If there’s one thing South West London offers in abundance, it’s variety. From sporty Putney and leafy Wimbledon to buzzing Clapham and diverse Tooting, there’s plenty on offer in this popular corner of the capital. We take a closer look at the best places to live in South West London, according to resident reviews of new homes.
This Top 10 list is based on HomeViews reviews by verified residents. As with all our guides, developments with a higher number of reviews – or more recent reviews – are ranked higher to reflect consistency and transparency.
Top 10 new homes developments in South West London
Below you’ll find the 10 highest-rated new developments on HomeViews. These include properties to rent and buy, at a wide variety of price points. As always, these rankings are determined purely by the scores verified residents give as part of their reviews.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how recently reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. More recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
We have a newcomer taking the top spot for South West London’s best places to live. Bloom Nine Elms, by Greystar, is a collection of rental apartments located in Zone 1. Each apartment is pet-friendly and offers all the amenities you need for better living. Situated in south west London, Bloom Nine Elms has a collection of studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments. Onsite amenities include a 24/7 gym, swimming pools, rooftop terraces, pet spa. Additionally, WFH in a dedicated co-working space or your choice of the resident lounges.
Nudging into second it’s Florence Dock, the newest community to be delivered by the good folk at Folk. A few steps from the River Thames, Florence Dock is perfectly situated to enjoy all the city has to offer. Enjoy your own roomy studio apartment with access to huge shared spaces, including a cinema, co-working space and a fully-fitted gym and studio. Soak up the sunset with panoramic views of London from one of its five terraces, tuck yourself away with a good read in the Snug or sweat it out in the spinning studio.
Hovering in third place for South West London is The Lark, an Allsop Lettings and Management development situated in Nine Elms. Residents benefit from Nine Elms Park on their doorstep and a car-free pathway between Battersea Power Station and Vauxhall Cross. Additionally, Battersea Power Station is just a 5 minute walk away, and Vauxhall Station is 15 minutes away. Furthermore, the Lark offers a coworking space, a residents’ lounge, onsite parking, an onsite gym and pet friendly living spaces.
At number 4, Mansbridge House is a newcomer with just 10 reviews, but they’re all glowing! The development offers 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments to rent in Battersea. All apartments come with their own winter garden, along with flexible contracts, the freedom to decorate and the ability to swap apartments, or developments if you’d like to, all come as standard. Additionally, Mansbridge House is pet friendly.
Rising steadily through the ranks to reach number 5 it’s Coda, one of the newest developments in the area, delivered by Avanton. It’s located next to the Thames in Battersea and is also home to the Royal Academy of Dance. Not only is it a smart addition to the Battersea skyline, the stylishness of the design is present all the way through the development and through the communal facilities (including gym, lounge and dedicated home working spaces) and individual homes.
Embassy Gardens takes the 6th spot on our list. This mixed-use EcoWorld and Ballymore development features luxury apartments and commercial units designed by HAL Architects and Sir Terry Farrell CBE. It enjoys a prime setting within the waterfront Nine Elms district, close to the new US Embassy. In addition, the site is walkable from Vauxhall, Battersea and the in-construction Nine Elms stations. Likewise, it is close to the Southbank Centre and London Bridge.
7th place in our top 10 goes to London Square Putney – another improvement reflecting our residents’ reviews. This new build development in popular Putney was developed by London Square and designed by signature architects Allford Hall Monaghan Morris. It comprises one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses and has an excellent location positioned between Putney Mainline and East Putney stations, just a short walk away from Putney High Street on popular Upper Richmond Road.
Hitting number 8 is another newcomer to the list. Mapleton Crescent is a modular new-build in Wandsworth that was designed by architects Metropolitan Workshop and developed by Pocket Living. The 27-storey tower offers 53 one-bedroom Pocket homes available to first-time buyers, as well as larger Pocket Edition homes and a workspace area for residents. Mapleton Crescent is a 15-minute walk from Wandsworth Town station.
One happy resident calls the Mapleton Crescent the “Best development for Young Professionals” in their review. They continue: “Modern design, residents lounge available, terrace with 360 views across London, bike store and lockers for residents. Secure mailroom, CCTV. Most residents are first time buyers so there’s a good community vibe, not too many rented apartments, functional flats.”
Number 9 goes to Sunday Mills, which sits in the heart of Earlsfield. Perched along the peaceful River Wandle, it is just a 6-minute walk from Earlsfield Station. Sunday Mills offers private studio apartments and stylish shared spaces, including a co-working hub, cinema, a fully-fitted gym and a rooftop terrace with 360º panoramic views of London’s skyline. There’s is a schedule of events to get involved with, from puppy yoga to pizza-making, so you can learn something new and and meet your neighbours.
We’ve come full circle, since our tenth top-ranked development is also in Nine Elms. Nine Elms Point, a development by Barratt Homes is a new residential, cultural and business quarter. 648 homes are located within the space, comprising one, two and three-bedroom apartments and penthouses. The development is adjacent to Vauxhall Underground, bus and rail station, offering rapid access to Oxford Circus via the Victoria Line and Waterloo via the Overground.
‘There’s something for everyone’ is a phrase that’s casually thrown around in property markets. In the case of South West London though, it’s actually true. The likes of Brixton and Clapham are bright, culturally vibrant areas with a diverse range of entertainment options and amenities. Meanwhile, the likes of Wandsworth and Richmond-upon-Thames offer that elusive sense of tranquillity that’s not easy to find in London.
Whatever your preferences in home styles and sizes, whatever your budget, whatever you want out of life in the capital, there will be a South West London area that’s right for you.
Living in South West London
Depending on where you are in this varied quarter of the capital, your lifestyle might be hectic or serene. You can plunge into busy high streets and thumping nightlife, or enjoy peaceful evening strolls in leafy suburbs. South West London really does have it all.
What unifies the South West London living experience is accessibility. It’s well-served by Tube and bus routes, and this is improving further as TfL plans additional expansion works. Another common factor is the excellent food scene that is only getting stronger and more diverse.
What to do in South West London
The first thing to enjoy in South West Londonis its wide open green spaces. From the simply stunning botanical beauty on display at Kew Gardens to the teeming deer running through Richmond Park, South West London is a haven for nature-based adventures.
In addition to its open green space, the sweep of the Thames is an open invitation to cycling enthusiasts. South West London’s many scenic trails and parks are also a major draw.
Another of South West London’s biggest draws is its vibrant food scene. It’s actually hard to know where to start when you have this much choice. The many riverside pubs offer outstanding casual bites with drinks, while gastropubs abound further south, or why not try sensational street food in Brixton and Clapham, or even Little Korea in New Malden?
Property prices for South West London
South West London is a pricey part of London in which to hunt for property. In the 12 months to July 2024, the average house price for the area stood at £969,000, according to Rightmove. This places South West London prices significantly higher than the London average of around £749,000.
There’s been a huge resurgence in South West London’s property scene of late, namely because this is an area of the capital with so much potential. The term ‘something for everyone’ is thrown around wildly, but in South West London’s case it’s actually justified. Read more about South West London
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.
