New build homes in Elephant & Castle: 5 highest rated developments

elephant central se17 lounge looking onto a balcony

Today, we are investigating the best new build homes in Elephant & Castle. Just south of the River Thames, this bustling hub boasts excellent connections to its popular neighbouring boroughs and lies a short hop away from the City of London, Westminster, and Covent Garden. But what is the area like to live in, and which developments are worth your money? Read on to get the knowledge you need.

Where is Elephant & Castle?

So, where exactly is Elephant & Castle? The area has grown around a major road junction in the London Borough of Southwark. The name also refers to Walworth and Newington, which sit near the London Underground station of the same name.

New build homes in Elephant & Castle: 5 highest rated developments

It’s now time to reveal our highest-rated new build homes in Elephant & Castle. Our verified residents have plenty to say about the developments below. Just read on to discover why they rave about our Top 5 picks.

*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
4.41 (138 reviews) 4.41 (138 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Elephant Central, SE1

A multiple HomeViews award winner for three years running, Elephant Central by Get Living kicks off our Top 5. In Zone 1, it has great connections to the City and falls within walking distance to London Bridge and the South Bank. There’s a mix of one to three-bedroom apartments, duplexes and penthouses available fully furnished – all pet friendly and with superfast WiFi included. Also, residents have access to a club lounge and kitchen as well as a sky courtyard.

Here’s one resident’s take: ‘Everyone who works for Elephant Central is fantastic, from the reception staff to the maintenance team. We especially enjoy the exercise classes put on for free. The apartment itself is beautiful, it’s quiet, we never hear neighbours. The whole building is spotless always. The area is amazing too. We love Elephant Park behind our building. Having so much green in Central London is such a treat, plus there are shops and restaurants close by and, of course, two Tube stations!’

Read reviews and details of Elephant Central, SE1

2. L&Q at Elephant Park Shared Ownership, SE17

L&Q
3.75 (41 reviews) 3.75 (41 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of L&Q at Elephant Park Shared Ownership, SE17

In the number two spot, L&Q at Elephant Park is a key part of the area’s extensive regeneration, offering buyers a range of stylish one or two bedroom Shared Ownership apartments, starting from a 25% share. In addition, residents benefit from nearby green spaces that include central London’s largest new park in 70 years, and the close proximity of Elephant & Castle’s Zone 1 rail and tube stations.

Read reviews and details of L&Q at Elephant Park Shared Ownership, SE17

3. Park Central East, SE17

Lendlease
4.43 (15 reviews) 4.43 (15 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Park Central East, SE17

Taking the third spot on our list (for now, as it seems to be a climber!) Park Central East is a Nordic-inspired oasis in Elephant Park. Each apartment available to rent is equipped with built-in wardrobes and ample social spaces. The development also offers a selection of resident lounges and a 24-hour gym.

Read reviews and details of Park Central East, SE17

4. One the Elephant, SE1

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

A very close fourth place goes to One the Elephant, which is a Lendlease development comprising 284 apartments over 37 storeys. These apartments range from studios to three-bedroom apartments, most of which have balconies. The development is situated just a 3-minute walk from the underground station, which serves the Northern and Bakerloo lines. Residents here love the spacious layout, the prompt concierge service, and the excellent views.

Read reviews and details of One the Elephant, SE1

5. Elephant Park, SE1

Lendlease
4.36 (21 reviews) 4.36 (21 reviews)
Area guide to Elephant & Castle
Image of Elephant Park, SE1

For number 5 we head back to Elephant Park. A large-scale regeneration project in Elephant & Castle, Elephant Park by Lendlease is a mixed-use development featuring 3,000 new homes alongside new shops, restaurants and cafés. 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 the homes at Elephant Park.

One happy reviewer told us: ‘Elephant Park encompasses all the main factors I looked for in a long-term investment in Central London. Firstly, the price was affordable for a high-specification project set amidst a generous layout of green spaces with well planned amenities for everyone, young and old. The communal areas too enjoy a high level of maintenance and upkeep, and with the upcoming opening of the Central Shopping Street, Elephant Park will undoubtedly become a residential landmark in Central London. Hooray!’

Read reviews and details of Elephant Park, SE1

Living in Elephant & Castle

If you yearn for the thick of the action, you can’t go wrong with Elephant & Castle. Named after the coaching inn that sits at the junction between the A3 and the A201, the area is a merging point that leads everywhere too. Talking of the historic pub, pop in to enjoy a selection of cask, draught and craft beers, botanical gins, and food from noon every day.

Dubbed the ‘Razor’, the Strata tower – one of our top-rated developments – is one of the area’s notable modern architectural features. Elephant & Castle is also known for its student-friendly party credentials. Regular hang-out spots include the flagship Ministry of Sound dance club and Corsica Studios. The food scene around these parts is pretty good too. Check out the international cuisine at Mercato Metropolitano food hall to sample everything from Italian to Vietnamese delights. Alternatively, head over to nearby Borough Market to browse and buy British-reared meat and artisanal baked and dairy goods.

Besides all the above, there are plenty of interesting places to visit, such as the Imperial War Museum and many open green spaces. At Elephant Park, you’ll find leafy gardens with a fountain, sandbox and coffee, while Burgess Park features a lake and a woodland play area. The area is also well-stocked with amenities – from shops and supermarkets to health and leisure facilities, including a general hospital.

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Transport in Elephant & Castle

Due to its central location, Elephant & Castle benefits from comprehensive transport links. Several nearby bridges offer a quick trip across the Thames, or you can hop on a train at Elephant & Castle Tube station for links to the City and southbound destinations.

Meanwhile, Overground services will deliver you across London, the South East, and East England. If you prefer to travel by pedal power, you’ll be happy to learn Cycleway 6 meets Cycle Superhighway 7 here too. The traffic-free route runs on a bike freeway to Farringdon, via the South Bank and the City of London.

Elephant & Castle property prices

Buying a home in Elephant & Castle will currently set you back £596,000 on average (Zoopla, August 2023). In terms of property types, flats come in at the lower end, selling for just under £500,000. Terraced properties sold for an average of £1.16 million, while semi-detached homes sold at an average of £871,000. Prices have remained stable over the past year, but have dropped roughly 8% since the 2019 market peak.

According to Home.co.uk, rental homes in the area cost £3,912 per calendar month on average. However, this ranges from £2,700 for smaller properties up to almost £7,000 for five-bedroom properties.

What is HomeViews?

Elephant & Castle

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 Read more about Elephant & Castle

HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.

written by

Sofia Ashdown

A writer and editor with a broad range of experience in print media and the c... Read all

A writer and editor with a broad rang... Read all