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Try a 4 bedroom Georgian detached house
Do buy in… Victoria Park
Victoria Park is a huge green space in what’s probably London’s coolest borough, Hackney. Because it’s so large it’s surrounded by a multitude of neighbourhoods, all with quite different characters. On its west are Bethnal Green and Cambridge Heath, which are already looking quite pricey. If you’re looking for a good return on investment search east of the park in Hackney Wick and Fish Island. There are a great number of new build apartments coming up and its warehouse districts are still full of creatives and independent cafes and bars. The canal is also a big draw and neighbouring Stratford is set to get branches of the V&A and The Smithsonian in the not so distant future.
Try this 3 bed flat next to the canal.
Don’t buy in… Barking and Dagenham
Although the house prices may be tempting, this area of London still has a long way to go in terms of liveability. Situated far from the action you’d expect to find in the capital and a dearth of transport connection and amenities means this is best avoided for now. On the upside, some good schools here and close to London City Airport.
5 bedroom semi-detached in Dagenham.
Do buy in… Nunhead and Brockley
Independent shops everywhere and a villagey vibe in these two south east London neighbourhoods. There’s also a great housing stock with some well priced properties still to be had. Plenty of parks too, a personal favourite being Telegraph Hill Park which boasts a great view over the rest of the city. Although it’s not especially well connected for getting to central London, there’s a fast connection to Canary Wharf and Docklands via the London Overground. If you’re looking for a slower pace of life within spitting distance of your job in finance, then this could be just the ticket.
4 bedroom family home close to Brockley station.
Don’t buy in… Dulwich
Walking through Dulwich village you could be forgiven for thinking you were in a Hertfordshire village rather than zone 2. Ridiculously pleasant though it is, property prices are sky high, in part because it also has some of London’s best schools. Steer clear for a good return on investment.
3 bedroom terrace in East Dulwich
Do buy in… Richmond
Famed for a gauche sort of affluence, it’s not easy to find a place that’s highly liveable, yet not astronomically expensive in west London. But, one neighbourhood really stands out – Richmond. It’s an incredible place to live and still, by west London standards, relatively cheap. Prices are on the up too. The commute into the city is not the fastest, but its leafy suburban roads, incredible pubs and restaurants and of course Richmond Park and Kew Gardens, more than make up for it. An evening walk to see the deer in the park followed by a pint at the White Cross. What could be better?
Here’s a 2 bed terrace close to Richmond station.
Don’t buy in… Kensington and Chelsea
Partly because you can’t afford it anyway, unless you happen to be an oligarch or sheik. Kensington and Chelsea can also feel rather staid at times, not just in terms of property prices. House prices topped out long ago and fell by more than a fifth on average last year.
Average house price: £2,038,123
A 1 bed flat for just shy of £2m.
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