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

58.6%

Very Good

30.1%

Average

8.7%

Disappointing

1.3%

Very poor

1.2%

Best places to live in South East London

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 187

Rental Only

Award Winner 2024

Union Wharf, SE8

By Essential Living

Award winner 2024

4.69

(278 reviews)

£2,300-£3,200 pcm

1, 2, 3 beds

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 96 in South East London

View development

Development image of Bale & Anchor, SE13

Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Bale & Anchor, SE13

By urbanbubble, Legal & General

Award winner 2025

4.35

(94 reviews)

Bale & Anchor is a BTR development situated in Lewisham, with studio, 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments available to rent. Bale & Anchor is ideally placed to put you right in the thick of central London within minutes. Additionally, the National Rail and the DLR are on your doorstep for commuting. Residents can enjoy lounge areas, roof terraces and private dining spaces. By Spring 2024, even more amenities will be available, including access to Ampersand on the 34th and 35th floor in Bale House with panoramic views over London and beyond. Residents also benefit from choosing between a quality furniture package or an unfurnished apartment.

2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 96 in South East London

View development

Kidbrooke Square, SE3

By Notting Hill Genesis

4.23

(37 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.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 96 in South East London

View development

Kidbrooke Village, SE3

By Berkeley Group, Berkeley Homes

Award winner 2025

4.2

4.20

(239 reviews)

Kidbrooke Village is located within one of London’s most sought-after locations, the Royal Borough of Greenwich (London Zone 3). An established, welcoming community with excellent amenities, short commutes to London Bridge and beyond, and many fantastic retail and commercial operators (and more to come soon). The award-winning green spaces creates a natural oasis within the city. With £1 billion investment and ongoing development, Kidbrooke Village is already a highly desirable place to buy and rent on the map of London and by 2030 will comprise over 5,000 new homes.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 96 in South East London

View development

Royal Arsenal Riverside, SE18

By Berkeley Homes, Berkeley Group

Award winner 2025

4.18

(422 reviews)

Royal Arsenal Riverside is one of South East London's most exciting riverside addresses occupying a prime location along the River Thames. These stunning homes are enhanced by captivating riverside views with a buzzing retail hub and more on their doorstep, establishing the development one of London’s newest and rapidly emerging bright spots. With an on-site Elizabeth Line station and Thames Clipper Pier, plus both the National Rail and DLR stations only 300m away, Royal Arsenal Riverside has become one of the best-connected developments in South East London.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 96 in South East London

View development

Page 1 of 38

Featured developments in South East London

Latest Reviews in South East London

3865 total reviews

Write a review

Viewing 1-5 out of 3840

Riva Naz (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Bale & Anchor, SE13

Jan 2026

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

Jack of all trades, master of none when it comes to choosing utilities

Riva Naz (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Bale & Anchor, SE13

Jan 2026

A lot of research had been done before moving into this property and we have no regrets. Starting from the location, to the amenities, the design, environment, a sense of community to bring pet friendly - Bale and Anchor has it all. Although I hope maintenance requests can be accelerated, it takes ages for a request to look into. Furthermore, Homebox is a rising and painful concern. That contractor should be changed if Bale and Anchor wants their tenants to stay back!

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

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

They look into it but takes long time to arrange. E.g. the back door of Bale building is still under repairs since 1.5 years (when we moved in)

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

Homebox and Glide internet. Absolute nightmare of a company followed by poor customer service and incompetence

・・

HomeViews

TJ (Shared Owner)

Verified Resident

L&Q at Elephant Park Shared Ownership, SE17

Jan 2026

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

This is rated 3.00 out of 5.00.

Area and development good but management bad

TJ (Shared Owner)

Verified Resident

L&Q at Elephant Park Shared Ownership, SE17

Jan 2026

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

The area is amazing. There are lots of food options nearby, gym options, parks etc. I don’t think there is anything bad about the area

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

The management won’t do anything if there are parcel theft from the lobby

What is the best feature of your home:

Location, built quality (though I have only lived here for 3 months)

・・

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

HomeViews

Pensioner (Owner)

Unverified

Royal Arsenal Riverside, SE18

Jan 2026

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

A good place to live

Pensioner (Owner)

Unverified

Royal Arsenal Riverside, SE18

Jan 2026

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

For those by the river the views are delight. Security concerns are excellent and the cared for green and colourful spaces around the development are somewhat unique, upmarket and joyful. Quick access to supermarkets, street market, shops, eateries and a variety of transport options is a convenient bonus. The opening of the Elizabeth Line makes this a very desirable place to live.

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

Service charges seem high but compare favourably against other London Boroughs.

What is the best feature of your home:

Magnificent views, lovely grounds. Woolwich Works and Punchdrunk Theatre add greatly to the cultural ambiance.

・・

HomeViews

Natalie (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Union Wharf, SE8

Dec 2025

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

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Natalie (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Union Wharf, SE8

Dec 2025

I absolutely adore living in Union Wharf! The community of people is lovely and I really appreciate the events that Essential Living puts on so that we can get to know our neighbours as well! I find it so easy to stay active with the complimentary yoga classes and the gym right downstairs, and have met some lovely people through these activities! The amenities are fantastic and make living here such a treat, on top of our gorgeous flat already. The team is so friendly and responsive with any issues, and it makes coming home that much more welcoming.

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

Very close to transport links - bus stops that go into central from right outside the building and overground station making it so easy to get into the city! Love the feel of the area, not quite as busy as central but still lots going on in the neighborhood, loads of nice shops/ restaurants/ cafes in Greenwich and bars/ markets in Deptford. River is so close so easy to go for a nice long walk, or in Greenwich Park, making it easy to get out in nature

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

Any maintenance issues we’ve had were sorted within a couple days at most, and the maintenance team is always very friendly and professional.

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

The community of neighbours is honestly really lovely and it’s so worth putting yourself out there to meet them!

・・

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

HomeViews

David M (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Elephant Central, SE1

Dec 2025

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

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Get Living Elephant & Castle

David M (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Elephant Central, SE1

Dec 2025

The development is modern and well designed, with secure entry systems and well-maintained communal areas. The apartments are generally finished to a good standard and make efficient use of space. Facilities such as shared areas and on-site services were convenient and added to the overall living experience. Building management was responsive for routine issues. The development felt safe, well run and suitable for long-term renting in a central London location.

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

Elephant & Castle is very convenient, with a wide range of supermarkets, cafés, takeaways and restaurants nearby, plus Borough Market and the South Bank within walking distance. Transport links are excellent, with the Northern and Bakerloo lines, multiple bus routes and main roads making it easy to get around London. The area is busy and improving, but ongoing redevelopment, heavy traffic and road noise can be drawbacks. Open space is available at nearby parks, though it can feel crowded. Like many central areas, there can be some anti-social behaviour, especially late at night.

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

All issues were responded to extremely quickly and the maintenance team were incredibly helpful and regularly went above and beyond to deliver a great service.

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

I wish I had known how noisy the sirens from the road below would be. Being near a police station the sirens were incredibly frequent.

・・

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

HomeViews

Page 1 of 768

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.

Go to article

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.

Go to article

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.

Go to article

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.

Go to article

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."

Go to article

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.

Go to article

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.

Go to article

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.

Go to article

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.

Go to article