10 best places to live in Southwark

elephant central se17, city sky line at night

The borough of Southwark is right in the heart of London on the south side of the Thames. It covers a great mix of areas, from lively Elephant and Castle to the ultra-smart riverside sweep of the South Bank. If you want to find some of the best places to live in Southwark, verified resident reviewers on HomeViews can point you in the right direction.

10 best new build developments to live in Southwark

Let’s take a look at what this exciting borough can offer. The following list includes some of the best new developments in Southwark, as rated by reviewers on HomeViews.

If any catch your eye, just click to see a full listing of the development. This will also show all reviews, ratings and comments submitted by verified resident reviewers.

*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.

1. Elephant Central, SE1

Get Living
4.40 (144 reviews) 4.40 (144 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Elephant Central, SE1

At the top of the ratings list we find Elephant Central by Get Living, located right in the heart of London’s Elephant & Castle. It’s a Zone 1 location with great connections to the City, Oxford Circus, King’s Cross and walking distance to London Bridge, Borough and the South Bank. There’s a mix of, one-to-three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses available fully-furnished, with superfast WiFi included and pet friendly. Residents have access to a Club Lounge and kitchen, as well as the Sky Courtyard. There’s also a Sainsbury’s and Gymbox right on the doorstep.

Read reviews and details of Elephant Central, SE1

2. Marine Wharf West, SE16

Berkeley Homes, Berkeley Group
4.57 (10 reviews) 4.57 (10 reviews)
Area guide to Rotherhithe
Image of Marine Wharf West, SE16

In the Surrey Quays area of London Docklands, we find Marine Wharf West at number two. This is a residential development from The Berkeley Group, and its apartments are separated by landscaped grounds. It’s also close to the River Thames and London’s largest working marina – South Dock, which makes for some lovely views. London City Airport, Surrey Quays Station and the Thames Clipper riverbus services are all conveniently close by.

Read reviews and details of Marine Wharf West, SE16

3. The Music Box, SE1

Taylor Wimpey
4.48 (7 reviews) 4.48 (7 reviews)
Area guide to South Bank
Image of The Music Box, SE1

We have a relative newcomer at number three. Just a 30-second walk from Southwark Station, The Music Box is a residential development made up of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The building is just a stone’s throw from the Tate Modern and the River Thames, as well as The Cut – which is home to the Old Vic and New Vic theatres.

Read reviews and details of The Music Box, SE1

4. Wood’s Road, SE15

Crest Nicholson
4.45 (14 reviews) 4.45 (14 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Southwark
Image of Wood’s Road, SE15

At number four, Wood’s Road is a modern, residential development by Surrey-based housebuilder Crest Nicholson. It enjoys an enviable central spot in Peckham, close to the Queens Road and Peckham Rye stations for links to the likes of London Bridge and London Victoria. There are one, two and three-bedroom apartments available here, most of which offer excellent views of the 02 Arena and Canary Wharf.

Read reviews and details of Wood’s Road, SE15

5. One the Elephant, SE1

Lendlease
4.43 (15 reviews) 4.43 (15 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of One the Elephant, SE1

And it’s back to Elephant and Castle again for number five. This shows the appeal of the area as one of Southwark’s more versatile and engaging districts. One the Elephant is a Lendlease development comprising 284 apartments built across 37 storeys. These homes range from studios to 3-bedroom apartments, most of which contain private balconies. The development is situated just a 3-minute walk from the station, which serves the Northern and Bakerloo lines.

Read reviews and details of One the Elephant, SE1

6. Folio London at Porter’s Edge, SE16

Folio London
4.41 (19 reviews) 4.41 (19 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Southwark
Image of Folio London at Porter’s Edge, SE16

There’s a new entry at number six; Porter’s Edge by Folio London is a development located in Canada Water and is only a short walk away from the tube station. The Folio London project has 234 units to rent, which are made up of studios, one, two, three and four-bedroom properties.

Read reviews and details of Folio London at Porter’s Edge, SE16

7. Elephant Park, SE1

Lendlease
4.33 (22 reviews) 4.33 (22 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Elephant Park, SE1

At number seven it’s back to the large-scale regeneration project in Elephant & Castle, Elephant Park by Lendlease. This mixed-use development features 3,000 new homes alongside new shops, restaurants and cafes. It is the UK’s first climate-positive development, which includes an Energy Hub to provide net-zero carbon heat and hot water to all homes at Elephant Park.

Read reviews and details of Elephant Park, SE1

8. Park Central East, SE17

Lendlease
4.38 (17 reviews) 4.38 (17 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Park Central East, SE17

New to the list but with plenty to say for itself, Park Central East is a Nordic-inspired oasis in Elephant Park. Each apartment available to rent is equipped with built-in wardrobes and social spaces. The development also offers a selection of resident lounges and a 24-hour gym.

One happy resident says: “The development is well made and well maintained. The gym is fairly well equipped for a residential gym. The management are friendly and helpful – they are a real highlight of living in the building. There is also a community lounge and games room, but they are almost never used.”

Read reviews and details of Park Central East, SE17

9. Camberwell Fields, SE5

Notting Hill Genesis
4.32 (14 reviews) 4.32 (14 reviews)
Area guide to Borough of Southwark
Image of Camberwell Fields, SE5

In ninth place, Camberwell Fields is a new-build development on the site of the former Elmington Estate in Camberwell. Camberwell Fields was developed by Notting Hill Genesis. The development features a mix of 279 apartments, duplexes and townhouses with one, two and three bedrooms. Burgess Park is a five-minute walk from the development.

Read reviews and details of Camberwell Fields, SE5

10. Strata, SE1

Multiplex
4.33 (17 reviews) 4.33 (17 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Strata, SE1

Nicely rounding off the list for Southwark is Strata, a Brookfield Multiplex development offering 408 apartments in a 43-storey building. Homes here come in studio, one, two and three-bedroom arrangements. The building also features retail space and restaurants, which the residents can benefit from. The development is located just a 4-minute walk from Elephant & Castle underground station, which is served by the Northern and Bakerloo lines.

Read reviews and details of Strata, SE1

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Living in Southwark – what can you expect?

Given its variety, there really is something for everyone in Southwark. If you’re a young professional looking for the next London trends, Peckham and Elephant and Castle are great choices. The South Bank has some of the best river views, shopping and dining experiences in the capital. While East Dulwich and Bermondsey offer a more tranquil, suburban lifestyle.

There are plenty of big-ticket cultural and entertainment attractions here too. The Tate Modern, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and the beloved Borough Market are just a couple of Southwark’s highlights.

As for getting around, Southwark is extremely well connected to London’s transport network. Four main stations serve the borough – London Bridge, Southwark, Borough and Elephant and Castle. All of them offer both National Rail and Underground train services.

Southwark also offers easy access to good schooling; currently there are 34 ‘outstanding’ Ofsted-ranked schools in the borough.

What is HomeViews?

What are average property prices in Southwark in 2024?

Like its districts, Southwark also offers a wide variety of property types to buyers and renters. For those with a big budget, the South Bank has many of the most impressive, ultra-modern riverside apartments in the city. If you want more space, look further south towards the Elephant and Castle and Bermondsey for terraced and semi-detached houses.

Average property prices in Southwark are high but decidedly more competitive than across the river in Westminster. The house price average for the borough over the past 12 months was around £645,000 (September 2024). However, there is a big price range by area to factor in, as this average is dragged up by expensive South Bank property.

The most expensive area within Southwark was Dulwich Village (£1,388,000) and the cheapest was Surrey Quays (£524,000).

For those looking to rent in Southwark, the median rental price in the borough is £3,466 per calendar month. While steep (well above the £3,000 monthly rental average for London), the borough has a high number of luxury apartments available for rent. Almost a quarter (22%) of all properties for rent listed at upwards of £5,000 per calendar month.


This list only scratches the surface of what Southwark has to offer. If you want to know more about this diverse and attractive London borough, check out our Southwark area guide. Here you’ll find tips on the foodie hotspots, cultural attractions, and other upcoming property developments in Southwark, not to mention more of the best places to live in Southwark.

Borough of Southwark

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 Read more about Borough of Southwark

HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.

written by

Jan Moys

A residential property expert with over 15 years’ experience creating content... Read all

A residential property expert with ov... Read all