A guide to living in South East London

South East London stretches from SE1 down to SE20, encompassing the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lewisham and Southwark. Such a huge slice of the capital naturally has lots of different guises and offerings; from out-of-this-world dining scenes to riverside living and everything in between. Read on to discover developments that are rated the best places to live in South East London. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in South East London. Areas like Lambeth and Elephant & Castle have seen much in the way of regeneration. Ultra-modern residential developments are now peppered along the Thames here, packed with apartments and penthouses that come with a bird’s-eye view of the city. Both districts are now firmly seated in the ‘up-and-coming’ category, with new bars and restaurants opening up practically weekly. For celebrated old-time icons, meanwhile, Lambeth plays host to famous attractions like the National Theatre, the Tate Modern, and the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre; so this is a real cultural big-hitter.

Excellent

58.8%

Very Good

29.9%

Average

8.8%

Disappointing

1.3%

Very poor

1.2%

Best places to live in South East London

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 209

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Union Wharf, SE8

By Essential Living

Award winner 2025

4.7

4.70

(295 reviews)

Union Wharf is a development from London property developer Essential Living. It features 249 rental-only apartments on the banks of Deptford Creek near Greenwich’s town centre. It houses a collection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. In addition, Union Wharf is close to the Cutty Sark DLR station for fast and frequent connections to Canary Wharf.

1st

Ranked 1st out of 99 in South East London

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Rental Only

Neptune Wharf, SE8

By Neptune Wharf London

4.7

4.70

(27 reviews)

Neptune Wharf London presents a collection of 139 one, two and three bedroom apartments to rent in Deptford, SE8, brought to you by leading developer Galliard Homes, and BTR operator, Sable. Spanning five residential buildings, the apartments feature contemporary designs, many with scenic views of Deptford Park and the Canary Wharf skyline. Residents also benefit from luxury on-site amenities and will soon enjoy a number of exciting retail spaces within the development’s boulevard.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 99 in South East London

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Rental Only

Navigator Place by Berkeley Living, SE3

By Berkeley Living

4.43

(12 reviews)

Berkeley Living is proud to present Navigator Place, a place to call home in the heart of Kidbrooke Village, where brand-new 1, 2 and 3-bedroom apartments, great amenity spaces, and a dedicated on-site team come together to make everyday living easier.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 99 in South East London

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Kidbrooke Square, SE3

By Notting Hill Genesis

Award winner 2025

4.14

(38 reviews)

Kidbrooke Square, nestled in the Royal Borough of Greenwich, offers 1, 2 and 3 bedroom shared ownership apartments designed to exceptionally high standards. Centred around a vibrant village square with retail spaces and a residents' gym, the development provides easy access to green spaces, local amenities, and the historic charm of Blackheath Village and Greenwich. With its prime location and modern design, Kidbrooke Square delivers a perfect blend of convenience and luxury.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 99 in South East London

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The Whitehouse Apartments, SE1

By Galliard Homes

4.92

(11 reviews)

Situated on London’s South Bank, opposite the Royal Festival Hall, The Whitehouse Apartments offers a selection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The development is within a four-minute walk to Waterloo station with its vast transport links via both Rail and Underground services and residents on site can enjoy rooftop gardens and a health and fitness suite.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 99 in South East London

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Page 1 of 42

Featured developments in South East London

Latest Reviews in South East London

3932 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 3909

Hannah (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Porter's Edge, SE16

Oct 2026

This is rated 1.00 out of 5.00.

Mice infested + regular hot water outages + break-ins

Hannah (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Porter's Edge, SE16

Oct 2026

Ever since I moved in 3 years ago, the building has been riddled with pest issues (mice, silverfish) and the property managers have refused to do anything. So many residents end up with mice in their flats that they need to get pest control for. It has gotten to the point where you will see mice if you just stand in the lobby for a few minutes. In addition to that, there are numerous hot water and heating outages, they happen roughly 1-2 times a month and usually last at least 4 hours. We have begged Folio to resolve this as it’s particularly difficult in the winter and there are only excuses. This has been going on for 3 years now. The property managers only reply to one of every 3-4 emails and usually only after 1 week- which would be fine if the reply was ever helpful, but their entire tactic is to just deflect, deny, and ignore. Finally, there have been a lot of issues with stolen packages and break-ins into the bike storages- aside from 2 amazing concierges who have been here a while, the other temp concierges don’t bother ensuring the protection of packages, and whenever there’s a break in or theft, Folio claims they can’t access the CCTVs or they don’t work.

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

Location is good, there is a tube station nearby that serves both the Jubilee and the Windrush overground. Big Tesco and and a small Sainsbury’s in walking distance, a few coffee shops and a great restaurant by the station.

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

I wish I had known the scale of the pest infestation, the incompetence and lack of care of the property management staff and the frequency with which I’d be dealing with hot water outages.

What is the best feature of your home:

Literally just the location and the size of the windows in my flat

・・

HomeViews

Tross (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Navigator Place by Berkeley Living, SE3

Oct 2026

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

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

Great place to live

Tross (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Navigator Place by Berkeley Living, SE3

Oct 2026

Overall, I am really happy with the development and enjoy living here. The building is well designed and provides a lovely environment for residents. The facilities are good, and the development is a nice place to call home. One thing I would like to see improved is the opening hours of the residents’ lounge, as it closes quite early. It would be great if it could stay open later (or even better 24/7!) so residents could make better use of the space after work and in the evenings. Also, the entrance doors are very difficult to open. Overall, I am very happy with the development, and these small changes would make living here even better.

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

I love living in the Kidbrooke area. It is a lovely place to live, and I really enjoy the local surroundings. However, it would be even better if there were more frequent trains from Kidbrooke station, as this would make travelling more convenient. I would also love to see a wider range of local shops, supermarkets, restaurants and cafes, giving residents more choice without having to travel elsewhere. Overall, I enjoy living here, but improved transport links and more local amenities would make the area even better.

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

Building management has been very good at responding to any problems or issues I have raised. They are quick to respond and deal with matters efficiently, which is much appreciated.

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

One thing I really appreciated before moving in was the clear information and communication provided beforehand. Everything was explained well, which made the moving process easier and helped me know what to expect. Overall, the experience has been very positive, and I have felt well informed and supported throughout.

・・

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

HomeViews

Lisa (Tenant)

Unverified

Union Wharf, SE8

Oct 2026

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

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Excellent accommodation with fantastic support from Kimel

Lisa (Tenant)

Unverified

Union Wharf, SE8

Oct 2026

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

Kimel is incredibly helpful, patient and professional. Every time I reached out with housing or maintenance questions, Kimel listened carefully, offered clear advice and acted quickly to resolve my concerns. Kimel is friendly and approachable, always making sure residents feel supported. I really appreciate all the help Kimel has given me, and I highly recommend this place.

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

The building management responded quickly and professionally. Kimel helped me deal with my maintenance concerns patiently. All enquiries were answered clearly, and the problem was resolved efficiently. I felt fully supported throughout the whole process.

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

I wish I had known how responsive and helpful the on-site staff like Kimel are. It would have eased my worries before moving in. The team offers great support whenever residents meet unexpected issues.

・・

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

HomeViews

Ella (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Navigator Place by Berkeley Living, SE3

Oct 2026

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

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

Thrilled with the building and management… not so happy about the other residents

Ella (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Navigator Place by Berkeley Living, SE3

Oct 2026

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

Everything is walkable which is great! The interior design and the furniture in the apartments are wonderful and good quality.

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

A kitchen door hinge came loose and it was fixed the next day!

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

I wish I had known that it is as nice as it looks, and that the handymen people are lovely and really helpful, so I wouldn’t have to be scared to ask them for repairs!

・・

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

HomeViews

Emily R (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Navigator Place by Berkeley Living, SE3

Oct 2026

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

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

A Truly Great Place to Live

Emily R (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Navigator Place by Berkeley Living, SE3

Oct 2026

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

Great location; close to local shops and amenities. Transport links are amazing, having the train right out of Kidbrooke station is ideal. Great street to live on; no issues at all!

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

We had an issue with a kitchen door hinge; it was fixed the next day!

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

I love the food trucks in Peglar Square, and they're so close to us. Very convenient all round.

・・

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

HomeViews

Page 1 of 782

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

Useful articles

Borough of Bromley

Bromley is the largest of the 32 London boroughs, stretching from Crystal Palace and Mottingham in the north right down to Biggin Hill in the south. It’s also a borough that transitions dramatically from suburban to rural, with farmland making up around 30% of its total area. The principal town of Bromley offers residents a 20-minute commute into central London and attracts families and young professionals seeking affordable housing and top quality schools.

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Deptford

If you haven’t yet heard of Deptford, chances are you will very soon. Artists, students, first-time buyers and lifelong Londoners; they gather in this exciting district, which has become as cool and sought-after as places like Peckham and Hackney. Read on to discover developments that are the best places to live in Deptford. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Deptford.

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Elephant & Castle

One of South London’s biggest regeneration success stories, Elephant & Castle is in the process of being completely transformed and it’s earning a stellar reputation. This up-and-coming corner of the capital, blessed with world-class nightlife and a strong selection of independent businesses, is attracting hordes of buyers and renters as a result. Read on to discover some of the best places to live in Elephant & Castle. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent new homes in Elephant & Castle.

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Borough of Greenwich

It may be just a few miles from Central London; but emerald-hued Greenwich can feel a world away from the buzz of the capital. This south-east slice sits close to the River Thames looking out towards Canary Wharf, and is blanketed in green. A World Heritage Site, this place packs in architectural wonders and historic sites at every turn. Read on to discover the developments rated as some of the best places to live in Greenwich.

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Borough of Lambeth

Lambeth occupies a prime South London location close to some of the capital’s biggest attractions, but not so close it’s packed with tourists. It stretches from the Thames’ South Bank and ends just beyond the residential areas of Streatham and Norwood. Read on to discover developments that are the best places to live in Lambeth. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Lambeth. HomeViews reviewer verdict... "A south-of-the-river location with lots to offer."

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Borough of Lewisham

Lewisham lies just a few miles south-east of Central London. A borough given a little more than just a fresh coat of paint in recent years. In fact, this area has seen plenty in the way of renovation. Including, a transformation of the town centre and a brand-new riverside park. As such, it moved at lightning-speed into the ‘up-and-comer’ category a couple of years back. Then, in the blink of an eye, it became highly sought-after, courtesy of its affordable homes and fantastic transport links. Read on to discover developments that are rated the best places to live in Lewisham. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Lewisham.

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Rotherhithe

Once a collection of abandoned docks, Rotherhithe has blossomed into a thriving neighbourhood with more than just a riverside location to shout about. Although it is worth a special mention. Buy or rent in Rotherhithe and you’ll look across the water to London landmarks like The Shard, The Gherkin and Tower Bridge. Read on to discover developments that are rated the best places to live in Rotherhithe. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Rotherhithe.

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Borough of Southwark

Southwark is nestled on the South Bank of the Thames, and among its luxury riverside apartments and ultra-modern offices, are some of London’s biggest icons. This area is rich in culture, architecture and entertainment, charming millions of visitors (and residents) each year. For the best scenery, criss-cross one of the bridges that straddle the river, including London Bridge, Tower Bridge and Millennium Bridge. All are a joy to stroll or drive over, thanks to sweeping views of the water, and the buildings that chart hundreds of years of the capital’s history. Read on to discover developments that are rated the best places to live in Southwark. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Southwark.

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Woolwich

Woolwich was tipped as one of London’s ‘up and coming’ neighbourhoods for a number of years. But it’s only recently been catapulted into the spotlight – namely thanks to the colossal Royal Arsenal Riverside development, and hotly anticipated in-construction properties such as Callis Yard and Trinity Walk. Read on to discover developments that are the best places to live in Woolwich. In addition, read reviews from residents who own or rent in Woolwich.

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