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.

4.43
Average Location Score

Excellent

57%

Very Good

31%

Average

9%

Disappointing

1%

Very Poor

1%

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

Church with street art on the door

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 11th 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.

South east London park

Historical riverside neighbourhoods

Move east to the likes of Rotherhithe and Surrey Quays and you’ll find 17th-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.

Reviews in South East London

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The best living experience in London

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

There are many good local restaurants and cafe around as we are close to Greenwich market for 5 mins walk. It’s also convenient to travel from DLR and Greenwich train station.

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I’ve been living here for 2 years and I have to say it’s my best experience in living in London. Great and modern design for facilities. Common area is also my favourite part of this building, clean and comfortable. I usually work from home and there are many working area in this building suitable for working. Everything runs so well.

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

They have great working area with best viewing of Greenwich.

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

Management team is very friendly and helpful, and they always response in the most efficient way.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Dear Jocelyn,

Thank you so much for your lovely review !

Nice place, Good Facilities, and Excellent Management

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

Living in Greenwich is nice because there’s history and parks like Greenwich Park. You can easily shop at Waitrose nearby and get around easily. But, it can be crowded with tourists, especially around famous spots like the Cutty Sark and Greenwich Park.

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It feels modern and cozy. The terrace on the 22nd floor gives breathtaking views of the city. It’s so cool to watch the sunset from up there. Flats look nice and simple and have great views.
Whenever there’s an issue, the building management is super quick to sort it out.
Also really I like the gym and mail lockers.

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

The building is undergoing refurbishment, it can be quite loud sometimes.

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

The building managers are fast and effective at fixing problems.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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The quality of the building’s management is something to be praised

Review Date Apr 2024

Definitely the most interesting thing about living in Collier Point, Union wharf is the fact that it is located six minutes from Cutty Sark tube station, has Waitrose and M&S at the same distance and has access to Greenwich Park for leisure activities.

The downside of living opposite the avenue is the traffic noise, which is why I keep my windows closed most of the time.

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The quality of the building’s management is something to be praised, as maintenance is carried out periodically on the building and flats to avoid future problems, in addition to taking good care of the entrance area and taking care to celebrate commemorative dates such as Christmas, Halloween, tea day, the start of the seasons, among others.

The staff are very efficient in their work and I can’t remember any problems that weren’t solved. However, I am disappointed that not all the staff are friendly with the residents. It’s very common to say good morning/hello and not get a reply, or to walk past a resident and pretend you haven’t seen them

The other day there was a problem with the lift alarm and I was in one of the lifts. The lift went down alone with me in it and I informed reception of the person who was in it, a man I usually see at weekends.

I told him about the problem and he rushed off to sort it out, and I waited for the lifts to start working again before going up to my flat.

The employee solved the problem with the lifts, saw me standing in front of the reception desk waiting to hear back, but did not inform me that he had solved the problem.

I then began to notice people getting into the lift and assumed that the problem had been solved. I asked him and he said that yes, it had been resolved. I wondered: why didn’t he inform me that he had solved the problem that I had informed him about and waited for it to be solved so that I could get on with my life? For me, this contemptuous behaviour was rude.

With the exception of this episode and the lack of compliments from some of the staff, I have nothing to complain about the building.

In fact, I’d like to thank them for the gym they’ve built. It’s much better than many in the area.

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

I would have liked to have been informed about only being able to receive guests in my flat for up to 28 days and also to know that only two pets are allowed per flat

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

Yes. They have always solved the problems raised quickly and have been concerned about providing the best solution.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Very close to Greenwich park and the riverside

Review Date Apr 2024

Pros: Close to DLR station with lots of shops; very close to Greenwich park and the riverside

Cons: Traffic is a problem when DLR is under scheduled maintenance on weekends

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I am particularly impressed with the new gym room which is very convenient and comprehensive.

I like the bike storage area as well so that I do not need to keep my bike in my flat.

The staff at reception are very helpful and they solve issues quickly.

The snack bar on ground floor is great too.

The only thing I do not particularly like is the front door – it just doesn’t move after pressing the button!

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

There are yoga classes offered in the building (I would have brought my yoga pants!)

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

Yes the light in the oven was broken. A handyman came and fixed very quickly

4
Facilities
4
Design
3
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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