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.

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Average Location Score

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57%

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31%

Average

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Best places to live in South East London

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

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South East London’s gastronomy

SE1’s Borough is one of London’s most reputable foodie hotspots. You’ll find its lifeblood, Borough Market, next to London Bridge on Southwark Street. London’s biggest and best food market. It’s said to have been in operation since the 11^th century, and its cornucopia of stalls feature everything from delicate French pastries to net-fresh seafood. Open Monday to Saturday, it attracts locals, tourists as well as top chefs looking for the finest produce.

Nearby Bermondsey also draws some big crowds for its gastronomic scene. Once a largely abandoned area full of run-down warehouses, today it’s a bohemian wonderland, with rainbow-coloured house fronts, quality bars and pubs and the street food extravaganza that is Maltby Street Market. Lots of the old warehouses have been converted into new-build apartments.

Historical riverside neighbourhoods

Move east to the likes of Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays and you’ll find 17^th-century pubs that tell tales of days gone by; hidden down Victorian streets among swish riverfront apartment buildings. This slither of South East London offers a number of peaceful nature areas and a watersports centre. Perfect for taking a breather away from the fast-paced city day-to-day. Canary Wharf and City workers, in particular, are drawn to the area, and can commute by riverbus for a more scenic route to work.

Greenwich

In nearby Greenwich the historical sites come thick and fast. Greenwich has a fascinating maritime history, and this leafy Thames-front stretch can feel a million miles from the city. It’s a World Heritage Site, home to the Royal Observatory, the National Maritime Museum and also, the world’s most famous ship – The Cutty Sark. Property in these parts includes range from pricey waterfront apartments to smart Victorian terraces.

Train with highrise buildings in the background -South East London

Edgy South East London

Neighbouring Lewisham offers an edgier lifestyle with a strong community spirit. It’s got a handful of decent markets, bars and brunch spots to rival Shoreditch and an electric after-dark offering. The Deptford neighbourhood (part of which spills into the London Borough of Greenwich) has a burgeoning art scene. As such, property developers are moving in to transform the area’s residential face with cutting-edge new apartments that appeal to the area’s multiplying creatives. Deptford High Street is packed with quirky independent stores and eateries serving Vietnamese fare. There’s also a beautiful Baroque church to explore.

You can find out more about living in the area by reading reviews from residents. Click on the developments below to find out more about residents’ experiences and also, to discover the best places to live and rent in South East London . Moreover, If there’s a property that you can’t see on HomeViews, you can add a new listing and leave your review here.

Featured developments in South East London

Reviews in South East London

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Kind, helpful team

Review Date Mar 2024

Close to big Tesco, DLR, Trains, buses, Greenwich, Deptford, Canary Wharf, and New Cross. The immediate neighbourhood is quiet and clean. Very quick and easy to get to central London.

Please review your development:

The building is quite nice. As with most large developments, there were some difficulties moving in. The water hadn’t been flushed so I had no hot water, the wifi wasn’t connected, and some of the finishes were damaged at move-in. The tub had
chip, and the vinyl had scuff marks. There was also a leak in the hallway.

I’ve never had such responsive property management though. Daniel in particular has been a lifesaver at helping to resolve issues. The essential issues (wifi, water) were sorted the night I moved in. Everything else was tracked and communicated to me diligently. On the whole, I felt like the staff cared about the state of the flat and my experience in it, which isn’t always the case.

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

While there is a concierge, I’ve missed some deliveries as the intercom system isn’t always clear to couriers. Also, the rubbish and recycling bins have been basically combined and rarely look sorted by the end of the week, which makes it difficult to feel like I’m sorting my rubbish well. There’s no food waste collection.

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

They’ve been very quick to address any issues and keep me updated on their progress

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Manager Response

Dear Gwen,

Thank you for taking the time to write the review and all your kind words.

The whole team at Bale & Anchor are absolutely delighted and very much grateful to you for the positive experience you attest to have received at Bale and Anchor.

Please be assured that the less positive addressed points have been duly noted and that the whole team at Bale & Anchor will keep working diligently to deliver the high standard of services and differentiated residential experiences that our residential community expect from us.

Bale & Anchor is a brand new fantastic development, and although not expected, there may be occasional small reactive issues that need correcting, and again, please be assured that your raised points do further enable us to consistently improve our day-to-day service delivery operation.

Please do reach out to me at will to discuss further if necessary.

It is our great pleasure to have you at Bale & Anchor!

Thank you.

With kind regards,

Expensive average

Verified Resident

Review Date Mar 2024

Well connected with 2 DLR stations close by and the SE train too. Huge Tesco one block away with is a plus. You can hear the trains of course because its really close to the train rails (not a big deal).

Please review your development:

We were told Amenities would be ready by January and its almost April with no news yet. They went all in on the interior design of the development, but does not compensate the lack of quality.

None of the issues we’ve had on our apartment were dealt with on a timely manner.

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

I wish I’d known that the amenities were NOT going to be ready by January as told.

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

Not in a timely manner. From heaters that did not work for months during winter to an electrical problem.

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Manager Response

Dear Luc,

Thank you for taking time to write a review.

We are deeply sorry that your experience at Bale & Anchor has not so far been what you have expected.

Please be assured that the addressed points have been duly noted and that the whole team at Bale & Anchor will keep working diligently to improve where required and to deliver the highest standard of services and differentiated residential experiences that our residential communities expect from us.

We also apologise for any potential miscommunication that may have occurred with you relating to full amenities launching. However, Bale House and therefore the related excellent and vibrant amenities that you kindly refer to, are set to launch in spring 2024 as per original projected plan.

And we can confirm that this will take place very soon in due course.

Bale & Anchor is a brand new fantastic development, and as such, although not expected there may be occasional small reactive issues to rectify and despite our best efforts, occasionally the required resolution may take a little more time than expected.

Despite that, be assured that our team will always work to integrate comprehensive efforts with other involved parties to ensure that any potential service issues are as minimal and as little disruptive to our residents as possible.

We hope the above is helpful and please do reach out to me at B&A management office to discuss further if necessary.

Great experience

Verified Resident

Review Date Mar 2024

Great location, I wish the train station had an exit directly towards the property but it is still only a 5 minutes walk.

Please review your development:

My renting experience is great so far. I rented the apartment over seeing a video only and I was a bit concerned at first, but everything was very smooth right from the beginning and very professional. There are some minor maintenance issues, but the team is very helpful and fast in sorting them out. Having had bad experiences on the London rental market before, I am very happy with my choice.

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

I got conflicting information about the hob, one person said electric the other said induction. It is not induction.

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

The building management is simply great, they are always open for questions and ready to help.

Great initiatives with the cake decorating class and Pilates classes. The chocolates for International Women’s Day were very thoughtful.

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Manager Response

Dear Andrea,

Thank you for taking the time to write the review and all you kind words.

The whole team at Bale & Anchor are absolutely delighted and very much grateful to you for the wonderfully positive experience you attest to have received at Bale and Anchor.

This truly reflects the service standards and high-level experiences we all at Bale & Anchor work and strive to deliver everyday to ensure our communities receive the greatest residential experiences in the market, and that those are delivered in professionally positive and differentiated manner.

Thank you.

Regards,

It’s okay

Verified Resident

Review Date Mar 2024

Great area to live in, access to Lewisham, Deptford, Blackheath and Greenwich are all within 10 mins walk of the property. Transport is in abundance.

Please review your development:

The design of the flat is quite nice, the facilities are okay, common area is a bit shabby, pool table isn’t maintained. I’ve been here since 2021 and the building work has never stopped.. which is a drag because on a summer’s day if you want to have the balcony doors open, you’re greeted with the sounds of saws, drills and building work soot.

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

I wish I knew when the building work would be finished, I thought they were nearing completion after ~ 3 years and then they’ve started a new project to replace cladding on all the buildings that have just been built.

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

I have had a broken window for close to two years, and it’s still not been replaced. Building Management is super slow and there’s no way of escalating anything further.

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A Guide to Living in South East London

Best places to live in South East London

South East London’s gastronomy

Historical riverside neighbourhoods

Greenwich

Edgy South East London

Featured developments in South East London

Bale & Anchor, SE13

345 Park Place, SE16

Lime Works, SE7

Dockley Apartments, SE16

École, SE16

The Quarry, DA8

Greenwich Creekside, SE8

Thames Street, SE10

Distillery Tower, SE8

Deptford Foundry, SE14

The Horizon, SE10

The Music Box, SE1

One Tower Bridge, SE1

Fizzy Lewisham, SE13

Excalibur, SE6

Enderby Wharf, SE10

Elephant Central, SE1

Albany Place, SE17

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

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

Please review your development:

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

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

Please review your development:

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

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

Please review your development:

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

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