South East London covers plenty of ground and even more variety when it comes to choosing a new home. If you want to know the best places to live in South East London, where should you start looking? Start by asking the people who live there!
Our Top 10 best places to live in south east London
If this part of London appeals to you, then the advice of our HomeViews reviewers can help to get your search started. This list of the 10 best places to live is based entirely on local resident ratings.
These top 10 winners have the best combined scores across all the new build developments in the South East of London that are reviewed on HomeViews. This means that they have consistently impressed the people who live there, regarding everything from the design of the homes to the quality of the facilities and the level of service offered by the management staff.
See what it takes to get the thumbs up from South East London residents. If any catch your eye, just click to take a closer look.
*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 – as on our area guide pages.
Top of the charts in south east London is Union Wharf, a development featuring 249 rental-only apartments on the banks of Deptford Creek near Greenwich’s town centre. Its residents love the facilities here and find the concierge staff to be top-notch helpers in any situation. With great views, solid transport links and competitive prices, Union Wharf is a worthy winner of the top spot.
Idaline Court takes 2nd place. This is a brand new apartment community in the heart of South London’s coolest neighbourhood, Peckham. With Central London just 15 minutes by train, these beautiful apartments surround a gorgeous landscaped garden that offers something quite special, a hidden oasis for you to enjoy.
Rising to 3rd in recent months, Fizzy Lewisham is a contemporary residential development, now managed by Greystar. It has rapidly gained popularity, offering one and two-bedroom flats to rent. Homes here are pet friendly, and come with free award-winning broadband. It also has a prime location close to Lewisham Station, with good connections to central London.
Taking 4th place, Porter’s Edge, Folio London’s flagship development in Canada Water, offers 234 stylish units from studios to four bedroom apartments just a short walk from the tube station. Residents benefit from premium amenities including a gym, lounge with free Wi-Fi, rooftop sports facilities, and landscaped communal gardens. On-site shops like Decathlon and Mousetail Coffee Stories enhance the experience, all supported by a convenient concierge service. Porters Edge sets a new standard for urban living in this vibrant area of London.
In 5th, Bale & Anchor is a new BTR development situated in Lewisham, with studio, 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments available to rent. Bale & Anchor is ideally placed to put you right in the thick of central London within minutes. Additionally, the National Rail and the DLR are on your doorstep for commuting. Residents can enjoy lounge areas, roof terraces and private dining spaces. By Spring 2024, even more amenities will be available, including access to Ampersand on the 34th and 35th floor in Bale House with panoramic views over London and beyond. Residents also benefit from choosing between a quality furniture package or an unfurnished apartment.
In 6th place for South East London’s best places to live we have Vive Living on Childers Street. With smart, modern, light and airy apartments on offer, this new development is already causing a lot of positive buzz. One happy resident gushes:
“My flat is really lovely. Both the concierge and the property management are really helpful. They are also so fast to solve the problems. There is a work space on the ground floor and it is great for the people working from home! Luckily we have a cafe at the same place with work space so you can grab your coffee, take your seat and start working comfortably! Also the bakery is worth to try, they are so delicious! I definitely recommend here.”
A Peabody development with private flats managed by JLL, The Horizon takes number 7 on our list. This desirable development features a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, available furnished or unfurnished located in Blackheath in Lewisham. Residents can enjoy access to a communal lounge, a work from home space as well as dry cleaning services. The Horizon is only a 0.6 mile walk away from Greenwich mainline and DLR station with connections into Central London.
Hail to the Chief! Situated on London’s South Bank, opposite the Royal Festival Hall, The Whitehouse Apartments takes the 8th spot on our list, offering a selection of one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The development is within a four-minute walk to Waterloo station with its vast transport links via both Rail and Underground services and residents on site can enjoy rooftop gardens and a health and fitness suite.
Recently moving up from 10th to 9th is Marine Wharf West – a residential development from The Berkeley Group, located in Surrey Quays. Apartments here are separated by landscaped grounds, and they’re close to the River Thames and London’s largest working marina – South Dock. London City Airport, Surrey Quays station and the Thames Clipper Riverbus services are all nearby.
The Dumont rounds off our list at number 10. This is a mixed-use St James development in Southwark, which overlooks the River Thames. It’s home to a selection of studios and one to four-bedroom apartments. Vauxhall, the nearest station, offers brilliant links to the City via National Rail services and the Victoria line.
What makes South East London attractive as a place to live?
In a word: variety. That’s what this part of town has in spades. Quiet riverside living, ultra-modern neighbourhoods, urban regeneration meets understated chic, expansive suburban houses and gardens – it’s all available in this corner of the capital.
Which areas of south east London are best?
Lambeth, Greenwich, Bexley, Bromley, Southwark, Elephant and Castle – you’d be hard-pressed to find a more diverse lineup, even in London. With this variety comes options. Whatever you’re looking for, you’re likely to find it here.
Each area has its own strengths and unique benefits. However, there are some positive factors that broadly apply to all of south east London. Firstly, its transport links are solid: tube, rail, Overground, bus and biking routes are all in play. And when it comes to amenities, you’re spoiled for choice. Local cafes, bars, restaurants and markets are varied and often excellent.
All of this adds to the lively and friendly community feel that extends throughout south east London. It has a great reputation for appealing to families, due to the wide availability of good schools. A respectable crime and safety record, and a thriving arts and music scene also aids its case.
Discover more top-rated new homes in our South East London area guide below. Or you can check out our Top Rated guides section to find the best developments in other areas of the capital.
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 Read more about South East 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.
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