy.
The east/west sides elevator could have been better thought out, no access to most facilities from one side.
Reception/clubhouse would look better with real plants instead of plastic/fake.

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

The gym is actually shared with the offices next door.

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

Incredibly quick response, any issues resolved same day.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
3
Value
4
Management
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