South-west London is popular with young professionals for its leafy locales, handsome homes and urban village vibes. The SW postcode covers some of London’s most desirable enclaves, from the towering townhouses of Kensington & Chelsea to suburban beauty spots like Richmond upon Thames. So where are the best areas for professionals to live in south-west London? Here’s the London Shared low-down.
Parsons Green
In Parsons Green you can live the idyllic countryside good life without even escaping zone 2. The little sibling of South Ken and Fulham, Parsons Green is full of gorgeous mansion blocks, cute cottages and as the name suggests, a quaint village green. Here you can enjoy life at a chilled pace but remain amazingly connected to the capital’s best bits. Not that you’ll need to walk far — in Parsons Green you’ve got much-loved pubs like the iconic Sloaney Pony (real name the White Horse) to keep you busy. No wonder Parsons Green is considered one of the best places to live in south-west London.
Wandsworth
Old meets the new in Wandsworth — a fun south-west London district hugging the Thames. Wandsworth Town is at the heart of the action, where historic microbreweries rub up against modern comforts at the Southside shopping centre. Wandsworth Common is replete with tennis courts, sprawling parkland and a turtle lagoon — alright, a pond — while pubs on the river like The Ship are great for late-night drinks or morning-after hangover cures.
Putney
A classic neighbourhood on the Thames, Putney packs in brilliant bars, riverside views and a seriously high number of blue plaques. Putney Embankment offers one of the capital’s most scenic walks — moor-up in a rowing club bar and watch the sun set over the Thames. It’s always Pimm’s o’clock in Putney, and the high street has seriously upped its game: nowadays you’re never far from a wood-fired pizza or a 2 for 1 cocktail. In summary, Putney rocks!
Wimbledon
There’s way more to Wimbledon than wombles and tennis. With bags of history, gorgeous Wimbledon village might look frozen in time, but it’s got loads of amazing places to shop, drink and dine. Town meets country in the vast expanse of Wimbledon Common, featuring horse riding and a windmill — yes a windmill. In Wimbledon proper you’ve got high street stores, restaurants and handy links to the rest of the capital at Wimbledon station.
Tooting
The joker in the pack, Tooting is more commonly thought of as ‘south London proper’, but with an SW postcode, we’re calling it: Tooting is one of the best places to live in south-west London. Now that the Night Tube hurtles into Tooting each weekend, there’s a definite buzz in the air. The Tooting Tram & Social has an electric atmosphere on weekends, and the refurbished market sells cheese, chutney and Instagrammable wares. And of course, some things never change — Tooting is quite possibly London’s curry capital.