The London borough of Lewisham is one of the city’s most sought-after places to live with a diverse and creative population. With so much to offer, it’s plain to see why it’s such a big hit for homebuyers.
Under the Spotlight
Before becoming part of London in 1965, the southeast borough of Lewisham sat within the borders of the county of Kent – known as England’s Garden County for its beautiful rolling hills and fertile land. Despite boasting some of the city’s coolest urban areas, its green roots remain evident, with 25 square miles of open space across 45 parks.
Today, Lewisham is one of the most ethnically diverse parts of the country, with large Caribbean and African communities and more than 170 mother-tongue languages spoken by pupils in schools. This diversity makes it an interesting corner of the city, with different cultures evident in the vast array of shops, restaurants, and events throughout the borough.
The popular neighborhoods of Deptford, Brockley, and Catford have transformed into trendy hotspots, attracting young professionals, creatives, and families. Lewisham town center is at the heart of the borough, undergoing a transformation with new housing and regeneration projects underway.
The excellent transport links in Lewisham have made it a popular home for those working in Canary Wharf and central London. From Lewisham station, the DLR reaches Canary Wharf in 20 minutes, while trains run to London Bridge, Charing Cross, and Victoria – or out towards Dartford and Sevenoaks in Kent.
Direct Overground links to Shoreditch and Dalston from stations including Forest Hill and Brockley increase commuter appeal. Buses are frequent, serving local areas and central London, Croydon, and Bromley throughout the night.
A southern extension of the Bakerloo Line to Lewisham is under consideration, providing direct links to northwest London.
Property in the area varies wildly stylistically – from glass-fronted new builds to beautiful period properties. Several new developments have been created, providing thousands of new homes in the heart of or planned for Lewisham town center. Away from Lewisham center, in the backstreets of Brockley, Catford, and New Cross, you’ll find wide, tree-lined residential roads, while in Blackheath, vast mansion-style homes are not uncommon.
From Renowned Museums to Destination Dining
From renowned museums and galleries to innovative venues and destination dining, Lewisham and the neighboring towns within the borough can cater to all needs.
Starting with food, visit Lewisham town centre’s local institution Something Fishy, serving locally renowned fish and chips from breakfast onwards. Everest Curry King is beloved by locals and endorsed by food critic Jay Rayner. Browns of Brockley and Joyce (a few moments down the road) are both excellent laid-back brunch spots. In Deptford, Tila is a new favourite for toasts and special occasions, while Ladywell is home to a small collection of good options including Le Delice and Mamma Dough.
For days out, Lewisham Lanes (bowling) and the town center leisure center, Glass Mill, are perfect for indoor sporty fun. In Deptford, you can combine a visit to the historic market with a trip to trendy Market Yard – home to vibrant young businesses. See theatre productions at The Albany Theatre, walk a stretch of the Thames path, and wander into Greenwich.
With renowned Goldsmiths University in New Cross, arts and innovation are big in the area. Galleries to visit include Lewisham Arthouse, A.P.T Gallery, and Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art. In Forest Hill, the lovely Horniman Museum & Gardens is a family-friendly and widely reputed attraction, with pretty green space and fantastic views over the city. Catford Mews offers independent cinema blended with comedy nights and carefully crafted pizza for fun afternoons and evenings out.
When it comes to shopping, the options are wide and eclectic. For larger shopping centres and facilities, it’s easy to get to Croydon or Oxford Street by train or bus, while Kent’s sprawling Bluewater is a 30-minute drive from Lewisham town centre, or Stratford’s Westfield is a 40-minute direct DLR ride. Closer to home, each town in the borough has its own offering, with good supermarkets, high streets, and markets easy to come by. In Lewisham, you’ll find a huge Primark and a good selection of high street chains and independents, and everything in between. Over in Blackheath, there’s a more upmarket high street offering – with the likes of Jigsaw, Oliver Bonas, and specialty gift shops.
Lewisham: Square Roots Lewisham
Square Roots Lewisham is a stylish new development offering the opportunity to buy an affordable home of the highest quality – just eight minutes from London Bridge by national rail.
Square Roots Lewisham is the second collection of shared ownership homes by registered housing provider Square Roots. It scooped top prizes in the First Time Buyer Awards and the ES New Homes Awards this year for its first scheme in Kingston. Square Roots was established two years ago by award-winning developer London Square.
Setting new standards in shared ownership living, the collection of 141 one, two, and three-bedroom apartments and duplexes is a short walk from Lewisham station, with excellent links to Canary Wharf and the City. Every apartment has a private balcony or terrace, with outstanding views across the London skyline from the upper floors.
The apartments are high specification with open-plan living areas, beautifully designed kitchens and bathrooms, plus space for working from home. The development will include riverside walks, relaxing areas, play spaces, landscaped gardens, and a stylish communal rooftop podium. Residents will be able to move in from spring 2024.
Lewisham has lots of green spaces across many local parks in and around the town center with its thriving food and drinks scene, food markets, cultural attractions, and independent theaters and cinemas. Within a 15-minute cycle ride is Greenwich Park, the royal park with beautiful gardens, woodlands, and stunning landscapes and views, plus the historic Royal Observatory.
With rents soaring in London, recent research by Square Roots revealed that it could be more affordable to buy a shared ownership home than rent a similar property in the area near Lewisham station. Rents for a one-bedroom flat could be around £1,850 pcm or £2,000 pcm at Deptford Bridge. Starting monthly costs for shared ownership at Square Roots Lewisham are from £1,418 pcm – with the added security of owning a share in your new home and without the fear of a tenancy agreement being ended.
Prices start at £106,250 for a one-bedroom apartment, for a minimum 25% share, with a deposit as low as £5,563.
To find out more or view our newly launched show home, call the new sales suite at Square Roots Lewisham on 0333 666 4747 or visit squareroots.co.uk.
Source: rightmove.co.uk
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